The Southern Pacific Railroad [pp. 247-268]

10
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. 2
Emory's report covers the ground from Santa Fe to the San Diego; but
he, too, admits the hastiness of his notes, and that the best route was not
always pursued. The purposes of that expedition, besides, were altogether
military, and through an enemy's country, which prevented any closeness of
observation. Colonel Fremont, it is also understood, is now upon this line
of exploration, or a part of it, with a view of facilitating the project of the
St. Louis Railroad. He designed crossing the southeastern projection, or
ridge of the Rocky Mountains, above Santa Fe and Spanish Peaks, and,
entering the valley of the Del Norte, trace that river to its source; he would
then cross over the Rocky Mountains at some pass there to be discovered,
and "survey his last line across the continent, complete his knowledge of
the country between the Mississippi and the Pacific, and crown the labors
of long explorations, by showing the country between the great river and
the great sea to be inhabited by a civilized people, and practicable for a
great road, and that on several lines, and which was the best." This ex ploration is one of the most important yet, and will be necessary before
establishing any positive opinion in regard to a route to San Francisco from
St. Louis, or indeed from any other point, through some other than the
"South Pass," which is in a latitude fully five degrees further north than
San Francisco or St. Louis. The government, too, it is said, are now about
dispatching Captain Stansley into the Gila valley, and to the Great Utah
Lake, by the valley of Arkansas, with the view of a full and complete et ploration, occupying about eighteen months.*
The road from Memphis through Arkansas, Van Buren, and a great. por tion of the Indian Territory, judging from the nature of the lands through
which it must pass, is of the most practicable character, and involving the
smallest expense. The danger of overflow in eastern Arkansas can, without
doubt, be obviated entirely, by proper levees, constructed in the northeastern
part of that State. Heavily timbered lands abound upon many parts of the
route. Our facts are too meagre, however, to venture any precise calcula tion of obstructions and expense. We know that the Memphis Convention,
in 1846, pressed the completion of a military road to Fort Gibson, which,
if fully explored, would give us all the facts that we want, to that poifit of
the route. There are also good lands upon a great portion of the way, and
to us it is perfectly clear, from all the facts we can gather, that the passage
from Memphis to Santa Fe presents, to say the least, no greater obstacles
than that from St. Louis to the South or some other pass in the mountains.
Mr. Gregg left Van Buren in 1839, with heavy wagons. He passed along
the south or main fork of the Canadian branch of the Arkansas, which,
near its sources, in the heights about Santa Fe, takes the name Colorado.
He adhered closely to the river until the peaks of Angosturas were reached,
when, for a short time, the valley of the Pecos was before him. For sixty
miles before reaching these peaks or narrows, the party followed a plain
road everywhere passable for wagons. Abrupt projecting routes, reaching
even in height 2,000 feet, added great risk to the passage of the narrows,
* A better road was, however, pointed out, passing near the Cerro de T'uumcari,
wagons from Missouri for many years, grading the road will develop many of thlese mineral
resources.
From this stream (the Rio Grande), pursuing our direct course, we pass the heads of
streams on each side, none of which approach so near as to cross, and arrive at the Colorado,
which discharges its waters into the head of the Gulf of California-passing again near the
southern extremity of the Great Sandy Desert, one hundred miles in length, stretching north west, which would be impassable, but is thus fortunately placed out of our way. And in tho
further pursuit of our direct course, we arrive at the head of Tule River, which discharges its
waters into the bay of San Francisco, the termination of the Pacific road. Directly on our
left is the river which flows to Monterey. The road will probably be constructed on the plain
between these rivers, and may, with scarcely any variation, touch Monterey in its course to
San Francisco, which is destined to be one of the great cities of the United States of America,
and is only one degree north of the course of our road:"
* General Worth is on his way from Sau Antonio, Texas, by the route of El Paso, to the
Gila valley.