448 ' Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
Since 1847 my attention has been continuously occupied with this 
line, and with this section of the Rocky Mountains through which I 
have proposed that the great road should pass, entering the valley of 
the Colorado through the valley of the San Luis or Upper Del Norte. 
To this point my own examinations have been extended, with the satis- 
factory result of finding a way easy and good, through a broad and 
fertile country, allowing straight roads and choice of jines with contin- 
uous and expanded settlements. Such a line seems to comprehend all 
the advantages which ought to be combined in a trunk road to the Pa- 
cific. It is direct, central, and feasible of construction; it commands 
the most practicable pass, and best known route for a branch road into 
Oregon, and would be the means of forming a new and great state of 
this Union—the Switzerland of America. 
With these views I attempted, but was prevented from exploring it in 
1847. In 1848 I resumed the attempt in an expedition which was de- 
feated in its complete result; but was successful so far as it went, and 
completely successful so far as it realized my own idea. 
About this time finding myself owner of a property which promised 
to be of extraordinary value, [ conceived the idea of wholly devoting 
it, as far as it would go, to the prosecution of the work; and on m 
I 
started for Washington. On my arrival I found the [U. States] explo- 
g parties were fully organized, and the Government commands al- 
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the road which shall go through the state of California from San Fran- 
cisco to its western frontier, at whatever point the road from the East 
should strike it. 
Under this deprivation of resources, I can only go on with one 
branch of my intended enterprise, that of completing my examinations 
of the country between the Upper Del Norte and the valley of the San 
Joaquin. Upon this line I propose to make a double examination— 
