62 KANSAS AND THE COUNTRY BEYOND.

Some propose to put the road under roof in all such places; but this
is easier talked about than done. Moreover, the advocates of that
expedient appear to forget that fire is an adversary still more formi-
dable and uncontrollable than snow. It may suit the temper of some
high-spirited and energetic gentlemen to expunge the word impossible
from their vocabulary, and, having a mighty government at their
back, to imagine themselves to be omnipotent; but prudent men, such
as those who manage the Hastern Division, hesitate to rush blindly
into difficulties with which neither they nor any other men are able
to grapple. 8

They have, however, that which their energetic rivals of the Platte
line have not—an admirable alternative. They can drop to a more
southern latitude, where there are no snows to obstruct them, and no
stupendous heights to scale. This southern deflection of the line
begins at or near Pond Creek.

THE ROUTE TO NEW MEXICO.

The following information of the country between Pond Creek and
Santa Fé I have from W. 8. Stone, Esq., agent of the Santa Fé Stage
Company:

Miles,
From Pond Creek to Fort Lyon on the Arkansas river, about 500
miles west of the State of Arkansas—a good buffalo grass

region, rolling prairies, estimated, . 65
Thence up the valley of the Purgatoire to ieee the ate of

the mountains—an excellent agricultural valley; the uplands

 

rolling prairies, fertile, and covered with buffalo grass, . . 126
Thence to summit of Raton eB . . . . . . . 15
Thence to Red river, . . 14
Thence to Santa Fé, through numerous valleys ae several en

can towns, some of considerable size, : : : ’ . 182

402

This is the stage road. It is very probable that the railroad line
will run a few miles east and south of Santa Fé to Albuquerque, via
Fort Union, on the Rio Grande, at the eastern base of the Raton
Mountain, and thus avoid some mountains, and keep in a better coun-
try. Fort Union is the largest distributing post for military stores in
the West. The country all the way from Pond Creek to Albuquerque
is probably the finest grazing region in the United States; but it isa
region utterly valneless until opened and made accessible by railroad
communication. But when it shall be so developed, it will become a