The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-11-06
THE sourHRRN PACIFIC.

IT.
leans was Selected rs the Eastern Ter
minus-Advantages Possessed by the
Route Selected.
Mr.. p. Huntington has just issued a
circular letter that very conciselv and clearly
sets forth his aims and work done in regard
TO the Southern Pacific extension to the
Gulf of Mexico at New Orleans. We quote
as follows:
Among the considerations which have in
duced the promoters of the Southern Pa
cific railway, of California to build an extern
sion of that route eastward, across Arizona
and New Mexico, have been the following:
/. The creation OF short rail line be-
tween the navigation of the Gulfof Mexico
and that of the Pacific ocean, within
United States territory,
., The accommodation ola very import
ant local transportation connected with the
mining of the vast deposits of.precious met
ais in those territories and the adjoining
states of Sonora and chihuahua.
8. The desirability of obtaining an alter
native line between the northern Atlantic
states and the Pacific coast, along parallel
of latitude, and at such attitudes as would
avoid severe winter distractions.
L. The requirements of growing sys-
TEN Of railroad lines, extending from the
Mississippi river across Louisiana and
Texas, and converging Mexican lines, for a
more direct union with the system of the
Pacific coast.
The extension OF the 'Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe railroad from the Missouri river
across Kansas to Colorado, and thence
southerly to an intersection with the South
ern Pacific at Deming, 200 miles east of
San Francisco, afforded route sufficiently
direct and serviceable to Denver, Chicago,
st. Louis and points to the eastward,
though not..wholly exempt from snowy alti-
tudes, and not, of course, available for the
expanseo of country between tho Ohio river
and gulf.
Having completed the Southern Pacific
10 the frontier of Texas and Mexico at FL
from the initial Pacific terminus, as the
trains run, it became important to deter
mine the most suitable port for the gulf
terminus, and the routes by which to reach
it. The waters of the gulf at the nearest
point are not more than $50 miles, by an
air line from Ell Paso; it appears, however,
that the currents Of the Caribbean sea have
thrown up ridge or bar Of sand underlaid
by tough clay, along nearly its entire shore
ciruit, so that though the inlets and rivers
are numerous, none of them are without q
troublesome bar, limiting the draft of YES
sells. New Orleans-already considerable
railroad centre, and the depot of a vast in.
land river navigation the seat of vast COM
merce, population and travel--since the
Eads jetties, is the only really accessible
port for the purpose.
From New Orleans to FL Paso in an airline
is about 1000 miles Three courses were
open to the Southern Pacific to reach this
desirable port. To secure connection
through the Texas Pacific railway, building
across Northern Texas toward FL Paso, and
q branch line from Shreveport to New Or
leans, a distance of l,15O miles; or to seek
the use of the more southerly route via San
Antonio and Houston, distance of LOO
miles; or to build an independent line di-
rect and intermediate between the two.
The southerly route, even il it should
prove to be somewhat longer passes
through more settled and fertile country.
and possesses the great advantage of lower
and more equable grades; and, besides. was
in the direction nearest seaport, whenever
the harbor Improvements shall be carried
out, The successive ridges to be overcome
by the northerly line, and the sterile char
acter OF much of the route, left no doubt as
to the proper choice.
In connection with the lines east of Hous-
ton, forming part Of great through east
and west line from New Orleans, and work
ee in harmony with them, the Sun Sc
route, as 1t is for convenience called. forms
not merely the great avenue between the
gulf and the Pacific, but also the route by
which good part of the business passing
to and from Mexico will naturally take
From New Orleans to San Antonio, 57S
miles the roads have been in successful oper-
alton for some time. and in view of their
becoming, the eastern portion OF the South
ern Pacific system, have passed, for the
most part, into the same ownership, and,
together with the extension between San
Antonio and III Paso, now in progress; will
be worked in the same general interest as
part of the through line, nearly $500 miles
in length, between San Francisco and New
Orleans.
The distance between San Antonio and
I'll Paso is nearly 600 miles by one of the
surveyed lines, and by the other, following
the canyon of the Rio Grande at one por-
ton, and thus avoiding rugged country,
steep grades and expensive work, is some-
thing over 600. About 100 miles of the
grade has been prepared at each end from
FL Paso eastward, and from San Antonio
westward, and the rails are being put down
as fast as they can be taken forward and the
bridges erected.
1t is expected the junction of the two con-
struction parties will be made somewhere
near the mouth of the Pecos in the summer
of 1882, The nature of the intervening
country admits Of very rapid work, and the
force moving east is the same which built
over 800 miles across Arizona within twelve
months of 1880, under greater difficulties
New Orleans Democrat.