4 CONTENTS
PAGE
Lerrer XIV.— Education in Kansas—The Free School System
—State Normal School—Peculiar Mode of Teaching —State
Agricultural College— University of Kansas— Equality and
Commingling of the Sexes in the Higher Schools . . . 56

Lerrer XV.—Return of the Pond Creek Party—The Line to
Denver— Pine Timber—Coal— The Mountain Snows must
be avoided—The Route and Distance to New Mexico—
Superiority of the more Southern Route—Surveying Party. 60

Lerrer X VI.— General Subject of Routes discussed — Description
of the Valley of the Platte—The Region between the Heads
of the Platte and the Sierra Nevada—Great Utility of both
Roads—The Route beyond Kansas— Fertility of the Coun-
try on the Arkansas and Purgatoire Rivers—Immense De-
posits of Coal — Pine Timber —New Mexico, its Minerals and

other Resources . . . . . . : . . 64
Letrer XVII.— Arizona—California . . . . . . 70
Lerrer XVIII.—Length of the respective Routes— Latitude

and Longitude of the Principal Points . . : . . 74
Lerrer XIX.— Eastern Connections— Table of Distances . . 76

Lerrmer XX.— Branch Roads—To Galveston from three points
in Kansas—To Denver —Down the Rio Grande into Mexico
—To Guaymas—To San Diego—Hffect upon Mexico—

General Remarks . . . . . . . 78
Letrer XXI.— Will it Pay? . . . : . . . 82
Lerrer XXII.—The March of Empire ~ oe ele 84

THE MAP.

Tuts is probably the most accurate and reliable Railroad Map that has ever been
offered to the public. It is a fac-simile of the official map prepared from the most
recent surveys and explorations under the authority of the Government at Washing-
ton, and was drawn and engraved by W. J. Knzzznr, Esq., of the Indian Bureau, ex-
pressly for this work. The lines of both the great Pacific Railroads are laid down
as nearly as possible as they are to be, and with equal fairness and fidelity. It was
not deemed to be either honest or politic to insult the intelligence of the country by
stretching a favorite line, like a ribbon, across the continent, and attempting to
ignore, as far as possible, all other roads that are not subsidiary to it. All that is
essential to a full and fair understanding of the great question of routes from the
Missouri to the Pacific is given.