The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-16

ces and destined lead to great port = trade refer to
the route i was my duty explore To crafty what sup
pose may be the wishes Of the audience will give briei
view Of that exploration, Applause And when do So
II Simply TO illustrate the general question: and TO yindi
cate the grounds have taken that must not have
but several routes 20 the Pacific Fellowei1ens
through the paralit of the administration and the de-
partnen which thought only too highly Of my services
was placed IN charge OF the exploration Of the northern
route That route connects the great st Lawrence basin
and the great roads moving through Canada and the south
shores of the basin by the northern shore of the Mis-
sour rse to pass in 47o 3o TO the Columbia Valley and
Pugete Sound The plan was operate in three parties
one starting from the Mississippi river and moving west
ward the second was TO start from the Columbia river
for the purpose Of exploring the Cascade range and
the third party was 70 from the Columbia river
make rapid reconnaissance of the country, and es-
abh depot in the heart OF the mountains and meet
in the passes Of the Rocky mountains Felow-ctzens,
this 49, IN brief the plan Of operations do not intend to
weary You with proix details We moved from the Mss
spp river in three parties To assigned the duty
OF surveying the Missouri ascertain if adapted
the purpose Of supplies for the building Of railroads The
two other parties moved the plains and early in
August rendezyoised Fofr< MON From Fort Union
we proceeded towards the Rocky mountains and there
snryrd the various approaches tor some twenty days
Fsf ~, y one htrdred miles cast OF the mountains
and small party remained there during the winter
make observations in regard to the Having crossed
the Rocky mountains finally rendezvouscd in the beau
uf valley of St Mary, the last day of September and
there another party planted of sixteen men, with
ders to turn their faces to the mountain passes and not
leave them till they driven out by the Gentle
men, this was very improper order have since found
out and have sent up 10 countermand itre
70 dtpe them out AT Fort Benton east of the mountains
another party despatched down the Missouri for the
purpose Of surveying the portion above Fort Union and
then to return In order that they might the
nsNsith dog train and they did cross starting the
ID Of January and when they crossed the Rocky
tan Lieutenant Grover found IL necessary dsband his
dogs The party sent back the mountains returned
| by new route taking southerly line to the Co
lumba In the time, Captain Mcclellan, having
ganzed party at Columbia Barracks made the survey of
the Cascade range from the Columbia river to above the
49h parallel There three coincidents of this
Surveying party tntwere somewhat remarkable My ad
vance party under Lieutenant Grover and the party of
Lieutenant Saxton, from the Columbia river met in the
very pass in the Rocky mountains that had fixed for
meeting in the city of Washington left Captain McClel
Ian in Philadelphia at ! m, the morning of the 10th
the appointed place of meengI from the Mississippi and
he from the Pacific coaston the 18th October, the very
same day and that without once having heard from or
communicated with each other in the time.
Gentlemen have gained these results from that
poraon We have established the entire pracicaby Of
railroad route from the great lakes to Pugets Sound by
the Columbia river We have grades fifty feet
to the mile We have tunnel Of two and half miles in
length recollect the exact con6guraon Y the country
II the route of the two great rivers the country
the Mississippi and Columbia Going vest we follow
the flowing water-going east follow flowing water
There is all in brief word Gentlemen for the adyan
ages growing out of this exploration have to refer you
the facts of the survey We find the Missouri navga
bic for steamers within five hundred miles of the head of
navigation of the Columbia river One party starting from
the west passed the Rocky mountains and went in canoe
to Columbia Barracks except sixty miles in
quence of being off the railroad line In reference snow
IL must be gratifying to you to learn that studied that
subject 1t has been q Of much reflection and
il is great qualification that did not get involved in
great We reached Fort Union early in August Ny
men Ut that time inexperienced and required TO be
taught They had submitted patiently and mildly TO
proof and reproof sometimes unjusty for when great
object on ones mind have time except 10 give
dcrs and see that they arc.obeyed felt grateful 70 them
and reaching Fort Union called up my men thanked
them for their good services and gave every perms
sion to go home. We did know Fort Union what
was before US Four hundred and sixty miles east of the
! Rocky mountains they told w woud find w
kneedeep before could get within hundred miles,
and would have II twenty feet deep In the passes We
| the valley Of the Columbia and TO Pugcts Sound. Af
ter reaching Fort Benton had communication with
the American Fur Company, who for twenty years have
been in that part of the country and neither they the
Blackfeet Indians knew absolutely anything about the
in the mountain passes Their best opinion that
ii would be safe for to go through these passes
early day. Hence We left there not knowing how
to make good survey to the Pacific slope On approach
ing st Marys Valley, in contact with the honest
smple-hearted truly religious Flathead 1ndians-the
best Indians this continent brave white men, VINO
TO tell lie and who, in their many conflicts with
the Blackeet have shown themselves to be brave in bat
tie and mercifu in victory. Applause | met these
honest and good Fathead Indians and learned that they
never Fort Benton, and that they crossed the
mountains in winter and that their fayore time for cross
| ing between Christmas and New Year. ! did not
doubt their words We went to the work, and will
give you the general result As told YOU Mr.. Grover
January There one foot Of snow there then
Mr. Mulan between the 29th November and the 10th Of
January crossed the mountains four times and the greatet
depth OF snow was fifteen inches and have letter from
Mr. Muan dated 2Th january stating that before spring
he would have explored every pass from the South Pass
49h parallel Here is the reply to all the talk about
have explored these passes with horses in the winter.
II is strange-wondrous strangebut can give you
c corroborative OF these conclusions Fort Benton
in latitude Al 30 about hundred miles cast OF the
Rocky mountains. The American Fur Company have oo-
cupied that post for twenty years Recolect my officers
visited this post that winter and they told them that they
never had enough be able carry their goods
| scghs. The finest cattle have in the
4 h.fr u.,1
river all browsing the buffalo grass Of the winter prares
The whole country s broken down into spurs and with
gard the elevations let present you with few ofhe facts
The level Of the South Pass 1900 feet and hnt
thousand miles have elevation Of between 5000
aqd 1900 feet On the north route there only two
hunAred miles Of between 1000 and 5000 elevation above
the sea- and two miles and half between 5000
and 6o00 feet have carefully made these observations
but expect that closer scientific examination the
lbeighs may be reduced 200 TO 300 feet On that
route party still at work waiting orders from the
Secretary of War in regard TO their disposition and
hope to be able TO establish these facts We want that
route nsrumentay surveyed by the spriteve and the
transit in the region Of the mountain passes 1t win be
impossible 20 get correct estimates without this careful
vey We want 10 establish communication between San
Francisco through the valley OF the Sacramento and VIII
lamete We want 20 determine the relations of California
with the Great Salt Lake and thence to the western FROM
tier of Iowa and Missouri II is idle is foolish, to talk
about route being practicable which has not been
porcd recollect that Walkers Pass is now known to
be utterly impractcabe and yet before the instruments
used every supposed that IL eminenty
,cabc In consequence OF the survey Of Mr. Williamson,
the passes at the headwates of the San Joaquin have been
well developed The coast range from San Diego TO Los
Angeles ought to be developed and local interests viii
probably require it. There Is country lying be-
j tbo In rhtr hacc still 10 be