Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-03-08
BURLINGTON IOWA. SATURDAY MARCH g 1916.

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that.distance, and re-enter The river above,
which is-deep and gentle to the foot of.the
Great Falls distant about 81 ,ty miles.-
These Falls, though dignifed with the
name Of the Great Falls Of the Columbia.
are only tiirty-seven feet eight inches high,
andare easily passed by portage oftwelvs
hundred yards The navigation is then
good for boats Of large size to the conilu-
ence Of. Clark's river, between three and
four hundredmiles. At Ciark's river those
who intend to cross the mountains quit the
Columbia. They ascend Clark's river with
boats OF fifteen, twenty, or thirty TONS, a
distance, Of four or FIVE hundred miles,
when they reach the highest navigable point
upon that stream. The ascent of the Co
lumtiia and Clark river by this route do
not present a navigation of more than a
thousand miles, Of which nearly two hun
dred is Underwater, and deep enough for
mefchant ships Of any size; about three
hundredi is fitted for bouts Of sulne hundred
tons; and the rem, inder for small vessels
of twenty or thirty tons. This distance il
not equal to the length Of the Ohio from
the Mississippi to Pittsburgh, and though
interrupted by several portages. presents
in some respects, better navigation than
the Ohio, being free from ice during the
winter, and retaining its water and con-
mon depth much better during summer.
Al one hundred and forty miles from the
Pacific ocean, the Columbia receives the
Multno,sah, the largest and most southern
OF all its branches, and which flows from
the Rocky Mountains opposite the sources
of the Yellowstone, the Platte, and the
Arkansas. The tide flows up it for many
miles, and is deep enough for ships Of the
largest size, (Lewis and Clark, but has
no. been sufficiently examined to ascertain
whether it affords practical and useful nav
igation TO the foot Of the Rocky mountains.
At about four hundred miles from the
Pacific, the Columbia receives a second
branch from the south, called Lewis river,
which is the same that was descended by
Lewis and Clark on their Journey out to
the Pacific ocean. 1t affords some practi-
cal navigation, bat is not equal to Clark's
fork, about two hundred miles higher ND,
and which was followed by Lewis and
Clark in their returning voyage, and has
since been followed BY most of the persons
who have crossed the mountains to the Pa
citic ocean, and may be considered tie best
channel Communication at present known
3.-Land carriage across the Rocky
mountains. 1t was The fate Of Lewis ard
Clark 10 fall upon difficult parts OF this
mountain, where its lofty summit was COW
cred with snow twelve feet deep in the
month of June. At the same time, at the
distance of one days journey further south,
an easy and practicable pass presented it.
dwindied down to an ordinary rugr. ~,..S
gap is known BY the name OF the Southern
Pass, and has been repeatedly travelled
since the time OF Lewis and Clark. Many
citizens are now in this territory, and soine
in this town, who have crossed at this pass,
and who aver it to he free from difficulty,
and easily travelled with loaded wagons.
4.-The descent of the Missouri The
length and rapidly Of this river has affixed
appalling ideas to its very name. But these
qualities only oppose obstacles 10 the as
cending navigator. In the descent OF the
river they cease to be obstacles, and are
converted into advantages. In proportion
as the river is long, the land carriage is d.
minished, and in proportion, as the current
is rapid, so will be the accelerated progress
OF the descending vessel. Twelve miles an
hour has often been made BY the descend
ing boats an hundred miles a-day is usual
voyage, and more is often done. Mr..
breckenridge descended from the Mandan
Villages, sixteen hundred miles above st.
Louis, in about fourteen days, and Mr..
Manuel Lisa has since made the voy age in
even less time. a3 hs''a
Thus the pgacticabiiity Of the new route
is completely established, not BY argument
aud theory, but by examination and actual
experiment Every foot Of it has been
passed over, and every part found to pre-
sent a safe and easy passage. The Pacific
Ocean comparatively narrow, and almcs'
free from the perils Of the-sea; the Colum-
Dld SHUT, dIlU liitCil uptCu VIII oonC POI
tagcs, but navigable at all seasons, by large
ships towards its mouth, and small and
light vessels towards its head; the Rocky
Mountains, even thor present condition
passalle for loaded wagons, which can &,
from navigable point en- the Columbia t
navigalle point on the Missouri, in 81,
orseight days; and the Missouri ready du
ring six1 months in-the year tosfloat dow
every thing; which may be placed upon it
at the rate Of one hundred miles a-day.-
The only parts Of the route, the difficulie
of which even merit consideration, are III
ascent of the Columbia and the passageso
the Mountains On, this, point extraordi
nary errors have prevailed. 1t has eye
Been supposed that it would require Ian
carriage of a thousand miles over thes
Mountains. A slight acquaintance wit
the geography ofthescountry would beisui
Gcient to correct such widaimistakcs. A
= inspection Of any correct map will sho.
$ that it is but 600 miles on a straight lin
from the head of navigation on The Mis-
e -suuri, where Lewis and Clark left athei
!, .oenees, to the mouth ei,dhe Columbia Il
the Pacific ocean, and less than FIVE hnr
, dred to tide ater and the head of .shi
: Navigation. Allowing these distances