Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-12-08
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Gov. Stevens Exploring Expedition.
From the Boston Post, November %.
FoRr BENToN, Upper Missouri, }
Septemher 16. 1859.

Since wrote you from Fort Union, nv
advance parties from the Mississippi and
the Pacific, have met on the ridge of the
Rocky Mountain. A good pass has been
found, and there seems scarcely doubt Of
the entire practcability Of the great north
ern railroad. Our subsequent efforts the
present season will be directed to thor
ough examination of this pass in the noun
tains, and all the others in the intermedi-
ate range Of the Pacific, viz: the Bitter
Root and Cascade ranges. have long been
satisfied that between the head waters of
the Missouri and Columbia rivers, there
must be good passes lower and more rrac-
ticable than the South Pass. Our attention
had especially been given to the passes from
the forks of the Missouri-those from the
forks of the Marias, and the intermediate
one in which my advance parties met
Before leaving Washington it was deter
mined to direct the explorations upon this
pass first, and Lieut.. Saxton, a son of
Massachusetts, in command of the advance
party from the Pacific, had orders to estab
lish depot at St. Mary's village, just west
OF the mountains, and to cross the mountains
and meet me at Fort Benton / arrived
here on the first day Of this month, and not
hearing from him l sent forward small
party under Lieut.. Grover, to reconnoiter
the pass and ascertain whether he had
reached the St. Mary's village. They met
just this side of the ridge. The pass in ex
cellence exceeds every expectation. The
ascent in both directions is gentle, and it
would seem that the whole range had been
sunk at this point for the express purpose
of allowing the passage of railroad. Ac
cording to the barometer, it is more than two
thousand five hundred feet below the South
Pass; but would not venture to pronounce
1t more than one thousand feet lower, until
the result is tested by subsequent .examna-
tions. To-day the main party under Lieut..
Donelson--a son of Major Donelson, the
former editor of the Washington Union
moved forward to carefully examine this
pass, with all experienced scientific and en-
gincer corps. Lieut.. Mullen is now ex-
ploring pass from the forks Of The Mis-.
souri,.
But the pass north, leading from the forks
OF the Marias river 10 the Columbia, will.
1t seems to me, be found 10 be the best Of
the three. had assigned to Mr. Lander.
one Of the civil engineers, the duty of ex-
amining this pass; but learning from Lieut..
Saxon that Cadets pass was excellent, and
that much work remained to be done west
of the mountains, determined to push nv
whole force through it, in order to insure
reaching the Pacific before the close of the
season. Lieut.. Mullen had been DESPATCH
ed before Lieut.. Saxton's arrival and the
express, giving information of his coming.
overlook me sixty-fve miles on my way
from Fort Benton 10 the Backfoot camp.
where l was going with Mr.. Leander to
procure guides, and get detailed information
as to the best route through the NIarias
Pass. The great difficulty in exploring the
pass Of the Rocky Mountains, and the coun-
try west is in the immense quantity of tim
ber, obstructing view Of the country and
the trails pursued by the Indians. This is
particularly the case with the Marias Pass,
and more time would have been required in
the examination than l had at my disposal.
1t should be carefully examined another wear.
The mountains west of the Rocky Noun
tains, viz: the Bitter Root and Cascade
ranges, are also densely wooded, and SHOWS
on the dividing ridge occur the last of Octo-
ber. The Indians cross these mountains
with their families till early in November,
but proper survey is very difficult at
later period. Hence the necessity of dis
patch in crossing the mountains and sur
veying the region west.
Lieut.. Saxton depicts in glowing colors,
the magnificent scenery, fertile valleys, beau
tiful rivers, and the extraordinary forest
growth of Washington Territory. Out of
the very luXuriance of nature arises the
principal obstruction 10 the exploration of
the country Vast forests cover the hill
tops and fill the valleys, making it difficult
to make ones way. The beautiful St. Ma
rvs Valley, at the western base of the
Rocky Mountains, is beyond description,
has mild climate, and cattle keep fat in
winter as well as in summer, on the nu-
tritous grasses. This valley connects all
the passes, and is only five or six days
journey from the falls of the Missouri river.
| am satisfied that the Missouri is naviga-
BILE for steamers 10 the falls; but I am now
having it surveyed 10 determine that ques-
ton, Lieut.. DOnelson has already made the
survey from its mouth to nboye Fort I1n;op