The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-23
Pacific Railroad.
GOVERNOR STEVENS EXPLORING EXPEDITION
Iron the Boston Post, Nov. 22l

racine H01lrO00s
GOVERNOR STEVENS EXPLORING EXPEDITION
From the Boston Post Nov %
FokT BSS1os Upper Missour.) Sept. 10, 1858:
from the Mississippi ard the Pacific have the ridge
Of the Rocky Aoan'ains good pass has been found,
tnty Of the great Northern railroad Our subsequent
efforts the present will be directed thorough
examination of this in the mountains and others
in the intermediate range to the Pacific viz the Bitter
Root End Cascade have long been satisfied that
between the head waters of the Missouri Columbia
rivers there must be good asses lower prac
cable than the South Pass Our attention
been given to the passes from the forks Of the Missouri
one IN which my adva,ce parties met Before leaving
Washington determined to direct the explor
upon II pass rst and Lieut. IS xten Massachu
es in command Of the advance party from the Pacific
had orders establish depot at the ST. Marys village
just west Of the me u5tains, and to the noun
tans and meet me at Fort Benton arrived here tho
first day Of this month and not hearing from him
forward small party, under Lieut. Grover to reconnoits
the pass and ASCERTAIN whether he had reached the st.
Mays village They met just this side of the ridge The
in excellence exceeds expectation The ascent
In both directions gentle and would seem that the
whole range bae been sunk at this point for the
pose allowing the passage of railroad According
the barometer it ia than tvo thourand five hundred
feet below the South Pass but would not venture to
pronounce 1t than thousand feet lowe until the
result is tested by subsequent examinations To day the
the iormts editor of the hiugton Unio-moved
| forward to carefully examine this pass with an
| Of the Missouri. But the pass north leading from
the forks Of the Maria, river to the Columbia WILL
had assigned to Mr. Lander, of the civil enei-
neer the duty OF examining this Iass but learnng
Lieut. Saxton that Cadets pass exces Mt that
much work remained to be done west Of the
determined to push whole force through It, in order
to reaching the Pacific before the Of the sea-
Lieut. Mullen had been despatched before Lieut..
Saxton s arrival and the express giving inorma ten
his coming overlook sixty five miles my way from
Font Benton to the blackfoot camp, where was going
with Mr. Lander to procure guides, and get detsiled
olmaton to the best route through the Marss Pass
IF fha Rocks
Noun ains and the country west is in the mmen guam
tty Of timber obsructing view of the country and the
trails pursued by the Indians This is particularly the
with the Marias Pass, and time would have
been required in the examination than had my
posal 1t should be carefully examined another year
The mountains west of the Rocky Mountains viz, the
Bitter Root and Cascade ranges densey wooded
The Indians crofs thes mountains with their families till
early in Move mbsr but proper survey il very difficult
at later period Hence the necessity Of despatch in
crossing the mountains and syng the region west
Lieut. saxton depicts in glowing coors TIE magnificent
scenery, fertile valleys beautiful rivers and the ex raor
binary forest growth. Of Wa hington territory Out of
the very luxnance OF nature arises the principal
sruction to the exploration Of the country Vast
the hill tops and FIJI the valleys, mai ing difficult
to make ones way. The beautiful ST. Mary Valley at
the western base OF the Rocky Mountains fertile
you'd description has mid climate and cattle keep fat
in winter well as IN Its nutritious grasses
This ley connects all the passes and is only Ave six
days journey from the falls OF the Missouri river an
satisfied that the Missouri is navgable for to
The ali5; but am having it surveyed to determine
this question. Lieut. Doneson has already made the
Grover WILL by the close of October have completed to
the falls The data will then be collected for official
report.
such has been raid about the distractions to railroads
from and this will be the great objection to this
route We shall the ensuing winter collect many
which have estaonsd at Fort Benton under Mr. Doty,
and which propose to esta osh St Mary's under
Mr.. Mullan. But mere is to be done Lieut. Grover,
Of iron and great resources will start from
this point in January With dog train, and will in the
eead Of winter the whole route to the Pacific
arN thA Roo and
Cascade 1t seems mpracticabe adertakirg;
but lkrow Lieut. Grover and DO not doubt its successful
In consequence of Lieut. Saxton bringing more men to
work., have decided to send back all but three az the
Il tired men, in my judgment not good mountsn
enorsh for the duty before us to return also They
I've wishes 70 identify himself with TIE work be-
fore us and the utmost condolences prevails
IN the ,asoaae Range that sallass and able Officer
asceraiptg the most practicable pass aui in
meLth hope to exchange congratulations with him at
the entire success of our undertaking
Lieut. Saxton viii go do the Missouri in charge OF tha
returned NJ and to carry information to the depart
before the session OF Congress- A. evidence of my
serts OF his services published order, Of which
Lieut. ~ neen in charge of the main party brings to
his duty great force Of character high intelligence and
an unsurpassed diligence and fidelity
But our experience among the Indians
binary as 1t is unexpected. We have trayersed the
zion tho terrible baclf.ehavs met them 10 war par
kindness and hospi.aty.
They have brought US fresh meat guided us on way
brought into camp srayed animals and have guarded
whilst we slept No one Of our men has been touched,
not Ike smallest thing has been taken We wend.
ing our way to the northern 5sckfest camps when
called back by the express informing Of Lieut. Sax
TINS arrivnla little party surrounced by Backfeet
friends ana not even keeping any guard whstever at
night treated them true friends took them 1T their
word and d!rstcd all my at night to go sleep.
Lieut. Saxton bad prec ely the experience with the
Indians the mountains At this very moment Mr.
lifD. wit forrr1 ia
in their midst under the b0th parallel and only
awaiting his return to push forward and join Lieut. Donel
sor The government has yet done nothing for these
lndsds, and have invited them Fort Benton to give
them uessase from the Great Father and to ascertain
whether they will agree for all time to treat all
whites o. they have treated and mine.
TLess Indians range from the Saskatchewan to the
the Mix and Missouri rivers. MIX river the principal
northern tributary u the Mssau of running north
into Brsb territory MS laid down all the apS,
nearly due west to within hundred miles OF the
tains, and then detecting RAPIDLY to the north has
aouIces in the CYPRESS mountain and the adjacent spus
II the Rocky mountains. At the base OF the mouuains
BETWEEN tho sG river and the forks Of the Missouri the
country l. plateau rising gently the several rasscs
several tributaries lowing through Missouri and
sseral very loy ta, three over three thousand feet
| above the plateau
The Mix line affords extraordinary facilities for
building railroad, and has natural connec tion with
The county south OF Missouri 70 the Black Ellis and
that between the MIX and Missouri rivers has
fored by Dr. Exams, the gsoogt Of the expedition who
mol great TO the topography OF
he country, but has made very large geoog zeal colsc
tion. lie Is now in the passes OF the mounaips his
way % Oregon.
Ieors closing this letter must notice my obire lions
70 the gentlemen of boh the fur companies in st. Louis
FOR their uniform bindbess aud bid to the expedition. To
Mr. Campbell particularly, ! indebted Il his disin-
terested and undfing services in behalf To Mr..
biey and Mr. Culbsrtson partners in the American Fur
company In charge of the posts the Mississippi and
Missouri am especially indebted the former both in
Warrington city and 1T his residence the St. Peters.
ceye.ed nuc time and attention TO the survey and
dered Us very valuable assistance.
met Mr. Cuoe tson in st Louis IN May and found his
great experience derived from twenty yea rs residence
among the indian tribes OF the Upper Missouri and his
perfect knowledge of and things in the country
through which had to pass, fitted him for most vau-
able seyiser. appointed him special agent emong the
Psckte Indians subject TO the approval Of the Indian
Commissioner He has been un.rng AZ d intefatigable
In bis discharge OF duty and hiss rendered invaluable aid
to the expedition At great loss Of time and absence