The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-03
Route to the paciAc.

LETTER FROM MAJOR HrEvExs.-The follow
ing private letter from Major Stevens, who 10 con-
Quoting the survey of the northern route to the
Pacific ocean, has been made public:
Camp NEAR LIGHTNING LAKE, June IS, 1853
We are now over one hundred and fifty miles
from our starting place, Camp Pierce, which was
named in honor of the President, and is beauti-
fully situated on Lake Amelia, about ten miles
northwest of st. Paul, and over three from Fort
Smelling My force is well organized, and my
means of transportation effectual as l need.
our labos, and my preparations, think, are a
good guarantee of success.
OF the objects of the expedition you are well
aware. As for myself, my mind is nnprepared in
regard to fixing any particular line OF road tor the
great nter-oceanic railroad communication. My
determination is to collect facts, learn the geogra-
ply and topography of the country over which
we pass and develop the resources of this hitherto
unknown region. Should good line for rail-
road be found, connecting the head waters of the
Mississippi and Pugets Sound, trust the day
will not be far distant when the railroad will be
built
After careful study of this question, I have
come to the conclusion that if the routes be prac-
tcable, two roads must ut early date be built
one connecting San Francisco with the Gulf and
Central States, ind the other Puget's Sound with
the valley OF the st. Lawrence. have no doubt
as 10 the practicaDIty OF the southern line, and
trust no delay will occur in commencing it,
When consider the growing Importance of our
Pacific possessions the rapid concentration of the
commerce of China, Japan, and the Indies on that
coast, making our country the centre of the com
merce of the world, | cannot but be convinced
that two great roads will prove insufficient to sup
ply its wants, and that we shall need three and
probably more roads,
But apart from the railroad survey proposed
other great advantages will flow from this expe-
dition. have made it special point of interest
to the friendship OF the Blackfeet Indians,
through whose country we to pass To do
this | have engaged the services Of Alexander
Culbertson, esq, whom have appointed, by au-
thority of the Indian Bureau, special agent.
He has lived among the Blackfeet for over twenty
years, knows every adult male of that tribe, and
possesses unbounded influence over them. made
his acquaintance at st. Louis, and found him to
be steady, intelligent, and reliable man. He
joins the expedition at Fort Union, which expect
to reach about the 18th of July, and accompanies
me to the base of the Rocky Mountains. BY
means of expresses sent by Mr.. c. through the
country, council will be convened at Fort Ben
ton, about four hundred miles vert of Fort Union.
This distance has a good wagon road the whole
way, and over it the Fur Company heavily laden
wagons make the journey in twenty days. For
myself expect to be in the Territory in the early
days of September. presume this will be the
last opportunity of sending letters back until our
arrival in the Territory Of Washington.
am, very truly yours,
ISAAC J. STEVENS.