Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 2, Pt. 4

CHAPTER VIII.
General Summary. -Busine8ss of the Road, &c.
I have set forth at some length, though, I fear, imperfectly, in the preceding chapters, the
advantages presented by the route I have surveyed for the location and construction of a railroad, and which may be summed up as follows, viz:
1st. That easy grades can be obtained along the whole route.
2d. That the cost of construction is reasonable.
3d. That over more than half the distance timber and building material of every description
can be procured on the ground.
4th. That several points are presented on the line not far distant from the heads of navigation of the streams of Texas.
5th. That the only obstacle to an abundant supply of water is easily removed.
6th. That over the most unfavorable portion of the route the grades are not difficult, and
timber for the ties is to be transported but short distances.
7th. That the agricultural and mineral resources of the route are in all respects good.
8th. That the chain of military posts to be established for its protection would, both individually and collectively, combine all the necessary requisites to be considered in the establishment of military posts in the Indian country.
9th. That the country traversed is of mild and genial temperature, and but little subject to
the changes of the seasons; and, finally, that the route presents every combination of advantages and facilities, both for railroad and wagon-road, for military purposes or for emigration,
that can reasonably be expected west of the valley of the Mississippi.
There is, however, another element which enters into the consideration; and although of
little consequence should the government undertake the building of the road, has, nevertheless,
been the basis upon which all railroads heretofore constructed in the United States have been
projected. I refer to its prospective business.
I do not propose to speculate upon the trade of China and the East Indies, nor even upon the
exchange of commodities-between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. I presume such matters are
better understood by the entire business community of this country than by myself, and I shall
therefore confine my remarks upon the subject to a rapid sketch of the local trade at present
existing along the route, and of its prospective increase from the construction of a communication with the markets of which the information is not so general.
I had proposed to furnish with this report statistics exhibiting all the facts connected with
this subject for a succession of years, but my time is so limited that it will be impossible to
arrange such information in an intelligible form. The brief sketch of the subject which I shall
give will, however, serve to attract the attention of those interested, and full information concerning all matters relating to it can be easily obtained.
By far the most important commercial feature of the country west of the frontiers of our
settled States is undoubtedly what is known as the "Sante Fe trade "-so called for the reason
that until very late years Sante Fe was the only port of entry for all goods coming from the
United States, whether sold in New Mexico, or in the States of Chihuahua, Sonora, and Durango.
It is not many years since the Sante Fe trail was regarded as something mysterious and