The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-01
Gov. Stevens, Report Continued.

At Camp Davis, June 10th, he writes in good
spirits, evincing a determination to push ahead
as last as possible.
The next is from the west side of the Chcy-
enne River, where he met the Red River train.
He says:
THE command has now become thoroughly
organized, with broken animals, and hardy,
willing men. | feel the utmost confidence in
accomplishing the great objects of the exped-
ton
''Besdcs the difficult task of breaking in
wild animals. many too young for the service,
and the still more difficult task of getting into
working condition those run down in the ope-
ration, we have had to encounter bad roads,
mgiJy sloughs, river crossings, consuming each
an ent.re day. and drenching rains.
Bui for Il few days the weather has been
good. To-day we shall reach the Maple River
and enter upon the high rolling prairie. The
worst portions Ofthe road are gone over. The
grazing is remarkably fine. Every man is now
mounted, and we shall now make our regular
marches of fifteen or twenty miles per day
The country thus far is exceedingly favor
able for railroad. | am confident no grade to
this point will be found of more than twenty
feet. The Cheyenne is great obstacle, and
the indications are very decided that the line
must go south. l have indicated practicable
railroad route. Its cost, without equipment,
will not exceed twenty thousand dollars per
mile. No important detection is made"
In his next letter, dated from Camp Cushing.
near Fort Union August Sth, he writes:
Every thing looks extremely favorable, and
| doubt not in the least, that by the last of
September we shall have crossed the noun
tainS.
The enclosed memorandum will give you
more full account Of the details of the opera
IONS, and the enclosed sketch of railroad
route certainly practicable, at "a cost not pro-
badly exceeding $4,000 per mile. 1t is Ger
tain the two great key points ofcountry are the
valley of Mouse River and the region of the
Bots DIES Sioux. The Mouse River is erronc GUS
ly given on all the maps. 1t no where APP
proachcs the Missouri nearer than thirty or for
ty miles, and the pass over the COteau is so gra-
dual, and the whole valley is so open. that the
ascent is scarcely observed.
ave found the Missouri much out on all the
maps, and the Milk River still more so--how-
ing nearly due west. Up to this point. We
have found the country entirely practicable for
Il railroad. Whichever pass in the mountains
may he decided upon, the Milk River valley
will furnish IA good approach.
Already are my parties ahead, cXamiDiD :,
the country between here and the mountains.
Lieut.. Grover with select party of seven men,
started ON the 9Th, to rcconnOitrc Cadets Pass.
and ascertain its practicability for wagons, and
push ahead to the St. Mary's village. and thence
open the communication with Capt McClelland.
Il am obliged to report that the allotment
made of ; 900 from the appropriation for the
survcy Will be entirely exhausted by the close
and perhaps by the middle of next month
do not feel justified to suspend operations We
are on the exc Of complete success. My parties
Of
My intercourse with the Indians has been of the
most satisfactory character. The Blackfcct In
dams have sent their chiefs and braves to fn-
wife me to their camps--nOt n horse has been
stolen. not man touched, no private article
has been missed.
In view of the great results which am of
opinion this expedition is on the eve of accom-
plishing. do not feel that | would fulfil the
reasonable expectations of the department by
Suspcndn@ operations. 1t seems to me my
highest obligation is to continue vigorously the
work placed in my charge. and to get results
which will justify the expenditure of means :;
From Fort Benton, September 18th, he writes
of his happy meeting with Capt. McClcllani
ant, his party from the Pacific Ocean. Here is
shown the skill and energy with which this
great and important expedition was planned
and carried out. lie says:
1T was in Washington determined to ,Iirec.
our first exploration on this Pass. 4. We APP
preached it from this side of the mountains, we
called it Cadets Pass, from Cabot, one of our
guides, who passed over it two years since.
My first thought on reaching Fort Benton. was
to send forward Lieut.. Grover TO ascertain whc-
thcr he had reached st. Mary's, or was on his
way to this point poiGt to the circumstance
of their actual meeting within three miles of
the dividing ridge as some evidence of the
goodness Of the lass, and how well it was I'M
derstood in the first Instructions.
"CaAot's Pass is. by the barometer measure
mcnts o. Lieut.. SaXton. nearly 5000 feet be-
lol The South Pass. and is much better route
both II summer and in winter. 1t presents not
the slightest difficulty to the passage of rail-
road;
Passing over good deal of interesting in
formation in regard to the country west Of Ca
dots Pass, and the impracticablc character ci
that portion of the Bitter Root ranges of noun
tans, lying Immediately west of the st. Mary 5
Valley" we come to results already accom-
pl>hcd":
/. A line drawn from the Dallcs Of the Co
lambda to the head of navi CATION of the Missis-
sppi.
2. The ascertainment that Cadets Pass in
the Rocky Mountains is nearly 5000 feet below
the South Pass, aud is a much better route
both in summer and in winter.
B. That this Pass connects by the plateau be-
tween the Milk and Missouri Rivers, rising
gently to the mountains west from Fort Beu-
ton, and by the valley of the st. Marys and
other valleys, extending for $50 miles along the
western base OF the Rocky Mountains, with the
several known practicable lines from the Mis-
sissIppi River north OF the Missouri. and it'll
at least one practic ible route to the Columbia
4. That the routes north of the Missouri will
connect with the Missouri at the mouth of the
Yellow Stone and at the falls by easily con-
structed and short spur roads.
5. That the Missouri is navigablc at all sea-
sous, when not DISTRACTED by ice for some dis
lance above Fort Union, and is believed to be
navigablc to the falls for steamers drawing Is
inches Oi water.
6. That cast of the yellow Stone all the roads
must pass over the broad plateau Of the Bots dc
Sioux and the valley of the Mouse River.
I. That roads may be run over the Bots de
Sioux from several points on the Mississippi.
g. That at least two good routes can connect