The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-30

the NORTHERN ROUTE no rHE p a, 'Ts 1ll''

nient objections urged against the adoption Of the norh
line Is that from lis high latitude the mountain passes
blocked up with vast piles snow which renders them
impossible for halfthe year. and preeudes the possibility
its becoming Of the great thorough between
two oceans From It's locality being so far to the north
ward il would naturally be inferred that would find
reality cold orbidding region, which winter held
its dominion for six months Of the twelve Recent ex
rations have shown however that this inference is not
sustained by facts but that in midwnter rays ofs
shine penetrate these mountain passes The supposed great
obstacle to the construction of railroad the cont
nent is the transit Of the great Rocky mountain range
which, upon the northern line lies between Fort Benton
situated near the falls of Missouri and Cantonmen Stevens
on the St Marys valley, the west side. The expoa.
tons and surveys made by Gov. Stevenss parties in the
summer and Of 1853 indicated SO slight eeva
ton for the summit of the main ridge and the probability
that favorable passes might still be found to the north
or southwark of Codots pass-the one explored-thAt
Gov Stevens decided have two partesone at Fort Ben
tor and the other Cantonment Stevensto continue the
explorations during the winter and ascertain the favor
able routes and take the climate at the severe
season of the year, in the mountain passes
TO Lieut. Mullen United States army, assigned the
command Of the party. He directed to remain
Fort Owen situated the ST. Marys river, until win
and then continue the examinations OF the d
ring the Indictment Well has that officer per
formed his duty The transit Of the mountains has been
effected FIVE times during the winter by parties under Lieu
tenants Grover and Mullen United States army and Mr.
nkhem engineer corps Their reports all go show the
climate 10 be remarkably mild The theory had been
advanced by capable Of Judging that the great differ
ence in altitude might compensate in some degree for DIFF
ference in latitude and the climate Of this to
compare favoraby with that of any other That theory
established by facts Lieut. Mullen after spending the
winter in surveying the Rocky mountain passes and taking
meteorological observations became satisfied that it was
bring wagons the mountains in winter In
order effect this he left Fort Owen the first Of March
for Fort Benton Upper Missouri where there guam
ty OF United States wagons in depot He arrived Fort
Benton the 4th of March 1854 His party consisted
one interpreter and four men-al mounted lie completed
all his arrangements and left Fort Benton to return to the
Columbia valley, the 18th inst. with the same party
and, in addition, United States wagon drawn by four
mules test the practicaby Of the route for wagon
road BY keeping little back from the Missouri valley
the table lands Lieut. Mullen found excellent wagon
road from Fort Benton Medicine river from the Med
the Dearborn he followed little to the south
of the surveyed by Lieut. DoncIson, in September
1853 Fifteen miles from Dearborn river is little stream
called Prickly Pear creek which has its rise in the
chain Of the mountains. BY following UP the valley Of
this river and the ridge between it and the Dearborn be
found fine rolling prairie country Astounding in excellent
grass and timber, afording good wagon route On the
h day he encamped at the foot the east side of the d.
vding ridge which separates the Of the Missouri
from those of the Columbia On the 9th day he crossed
the Rocky mountains with his wagons without the least
difficulty whatever and found no snow upon its summit
The mountain itself is but low prairie ridge the ascent
and descent gradual that only il not necessary
lock the wheels of the wagon in descending but the ami
mails driven along at trot One could scarcely
believed that there existed such easy and beautiful pass
in the mountains The measured distance of the dividing
ridge from base 10 base is half mile From the noun
ans he followed down the northern branch of the Black
foot fork He'll Gate river and TO the Bitter Root valley
and arrived at Fort Owen the 30 of March, He found
at all his return trip The route passed over
on his return is perfectly practicable for railroad
Wagon road Ii forms connecting link in the chain from
the Mississippi Fort Benton. The route is well wate
and wooded and abundance Of excellent grass on the
whole distance the quality and quantity of which was
shown by the fine condition of Lieut. Muens animals
their return No animals were lost the tripa distance
Of nearly hundred miles heretofore deemed
mpraceable for travelling in the Rocky mountains From
Fort Benton to the mountains is fine rolling prairie
from the mountains to the Bitter Root valley gently
sopng valley.
The fact that upon the 47th parallel Of latitude there
such mountain pass capable Of being taversed by wag
in mid-winter with animals constantly kept work
in fine condition subssting entirely upon the grass found
along the route goes far 10 prove that this is not the in
hospab region has been represented to be- wish not
advocate this line for railroad because of its locality
to compare 1t with other routes under examination
with which am unncquained Each should be allowed
to stand fall upon It's merits. give IL merely
interesting information TO all who take interest in the
development of the of country known hereto
fore the civilized world only being of the strong
holds Of the savage warke Black Feet and the common
hunting and battle grounds OF all the Northwest tribes
both sides Of the mountains and bringing encourage
those who look forward TO the not ardstant day
when for the good Of the whole country the iron wheels
shall roll the best line between the Atlantic and Pa
ci6c There is another important fact connected
with tho Of these winter surveys II has been dem
onstrated that the Missouri be nsvgaed to Fort Ben
ton by lighdraught steamers In twelve days from this
point those emigrant parties reach the fertile valleys
the Hell Gate Bitter Root and Flat Head rivers and other
head tributaries Of the Columbia Here they stop and
lay the foundations Of States in the heart OF the Rocky
mountains With suitable improvements in the Columbia
river Is very probable that il susceptible of payga
ton for nuc greater distance than has been supposed
and that in time the land transportation between the At
antc and Pacific by Of the Missouri and Columbia
may be reduced to a very small distance
Much OF the success OF these explorations is due to the
fidelity Of the Black Feet from being the ferces and Wild
est Of the prairie tribes robbing and punderng indis
criiunalely They have under promises that the same
TREATIES should be made with them with other tribes SUI
fcrcd small parties pass unmolested With an e.
ahhed reputation Of being the least reliable most sith
less Of all the tribes they have thus far proved true 70
their promises and when they have had the power suhed
their natural savage propensity kill y Is earnestly
hoped nj least by those who have seen and cxpereneeu
the benefit being Of friendship with this wiid
tribe that the expectations they have formed OF having
grand talk Fort Benton may not be disappointed
RS