The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-10
COM M UN ICATIONS.
THE ROUTE TO OREGON.

THE ROUTE TO OREGON.
To the Editor Of the Union
The inclosed letter, which have Just received
from Major Elliott, contains many valuable facts
| and suggestions in regard to the route to Oregon,
which cannot fail TO be useful and interesting to
many OF your readers. Although intended for my
sell, and the Committee on Territories, | trust the
writer will excuse the liberty have taken in solicit
ing its insertion in the Union.
Your ObedIent servant,
s. A. DOUGLASS.
WAsmSGToS CITY, Jan. 3, 1916.
Sta Ii is my opinion (and beg leave respect
fully to state It 10 you) that the western boundary
vi the proposed State Of Igcd ought TO be the NJ s.
souri, ryer. This boundary would embrace the
5,OOO,0O0 acres of the ChippewaH, Ottowas, and
P0ttawa oInies, held under the treaty Of September
18th, 1888. treaty must soon be made with
these Indians, TO unite them with their brethren
southwest fthe Missouri river. This would throw
open tiue body Of land for white settlement, m a
region important regards the great thoroughfare
north Of Nebraska 10 the Paeihc. IL is an adj
mrable stock ooantry, with soil exuberanty fer
tile IN most parts, and having but one serious draw
baek--scarciIy Of timber. IL would soon be settled
IL the Indians were removed. Many citizens Of
Missouri and Iowa have already visited the coun-
Try, with view Of ascerainlng its advantages.
Immediately across the river from this tract
the lands Of the Ottoes and Omahas. The agent Of
those Indians, for three years past, has reported
their desire to sell part Of their country to the gov
ernment. This desire is again alluded TO in the an
nual report for lsl5, of Maj. Harvey, superinten-
dent OF Indian affairs at st. Louis, (see Doc. IL. r.,
No ~ am familiar with the condition of those
Indians, and know that II would be good policy on
the part Of the government and great kindness to
them, TO make the purchase. Their lands are in
your proposed territory Of Nebraska, and most
important part oft If the north side Of the Ne
braska be settled upon, Gas IT ought,) as the nation
al highway to the Pacific, with or without railroad
IL will be necessary at once TO make those treaties.
We must also make a treaty with the Pawnee In
dams for part of their country, in order to have
line Of settlements towards the mountains.
II your Nebraska territory be bounded on the
south by the 40th and north by the 43d parallels OF
latitude, il will embrace the "half-breed tract" il
is called, between the two Nevada creeks, on the
Missouri river, held under the treaty Of July Is,
$780, made by Clark and Morgan, at Prairie du
Chen, with the Sac and Fox, Sioux, Iowa, and
Otoe Indians That treaty has never been carried
out to give the section Of land lrhieh prom
ised to each Of the halfbreeds The organization OF
Nebraska territory will afford an excellent opportu-
nifty TO provide for the issuing of patent to each Of
those halfbreeds now surviving who were in being
when the treaty made, and TO the heirs Of those
deceased. This ought not to be overlooked, for the
balance OF the tract would revert TO the United
States. There are not many half breeds; and if the
Indian title to the tract extinguished in this
u
settlement oft The front Of this tract the Missouri
river has good deal Of timber, and is very pictur-
esque and attractive. Back from the river is all
prairie except very small groves OF indifferent tim
Der on the streams.
IL is worthy of remark that the route on the north
side of Nebraskas the only which aline OF set
dement's towards the South Pass be had, without
a violation Of faith TO the emigrated Indians IL
is believed aso to be the best route for the Oregon
emgrant trains. ...
III IL. r...-
rather than the route have made other places start
ing-points; but the route up through the "Platte
purchase" in Missouri, crossing the Missouri river
at Bellevue, (about IL miles north of the mouth Of
Nebraska,) and thence up the Nebraska to the
South Pass is believed to be as short the route
direct from Independence, and is more easily trav
eed. The road in the State Of Missouri is good to
the northwest corner of that State, all the larger
streams having good ferries, and all the smaller ones
being bridged. The settlements extend now to the
extreme northwest corner of the State in the coun-
ty of Atchison, named in honor of the senator.
Bellevue is about thirty-fve miles by land, north of
the north line Of Missouri, (as claimed by Missou-
n)
There ought to be small garrison at Bellevue,
whether Nebraska territory be organized or not
If the territory be organized as 1t ought, Bellevue
ought to be the seat OF government Then there
ought to be a garrison of two three companies Of
dragroons or mounted rihemen, and about two COM
panes of infantry, at some point ON the Nebraska,
about 100 to $50 miles from Bellevue. There ought
to be, think, another small post between that and
Fort Larime, and somewhere in the country
between Fort Larimie and the South Pass. The
posts need not be strong in men, 10 be secure against
the Indians, but in order to afford scouting parties
occasionally on the plains, when needed. 1t may
be remarked that the soldiers could be made by ex-
ira duty, as is customary, to erect most OF the
quarters, and raise much Of the subsistence at each
station. The troops formerly at Council Bluffs
raised large crops of corn wheat, potatoes, and so
on They had a mill the stones of which are now
in mill in the Po,tawatomie country, east of Mis-
souri,.
The soil on the north side of Nebraska is very
rich for considerable distance from the Missouri
river but is very sparsey timbered; still you could
have line Of settlements in the proposed territory
that would afford much comfort and convenience to
Oregon emgrants.
II any project for a railroad to the Pacific can be
carried out, will probably pass up the valley of the
Nebraska. Mr.. Whitney proposes to the
Missouri river about the mouth Of Big Sioux, a
little north of where 1 would have the Iowa line
leave the Missouri river. The Car West" you
know in the language Of toast recently given at
celebration in st. Louis Of the landing of the Pill
grims is now "siifing on The sands Of The Columbia
,caifing for passage to China" A railroad TO the
Pacific would give the passage to her. The Far
West would then be China. This railroad would
also be an important auxiliary, if not an essential
one, in the management of our government relations
in Oregon. Without it, shall be obliged to con-
tent ourselves with mail arrivals few and far be-
tween from possessions there. may here
mark that il the mai-route proposed by the Pres
ident be established, it also ought to follow the
north side of the Nebraska. There is now mail
line to the erreme northeastern limit Of the State Of
Missouri, and that ought to be the starting point
for the Oregon mail.
have thrown these views together in hasty and
desultory manner; but whatever they are worth
they are your service. Hon. ID. K. Atchison will
sustain them, have no doubt, so far they refer
to the condition Of the roads and settlements in the
northwestern counties Of Missouri
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
most obedent servant,
RICHARD s. ELLIOTT.
To Hon. s. A. DOUGLASS,
House of Representatives,
United States, Washington.
Communicated.
LETTER III.
To the Hon. WILLIAM ALLEN: