, 1854-08-12

water, Afford al additional reason Tor the
holding OF this conncil. The country must
soon ana rapidly be settled ! will men-
ton few characteristic facts.
West of the Rocky mountain divide, and
at an average distance Of less than one
hundred miles, arc the valleys Of the st.
Mary and Flathead rivers, the one having
its source in the divide, whence water flows
to the Snake river on the south and west,
and TO the three forks of the Missouri on
the east, and running nearly due north,
the other having its source in British terri
tory and running nearly due south these
rivers meet and form Clark's Fork, and
they furnish, separated only by low di-
vide near their confluence, an almost con-
tinuous valley, adapted to agriculture and
to grazing-the climate so mild that cattle
need not foddering in the winter, and the
mountain slopes and spurs furnishing mex
haustible supplies of lumber and fuel
From the very divide several streams and
rich valleys descend to the St Mary and
the Flathead rivers the three principal
Big Blackfeet, the Little Blackfcet and
the He'll Gate rivers-debouching from the
mountains at a single point named Hell
Gate. These last, particularly the two
latter, are great thoroughfares for Indians,
and are Of the same general character, as
to mildneSs of climate and freedom from
deep SHOWS, as the st. Mary's valley. The
arabic land west Of the divide, and in the
very heart Of the mountains, cannot be less
than five or six thousand square miles for
it must be remarked that it is not simply
the valleys referred to which 90 TO make
up the general estimate, but many lateral
valleys must be included-some, and those
especially in the vicinity of the Flathcad
lake, being of remarkable beauty and fer
tility.
East Of the mountains, the country from
the divide separating the waters Of the
three forks Of the Missouri from those Of
Snake river, as far north as the Marias
river, is one Of extraordinary richness as a
grazing country, and there are many and
extensive tracts well adapted to agriculture.
The several river bottoms of the Marias,
Teton, Medicine, Dearbon, and some SMALL
er streams further to the south, are well
supplied with cotton wood. In the region
of the three forks Of the Missouri, the eoun-
try, though well adapted to grazing, is
rather deficient in wood. ......
The change in the character Of the coun-
try, on crossing the divide and descending
the valley Of the Snake river TO Fort Hall,
is remarkable. Lieut. Mullan reports that
in the whole distance Of one hundred miles,
the term sterrility is alone expressive Of
the country, there being but one fertile
spot, and that Cantonment Loring, Eve
miles from Fort Hall. ri. .a .u
The valleys from tho three forks Of the
Missouri to the Marias, immediately east
of the mountains, will furnish several thou
sand square miles Of excellent arabic land,
besides much larger quantity Of pastu-
rage. l am of opinion that ten or twelve
thousand square miles will be low esti-
mate Of the valleys adapted 10 agriculture
in the very heart Of, and Immediately east
and west Of, the mountains in the region
between the Blackfeet and the Indian
tribes Of the Territory Of Washington
These valleys present many celebrated
landmarks, which were pointed out by the
Indian guides as the mementoes Of Indian
strife. sia s1 10f .f1y a,
The character of the country, taken in
connexion with the facilities of this route,
in the excellence of the passes, the abund-
ance Of wood, grass and water, and the
navigability Of the Missouri by steamers
to the vicinity of tho Great Falls; must go
to show the necessity OF the council, not
simply for the protection Of the Indian
tribes, but for the protection Of our citi-
zens now forming nuclei Of settlements in
the vicinity Of the Great Falls and in the
St. Mary's valley, and vending their way
to the Territories of Oregon aud Washing
ton on this route. r....-.s ..f... .. .t.-
A party is said to be now starting from
Minnesota, and so favorable is the route
for wood water and grass, that | have no
doubt that emigrants 10 these Territories
will seek it from the line of the Platte
From our most experienced hunters and
trappers, who have lived years on the Vel
low-stone, and are familiar with all the
passes in the Black Hills, l am satisfied
that the northern passes can be reached
from the line of the Platte at several points
between Council Bluffs and Fort Laraime.
A choice Of routes is an obvious advantage
in case of large emigration, which is 60
ing on this year, and is likely to go on for
some years to come. 'rr -rt
The navigability of the Missouri to the
vicinity of the Great Falls for steamers of
from is to 20 inches at all seasons of the
year, when the river is not obstrncted by
ice, and for steamers of from 80 to SO
inches, for one-halfOf the season, determin-
ed by the recent survey Of that river, and
to be inferred from its navigability for keel
boats drawing % inches at the lowest
stage, hghtering at several points, and for
keel boats Of Is inches without Tightening,
has an important bearing on this question.
Indeed, the members of the fur companies,