Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-26
PACIFIC RAILROAD ExPLoRATIoN-NoRT
ROUTE.
Correspondence Of he Boston Post.

FORT DENTON, UPPER MISSOURI,
SEPTEMBER 16, 1858.
Since wrote you from Fort Union my advance parties
from the Mississippi and the Pacific have met on ridge
Of the Rocky Mountains. good pass has been found,
and there seems scarcely doubt Of the entire practical
bty of the great Northern Railroad Our subsequent
efforts the present wall be directed thorough
examination OF this pass In the mountains and of others
in the intermediate range TO the Pacific viz the Bitter
Root and Cascade ranges have long been satisfied that
between the head Of the Missouri and Columbia
river there be good passes lower and more prac
cable 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 aras and the intermediate
one in which my advance parties met Before leaving
Washington it determined to direct the explorations
upon this pass first, and Lieut. SAxroN, of Massa
chusetts in command Of the advance party from the Pa
cihc, had orders establish depot at the st. Marys
village just west of the mountains and to the
tains and meet at Fort Benton arrived here the
first day of this month"; and not hearing from him
forward small party under Lieut.. GROVER to reconno
tire the and ascertain whether he had reached the
Mary's village. They met just this side Of the ridge
The IN excellence exceeds expectation. The
in both directions is gentle and would seem that
the whole range had been sunk this point for the
purpose of allowing the passage of railroad Ac
cordng to the barometer it is than thousand
five hundred feet below the South Pass; but will not
venture ii than thousand feet lower
until the result is tested by subsequent examinations
To-day the main party under Lieut.. DoNELsoN, son of
Major DoNELsoN the former editor OF the Washington
Union moved forward to carefully examine this pass with
experienced scientific and engineer corps Lieut.
MULLEN is exploring pass from the forks of the
Mssour but the pass north leading from the forks Of
the Marias river to the Columba will it to me- be
found to be the best of the three had assigned to Mr.
LANDER of the civil engineers the duty of examining
this pass but learning from Lieut. SAxroN that Cadets
pass excellent and that much work remained to be
done west Of the mountains, determined to push my
whole force through it order to insure reaching the Pa
cifc before the close of the Lieut. MULLEN had
been dispatched before Lieut. SAxToNs arrival and the
@ uIyipO inf
sixty five miles from Fort Benton to the Black
foot camp, where was going with Mr. LANDER to procure
guides and get detailed information to the best route
through the MaIas Pass The great difficulty IN expor-
ing the passes of the Rocky Mountains and the country
west is the immense quantity of timber obstructng
view of the country and the trails pursued by the Indians
This is particularly the with the Maras Pass, and
time would have been required in the examination
than had at my disposal 1t should be carefully exam
ned another year. The mountains west of the Rocky
Mountains viz the Bitter Root and Cascade ranges are
also densey wooded, and the dividing ridge
cur the last Of October The Indians these
tains with their families till early in November, but
proper survey is very difficult at later period Hence
the necessity of dispatch in crossing the mountains and
surveying the region west.
Lieut. Saxton depicts glowing colors the magnificent
scenery fertile Valleys beautiful rivers and the extra
ordinary forest growth of Washington Territory Out Of
the very uxurance Of nature arises the principal obsruc
ton the exploration of the country Vast forests
the hill tops and fill the Valleys making it difficult to
make way. The beautiful St. Marys Valley, at the
western base the ROCKY Mountains,
description has mild climate, and cattle keep fat in
winter well in summer its nutritious 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 navgabe for steamers to
the falls but now having it surveyed TO determine
this question. Lieut. Donelson has already made the
survey from its mouth to above Fort Union, and Lieut.
Grover will by the close of October have completed it to
the falls The data will then be collected for official
report
Much has been said about the distractions to railroads
from SHOWS and this will be the great objection to this
route. We shall the ensuing winter collect many facts
bearing upon this question by meteorological post which
have established Fort Benton under Mr.. Doty and
which propose establish at ST. Marys under Mr..
Mulan But more is to be DONE Lieut.. Grover a man
of iron and great resources will start from this
point in January with dog trn and will In the dead of
winter pass the whole route the Pacific crossing
the Rocky Mountains and the Bitter Root and Cascade
ranges. 1t seems impracticabe undertaking; but
know Lieut. Grover, and do not doubt its successful
accomplishment.
In consequence of Lieut.. Sa1ton bringing to
the work. have decided to send back all but three OF the
dragons attached to the expedition. advised several
of the hired men, in my Judgment not good mountain men
enough for the duty before to return also They
treated to go on; not wishes to turn back Eve
~ wishes to identify himself with the work before
US, and the utmost confidence prevails.
In the Cascade range that gallant and able officer Capt
of my noble brothers in Mexico is
the most practicable pass aud in ope month
hope to exchange congratulations with him at the entire
success of our undertaking
Lieut. Saxton will 60 down the Missouri in charge of
the returned men, and to carry information to the Depart
ments in Washington of the condition Of the exploration
before the session Of Congress As evidence of my
sense of his services published an ORDER of which
send you copy.
Lieut. Donelson, in charge of the main party brings to
his duty great force of character high intelligence and
IN unsurpassed diligence and fidelity.
But our experience among the Indians is extraord
nary it is unexpected We have traversed the region
Of the terrible Blackfee have met them in parties
and in their camps and have received nothing but kind
and hospitality. They have brought fresh meat
guided way brought into camp straycd animals
and have guarded us whilst slept. Not one OF our
men has been touched not the smallest thing has been
taken. We were vending way to the northern Black
feet camps when called back by the express inform
ing of Lieut. Saxtons arrival little party surround
ed by Backfeet friends, and not keeping any
guard whatever at night treated them true friends
took them at their word and directed all my at night
10 to sleep Lieut. Saxton had precisely the snme
perence with the Indians of the mountains At this
very moment Mr. Stanley, the artist of the expedition,
with four men, is in their midst under the 50th parallel
and am only awaiting his return to push forward and
Join Lieut. Donelson The Government has as yet done
nothing for these Indians and have invited them to Fort
Benton to give them message from the Great Father,
and to ascertain whether they will agree for oil time to
to treat all whites they have treated and mine
These Indians range from the Saskatchewan to the
California trail, and in the winter have their lodges on
the Milk and Missouri Rivers. Milk River the prnci-
pal northern tributary Of the Missouri instead of run
ming north into British territory rs laid down all the
maps runs nearly due west to within hundred miles
Of the mountains and then DETECTING rapidly to the north
has Its in the Cypress Mountain and the adjacent
spurs OF the Rocky Mountains At the base of the noun
tains between the Milk river and the forks of the Mis-
souri, the country is plateau rising gently to the
raj passes in every direction practicable for railroad
There are several tributaries flowing through ii to the