258 JOHN C. FREMONT. 



country, with their absolute and relative elevations, 

 and show the ground upon which the conclusions 

 were based. They are contributed at this time aa 

 an element to aid the public in forming an opinion 

 on the subject of the projected railway, and in gra- 

 tification of my great desire to do something for its 

 advancement. It seems a treason against mankind 

 and the spirit of progress which marks the age, to 

 refuse to put this one completing-link to our national 

 prosperity and the civilization of the world. Europe 

 still lies between Asia and America: build this 

 railroad, and things will have revolved about: Ame- 

 rica will lie between Asia and Europe ; the golden 

 vein which runs through the history of the world 

 will follow the iron track to San Francisco, and the 

 Asiatic trade will finally fall into its last and per- 

 manent road, when the new and the modern Chryse 

 throw open their gates to the thoroughfare of the 

 world. 



" I am, gentlemen, with much regard, respectfully 



" Yours." 



In March, 1855, Colonel Fremont removed, with 

 bis family, to the city of New York. Unusual 

 political honors were about to be conferred upon 

 this man "of bold and resolute devotion to science 

 and national development. On the 17th of June, he 



