Washington sentinel., 1854-01-06
Interesting from Governor stevens Expe-
dition.

The following extract Of letter from one of
the officers of the exploring party under Gov
ernor Stevens, will be read with interest:
PORTLAND, OREGON TERRITORY,
October 10, 1853.
In order to examine as much country as
practicable, Major Stevens and myself have
not travelled foot of the way together. He
explored, with his party, to the north of the
Missouri, | to the south, extending my exami-
nations two hundred miles into the interior.
We met at the Blackfoot fort, one hundred
miles from the Rocky mountains, by agree
ment and spent four days together; talking
over matters connected with the expedition.
Both of our routes are entirely practicable for
a railroad, and ! found no difficulty whatever
in crossing the main chain of the Rocky noun
tains. Wagons can pass with few weeks
labor, and not the least difficulty in the way of
railroad. There is river bottom-"Dear-
bon" river-on the east, with valley suffi-
ciently wide, extending to the Dividing Ridge,
which is of no great elevation, and only occu-
pies few hours in crossing; and one on the
western slope, the Blackfoot fork of the Bitter
Root river, with valley still wider and better,
extending to prairie land beyond the noun
tains.
The whole CROSSING from prairie to prairie
occupies from FIVE to seven days. 1t is travel
ed by the Indians in three or four. The Bitter
Root mountains are not practicable for a rail-
road, or any other kind of road; but they
can be wholly avoided by passing from the out
let of the Black Foot trail little north, and
following the usual route Of the Hudson's Bay
Company in their excursions to that region.
This route is wholly in the territory of the
United States. Major Stevens will thoroughly
explore the Bitter Root range, and may find a
better pass than / crossed through in 1851
and during my late trip. The last trail is call
ed the "Grandn trail Of the Nezperees Indians,
and is over series of mountains-one route
one hundred and thirty miles, very steep and
rocky; the other two hundred and ten miles,
the mountains almost equally elevated, but
not SO rocky, more numerous, however. Both
Of these routes are out Of the question My
own impression has always been, and still is,
that the shores of the Columbia river afford the
most practicable route for railroad through
the Cascade mountains. The route passes
north of the Blue mountain range. The whole
route is entirely practicable, as no doubt will
be fully demonstrated by Major Stevens. The
Major and his party have all enjoyed good
health, and are getting on finely. The Major
himself is an energetic man, and has accom-
plished wonders for one season, but unavoidably
at very great expense
Major Stevens contemplates leaving por
ton Of the stores at Fort Owen, and a small
party under Lieutenant Mulin, to operate
during the winter If the passage Of the
wagons cause much delay, Major Stevens will
hurry on to Washington Territory, leaving the
train in charge of some suitable officer The
party is no doubt all over by this time, and
Major S. may be expected in about ten days or
two weeks.
My own trip has been eminently successful,
much beyond my expectations, almost the
whole way through country not previously
explored.
JOHN EVANS.