, 1853-11-05
Late News from Gov. Stevens

From the Oregonian.
DR.. Evans, the Uniecd States geologist
for Oregon, who was selected 10 accompany
Gov. Stevens in the exploration of the pro-
posed northern route for the Pacific railroad,
arrived in this city, on Thursday evening.
DR.. Evans left Gov. Stevens in the Black
foot country, one hundred miles east Of the
Rocky mountains. Gov. Stevens had de-
tailed Two parties at that point, for the pur-
pose ofexamlning two routes over the noun
tains. One ria the Three forks under COM
mand Of Lieut.. Mullen, and the other ria
MaElas river pass, under the charge of Mr..
Lander, civil engineer. The main party
under command Of Lieut.. Donelson, accom-
panied by Gov. Stevens, would proceed ria
the Blackfeet trail, Cadets pass. 1t will
be seen by the following account of the cx-
pedlIlon, that tho route has been found per-
fectly practicable as far as the mountains.
DR.. Evans informs us that there are no dif-
hculties in crossing the Rocky mountains by
the Blackfoot trail, as far as the Flalhead
village, on Bilier.root river. From this
point, passing a little 10 the north by the
Hudson Bay trail, Lieut. Saxton (whonl he
met one days march from Gov. Stevens
camp reports the route practicable to The
Dalles Of the Columbia. The party weTe
all in good health. A depot for supplies
bad been made at Fort Owen, in charge of
Lieut.. Arnold.
: DIR. Evans has travelled different route
from that taken by Gov. Stevens, for the
purpose Of making as extended reconnois-
sance as practicable. His route has been
south Of tho Missouri. Leaving that river
at Fort Pierre, he proceeded south to the
head waters of White river, thence along
the base Of the Black hills, on the high Ia
bic land bordering those mountains, 10 the
yellow Stone. Crossing iho Missouri river
he ascended the same 10 Milk river; and
from thence midway between the Missouri
and Milk rivers to the Blackiooi pass, thro'
which he came on to tho Bhter-root river,
following up that stream to the Nez Pcrce
trail, crossing the Bitter-root mountains,
and through the Nez Perces country to
Walla Walla and the Dalles of the Colun.
bia. DR.. Evans is fully satisfied that this
Route also, is perfectly feasible for a rail-
road.
Plenty oSgood grass and water were found
Oh both OF the routes explored Timber,
also, is abundant, along many Of the river
bottoms. IL is a matter of the highest i'm
Portanee 10 the future progress oG this hith
erlo uncxPlored country, that this expedi
ton was undertaken, d it has proved emil
nently successful
The expedition fox the survey and ex-
ploration OF railroad line from Tho bcr
waters Of the Mississippi to Puget Sound
assembled at camp Pierce, about three miles
Rom Port Smelling, between the 23d of Nav
and June LIST and moving forward in de-
iachra parties, reached camp Davis, near
Sauls Rapids, between the 9th and ith of
June. The engineer parties and a small
pioneer party were some GHy milcs ahead,
making reconnaissance and preparing the
Foad Tor the train. At this point the Mis-
slssIpr IS kR, and from il Lieut. Grover
with a picked party of some fifteen men
started on the l2th of June TO reconnoitrc
the country north of White Bear lake, 10
ascertain the point where the expedition
should leave the Red river trail, il being de
Srable to run line crossing the Bois de
Sioux moth Of lake Travers, to the Dead
Colt H.llock, anil thence to the Yellow
Stone. The whole party followed on the
I3lh, i5,h, and lGIh of June, and came to
sclhcr June 23d, at PIX" lake, Que hundred
and sixty seven miles from 81. Paul
On The 2jlh Of June, Ll'ut Grover with
nncle'n picked mon, two wagons, anil thu