New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-09-17
THE PUGETs SOUND RAILROAD SURVEY

Cor,spebdence Of The ~ I. Tribsne.
ST. PAUL Minnesota, Sept 8, 1883
BY the return Of some guides who had engaged 10
conduct Gov Stevens's Expedition TO the Yellow Stons,
have very fun report Of the progress of the work
and the topography and geography of the country for
700 miles Of actual survey The entire party arrived
at Fort Union, AZ n latitude. longitude 1884 the last
OF july and encamped near the confluence Of the fe
low Stone with the Missouri Here Gov Stevens took
eight days TO reft and adjust matters preparatory 70
the mountain survey On the 9Th Of August the tram
was again in motion the Governor having hrst taken oc
cason 10 thank his for their activity
and fidelity offering to any who were weary or dscon
tented an honorable discharge. The men, loo IN mum
ber well armed and prOvisioned for 100 days were en-
thusasic to prosecute the survey and set forward WIN
aacrify, ready 70 encounter the obstacles Oh na'
the treachery Of the Backfeet Indians btcehent
guides for the mountains had been secured VINO gave
strong assnrances that every part Of the train could be
carried through the mountain and tha' py he io'h Vi
August they would have reached an Indian village On
the Western declivty.
and spirts having fallen in with buffalo and elk short
distance west of the be head waters OF the Red River
Of the North In places the herds were 20 large that
the train was obliged TO halt and let them pass A
private letter says, hundreds of Thousands might be
seen stretching like dark ridge off against the hori-
zon One moving mass detained the train three hours,
since to push into their lines might in case Of fright
have been attended with fatal consequences
Now we come to the great point, which next TO the
welfare OF the company OF surveyors most nearly III
terests Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio Penn
sylyania, New-York, and the Eastern States Can
road be built from ST. Paul, Minnesota, to Puget
Sound1 have before stated that from the Government
Reports made from previous surveys over large par
Of Minnesota already knew the topography OF the
country from FOn du Lac Lake Superior to the Red
River Of the North. We have the route OF sur
vey extended TO the vicinity Of the Rocky Mountains and
have met with not a single serious obstruction Inc
Cheyenne River win present the greatest obstruction
but can be bridged or erried, possibly avoided BY
bearing south. One long stretch OF plain, with bu
little variation reaching for 700 miles, then add the
inland sea navigation from Fon du Lac to Buffalo near
" 900 miles more, and should we be compelled to
center vast amount of capital in pushing road
through the mountains, from the very moderate ex
pense of constructing many hundreds OF miles free
from obstruction afford large OUTLAWS to accom-
plish this object.
The country is reported to be charmingly beautiful
and exceedingly fertile with much more timber than
they were prepared to meet. The Assnlbons were
very civil and difficulties apprehended from the
Blackfeet Why shall not have this northern route
Nature has made the country, as If to order for rail-
WAY The distance is shorter, the country through
which il would pass arabic and fertile than fur
Their south In fact the geology and the face OF the
country are much the same Minnesota and any one
who SAYS aueht against the producveness and salubrty
Of this region Iabors under mistake.