five or thirty-five miles of travel; and on the whole road its length might be shortened by subsequent explorations and straightening elbows, one hundred miles. As this will inevitably become the great emigrant road to California, as well as that by which all stock from New Mexico will reach that place, it is proper that the Government should put it in such a condition as to relieve the emigrant and stock-driver of as many of the hardships incident to their business as possible. For this purpose I would recommend that water dams be constructed at short intervals over the entire road. With these and a few bridges and military posts, I do not doubt that the whole emigration to the Pacific coast would pursue this one line, instead of being divided and scattered over half a dozen different routes. The advantage to the traveler, and the economy to the Government, of having one line instead of a dozen to protect, would fully repay all the expenses attending the construction of the road. presume there can be no further question as to the practicability of the country near the 35th parallel for a wagon road, since Aubrey, Whipple, and myself have all traveled it successfully with wagons, neither of us on precisely the same line, and yet through very much the same country. I You will find by my journal that we encamped sometimes without wood and sometimes without water, but never without abundant grass. Starting with a drove of three hundred and fifty sheep, that number was increased by births upon the road, but not one was lost during the journey. In our first journey we groped as it were in the dark, and the weather being warm, did not care to leave the valleys for the wood, which is generally found on the hill-sides: and it is particularly worthy of note that all the waters discovered were directly on the line of the road, and found almost without search, and at short distances apart. It is not to be questioned that if so much was discovered on the first journey, a great deal more remains to be found upon a little exploration. In preference to Artesian wells, I propose to supply a deficiency of water by a system of dams across ravines and cañons, such as are used in Mexico, abundant evidences existing throughout the country that rains fall in sufficient quantities during the year to keep them full. In Mexico dams of this kind are used in the irrigation of large tracts of territory, which are dependent entirely upon this means for the supply of that element and for their crops. I cannot too urgently call your attention to this method of procuring abundant supplies of water, not only on the road to California, but on other emigrant routes where water may be scarce. It has the advantage over the other artificial means of obtaining water, of returning a certainty for the expenditure of money, and of answering every purpose to be expected of wells of any kind, to say nothing of it being far more economical. In the journey of the year, during which I have been engaged upon this work, I have not lost a man, nor was there the slightest case of sickness in camp. The medicine chest proved only an encumbrance. My surgeon having left me at the commencement of the journey, I did not employ, nor did I have need of one on the entire road. Even in mid-winter, and on the most elevated portions of the road, not a tent was spread, the abundant fuel rendering them unnecessary for warmth and comfort. I regard the establishment of a military post on the Colorado river as an indispensable necessity for the emigrant over the road; for although the Indians living on the richer meadow lands are agriculturists, and consequently peaceful, they are very numerous-so much so that we counted eight hundred men around our camp on the second day after our arrival on the banks of the river. The temptation of scattered emigrant parties with their families, and the confusion of inexperienced teams rafting so wide and rapid a river with their wagons and families, would offer too strong a temptation for the Indians to withstand. To complete this road in a manner worthy of the Government, and looking to it as the single line of emigration to our Pacific possessions, uninterrupted by the snows of winter or heats of summer, would require an appropriation such as would make it a matter of security and convenience to be preferred by the richer class of emigrants to that of the Isthmus of Panama, for its comforts, safety, and pleasures; and by the poorer as the more economical means of PECULIARITIES OF THE COUNTRY. 107 transit, with his flocks and herds, to the Pacific; but such a sum, at this time, I do not feel justified in asking. With such an appropriation, and a military post at every seventy-five miles-around which thrifty settlements would soon grow up-this could be accomplished; and as the road, for the most part, lies through a country very beautiful, and well adapted to agriculture and grazing, these posts might be abandoned as the settlements, of which they would form the nucleus, would gain strength to protect themselves. Another appropriation of $100,000, to build bridges, to cut off elbows, and to straighten the road from point to point, and make other improvements on the road, would, I think, make it one of the best routes for transit across the continent. I feel assured that the public lands which would be brought into the market and sold within three years after the opening of this road, will repay fourfold the appropriation asked. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD, Secretary of War. ED. H. BEALE, Superintendent. .13.06.... 68.32....Wood, water, and grass plenty. .do......do........do. .16.28....109.97. .Small spring; grass, wood plenty. ..25.37.... 93.69. Proscription Rock. Ojo del Percudo. .16.32.... .126.29.. Zuni.... Indian Well... No. 1... Jacob's Well.. .Water, grass, plenty of wood for camp use. .13.13....141.42....Wood scarce, grass and water abundant. 6.19....147.61....Wood, water, grass. .14.43....162.04. .Wood and grass; no water. ...11.93....173.97.... ..Water, grass, wood for camp. No. 2, Navajo Spring... 6.57....180.54......do.......do.......do. .13.62....194.16....Water by digging; grass and wood scarce. 6.13....200.29....Grass abundant. 7.75....208.04.. .Wood, water, and grass abundant. 1.75....220.64....Wood, water, and grass abundant. No. 5 .11.25....231.89. .do.. Near Casnino Caves....13.50....321.41. Near S. Francisco Spring17.32....338.73. Leroux Spring. No. 13. 9.06....347.79. 8.48. .356.27. ...do........do.. .....do. Wood and grass; no water. Breckenridge Spring...11.13....367.40. ....Wood, water, and grass abundant. Viameter dist. in miles from Camps. Remarks. 8.05....420.27....Wood, water, and grass abundant. 8.75....429.02....Wood and grass abundant; no water. .13.50....442.52. .do........do........do. .16.35....468.87....Water two miles from camp, wood and grass abundant. .Wood, water, and grass abundant. .480.12......do........do........do. 9.75....489.87....Wood and grass abundant; spring Smith's Spring. Pass Dornen.. No. 19 No. 20. Hempbell's Spring. 4.06.... -- No. 21 .21.25. No. 22 No. 23 5.50. one mile distant. ..495.37......do.......do.; no water. 8.45....503.82.... Wood, grass; spring three miles distant. .520.27....Wood, grass; no water. 7.25....527.82. .Wood, water, and grass. .13.25. ..541.07.... Wood; no water or grass. Wood, water, and grass. ..do....do..... 3.21. .558.60. No. 30 3.25. ....561.85.. .Colorado river; wood. ....Water and grass abundant. 3.-NEW ORLEANS AND OPELOUSAS RAILROAD. THE following report, made several months since by the President of the Opelousas Railroad Company, gives some interesting particulars relating to the progress and prosperity of that work: "Agreeably to your request, I have now the honor to present you a statement, showing briefly the condition, progress, and anticipated results of this road, given in general terms, and the figures in round numbers, without aiming at exactIf any more minute or extended information be desired, I will furnish it with pleasure, or would be happy to afford you the opportunity for a personal examination. ness. The condition of affairs is somewhat thus: The authorized capital is $6,000,000, and the subscription as follows: Of the subscribed stock there is yet unpaid-State, which issues bonds only in proportion to other payments.... ROUTES OF NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN TRAVEL. 109 The sum borrowed on pledge of the City bonds, constituted the whole debt of the Company at the date of the last annual report, with the exception of about $30,000 on mortgage, and some ten or twelve thousand dollars in current debts. An increased business has, however, compelled us to provide increased means of transportation. These, with the settlement of an old claim of some $80,000, have added considerably to our debt. We hope, however, to clear off the whole of this, during the current year, from collections of balances due, and our increased receipts. PROGRESS. The road from Algiers to the Texas line is two hundred and fifty-seven miles in length. It is completed to Berwick's Bay, eighty miles, and is there connected with Texas by a line of steamships, running regularly semi-weekly, and an additional ship to be put on in November. The earnings of the completed section were unfavorably affected by the short sugar crop of the past season, but the summer's business shows a large increase. The receipt for passengers and freight in June, July, and August of 1856, amounted to.... And in same months, in 1857 to.... Difference.. $38,515 87 62,213 27 $23,213 40 or sixty-two and a half per cent. The increase on freight, separately, was eighty per cent. The whole receipts for the year 1856, amounted to $206,000. Notwithstanding the drawback referred to, they may reach $275,000 at the close of the present year, and we think $400,000 a perfectly reliable estimate for 1858. The road is now in running order to Berwick's Bay, but considerable outlays are yet necessary to place it in perfect condition, and erect some warehouses at the Bay. Our total receipts are exhausted in the construction of the eighty miles of the road to the Bay, including bridges, depots, &c., &c. PROSPECTS.-We have now to cross Berwick's Bay, and continue the construction to the Sabine, one hundred and seventy-seven miles. The Chief Engineer, after careful calculation, estimates the entire cost, including the Bay bridge, $3,000,000, and for this construction our principal reliance is on the proceeds of the public lands, conditionally donated by Congress. These lands, and the funds to be raised for securing the donation, are now subjects of vast importance to the State and city. The line of our road has been recently run out to the Sabine, and the report of the Chief Engineer is very favorable, both as regards the value of the iands, and the facility and cheapness of construction of the road through them. We will be entitled to six sections per mile, equal on the whole line of two hundred and fifty-seven miles, to nine hundred and eighty-six thousand eight hundred and eighty acres. Making liberal allowance for entries, &c., we can, we think, calculate on seven hundred and fifty thousand acres, amply sufficient, it is estimated, to build and equip the whole road from Berwick's Bay to the Sabine, including the cost of the Bay bridge." 4.-ROUTES OF NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN TRAVEL. IT has been lately announced that the Postmaster General has entered into contracts for the transportation of a mail to New Orleans, on a new route, to be effected in four days and seventeen hours; and, also, that a contract has been signed, with the Tehuantepec Company, for the carriage of the Pacific mails. These are important matters, for which that able officer deserves the thanks of this country, as he does of the West especially. He has also succeeded in regulating the great New Orleans and Cairo mail, always a source of much complaint. The Wilmington Journal is unwilling, however, to concede the advantages which are claimed for the new route via Knoxville, and thus enters into an exhibit of facts and figures which is worthy of consideration. We do not adopt or reject the views of the Journal, but give them for information or criticism. "The following figures are believed to be perfectly correct, the distances are official, and the only variation that can exist must be found in the number of miles of staging, which we may have made a little less or a little more, but the error cannot exceed ten miles either way. It stands thus: Miles. New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern R. R., completed to Canton, 206 From Bucksville to Richmond, via Richmond and Danville, R. R. From Washington to Baltimore, via Baltimore and Ohio R. R.. From Philadelphia to New York.. Southern Division Miss. Central R. R., length now. Stage line from Goodman's Station, on same, to Water Valley, about... From Grand Junction to Chattanooga, via Mem. and Charleston and From Chattanooga to Dalton, via Western and Atlantic R. R.. From Richmond to Washington, via Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po- 28 95 73 257 38 110 130 204 71 53 130 40 100 100 1,635 Well, now, this makes the trifling difference of over three hundred miles—a rather noticeable discrepancy, we think-between the actual facts and the flourishing assertions, and our figures cannot be disputed. We have looked also over the schedule of time, and find that it really comes to within an hour and a half of five days between New Orleans and New York. Now let us compare the distances on this boasted short line with those on the present route, and, strange as it may seem, the present route is twentythree miles the shortest, thus: This showing, from the actual official distances, will no doubt surprise a great many people who have swallowed without examination the report of the great saving in distance by the new route. Now, as to time, the old route is prepared, we believe, to submit a schedule by which mails and passengers can certainly be carried between New York and New Orleans in quite as short a time as that proposed by the new over-mountain line, if not indeed in shorter time. The mail now lies over seven hours at Montgomery, of which it is proposed to save at least six hours. An effort is also in progress, and is certain to succeed, by which six hours will be saved on the route between Atlanta and Richmond. This, added to six hours at Montgomery, would make a clear saving of twelve hours to the New Orleans mails and passengers. It is proper to remark that the completion of the road now in course of construction from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Lynchburg, Virginia, will save some seventy miles; and the road from Cleveland on the East Tennesse and Virginia road over to Chattanooga, will save some forty more miles. Little or nothing |