The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-09-01
From Milwaukee Daily Wisconsin.
NORTHERN RAILROAD ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC.
lanes Dosy % j. ID. Doty, dutsd

Letter from James Doiy 10 j. ID. Dog dated
FoEr BEsros, May 2 1854.
Your letter of October D. 1853 has length reached me
via Olympia Wallah Wallah and Cantonment Stevens IN
the ST. Marys valley.
Since last wrote several important discoveries have
been made and questions determined in regard TO the ~
r. route AL tending TO establish tbs facts that II y
emipeny practicable for railroad, and is good II not
the best emgran road from the Mississippi or Missouri TO
oregon aud Washington Territories. BY the survey OF
Lieutenant Grover the Missouri has been found nagao
10 this point for steamboats,
Captain McLelland has found two practicable railroad
passes through the Cascade range and parties are now
engaged in opening road ron me oouup - haaa
Walah thence the Couer Alene Mission ana thence
10 St Marys valley to which point good wAgoi-road
from the head of navigation on the missouri mas been
found by Lieutenant Mullen who left here on the lsih
March with an ordinary emgran wagon drawn by Tour
mules and crossing the Rocky mountains reached Gan
comment Stevens the 30th having travelled 2o6 miles Toy
the odomeier, in IL days
The winter has been very mild and bnt little in
the mountains the Lieutenant Grover, who left
here the 18th January With dograins for Puget Sound,
found the entrance OF the pass OF the Rocky
noun ains and through the mountains 10 St Marys the
snow averaged but foot in depth Thence 10 Puget
Sound he compelled TO take horses and passed through
in good time and without obstruction from snow. Two
men whom sen, with Lieutenant G., returned IN februa-
ry having walked from St Mays in fourteen days. My
meteorological records show that the whole amount OF
snow that fell at this place since November was SOL
inches and The greatest depth q snoe az ony Ger f,'ae ds
inches.
This is an excellent grazing country There were large
number of broken-down horsos and mules and several
okes Of oxen which had through from Sank rapids
lGO miles this point left in my charge during the
months of October and November These were pastured
the river bottoms here not an animal died during
the winter; and the 18th March the horses and mules
in efcien, working condition. and at the present time
the cattle fat fine beef The Fur Companys horses
and worked all winter upon such food as they
can pick up in fact stock in this country needs neither
shelter nor food from the hand of man
The soil in the St Mary valley is known 10 be fere and
any examinations in this region show that on all the noun
their valleys, within sixty miles OF the noun
ains afford soil OF good quality and an abundance or
wood As to a profusion Of excellent water any one who
glances the and neyer-iaing spring brooks
and streams the country will be convinced that nor
beast ever need perish from thirst of nutritious grass
there is everywhere abundance in the river bottoms
where lis growth Is rank and upon thf plains nils and
ountan slopes which covered with luxuriant growth
OF Buffalo grass.
Timber-yhite pine pitch pine and frs abundant and
easily procurabe Sonegranite, limestone and sand
sones found in the river bluffs and mountains and what
needed to render this country emineny ut for
railroad emgrant route 10 be settled by farmers beg
inquire Of those who harp upon sterile deserts and
hrarnad rontes through sew laeionagR
If as is assumed in communication 10 the National
ntelligcncer of September 1853 the occupancy of
country by the buffalo guarantee of its fertility then
does the northern railroadroute bear the palm from all
other routes From the Shayenne the Assniboin camp
Fort Union from the mouth of Milk river TO this
point we were always Sin buloP Indian tradition says
they were always here IL Is here they remain summer
and winter and their old and deeply-won trails, twelve
fifteen of which may often be side by side
this country in all directions through mountain and VAL
ley
The various detached parties of the expedition and those
stationed in the country have crossed and recrossed the
mountains, from November to May with trains q pack
nlles and then with wagons and without hinderance
aograin and snowshoes, and had to abandon them for
want of the accounts of this country heretofore
given are "a complete hurnbngH il being in no respect
what was represented and by almost every one believed
lah
The meteorological register shows that in mdness of
winter this country corresponds with the climate Of Ore
gnnn Of n hp afi tl,le