Kansas weekly herald., 1854-09-29
From the Boston Post.
.s'o3fherss Ratl Road Route
to the Pacific.


Hon. ]. D, Doty, copied from the Mllwau-
kee Daily Wisconsin.
MFR. Doty was member Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad party, under Gov. Stevens,
and was left by Gov. Stevens at Fort
Benton, east Of the Rocky Mountains, TO
spend the winter there, and ascertain the
character Of the country and the depth OF
the SHOWS during the winter months. Lieut..
Dfullan, to whom MIR. Doty refers in his let.
ter, was left in charge OF party west OF
the Mountains, for the same purpose, and
his report corresponds TO that of Mr.. Doty.
Great pains has been taken to obtain full
and accurate information M reference to
SHOWS in TIE mountains, and the result
dissipates all apprehension upon tina. ore.
The report Of Gov. Stevens, shortly forth
coming, will demonstrate, we are inc med,
there is less snow in the mountains in the
latitudes explored by him, than upon the
routes that have been explored futhcr to the
south.
This result, though somewhat surprising
to those not familiar with those regions, is
less so to the pioneers and hunters of the
west.
The amount of snow in Minnesota even,
IS said to be less than in many parts of Ten
nessee. In connection with good passes In
the mountains, excellent grass, and plenty
of wood and buffalo meat, will render the
route from the Lakes to Columbia River and
Puget Sound, desirable one for emigrants,
and ultimately for railroad to the Pacific.
From the Milwaukee Daily Wisconsin.
Lettefs from James Doty to J. d. Doty, da-
ted Fort Benton, May End, 1854.
Your lettez Of October Sd, 1853. has at
length reached me, via Olympia, Wallah
St.sMary's valley.
Since last wrote, several important dis
coreries have been made, and questions de-
terrnincd in regard to the n. P. r. R.
route, all tending to establish the facts that
it is eminently practical for a railroad, and
IS 4 good, if not the best emigrant road from
the Mississippi or Missouri to Oregon and
Washington Territories. BY the survey of
Lieutenant Grover, the Missouri has been
found navigable to this point for steamboats,.
Captain McLelland has found two prac-
ticable raih oad rasses through the Cascade
range; and parties are now engaged in
opening road from the Sound to Wallah
Wallah, thence to the Couer e'Alene Mis-
sion, and thence to St. Mary's valley, to
which point a good wagon road from the
head of navigation on to the Missouri has
been found by Lieut.. Mullen, who left here
Oh the 18th March, with an ordinary cmi-
grant wagon drawn by four mules, and
crossing the Rocky Mountains, reached
Cantonment Stevens on the Both, having
travelled 296 miles, by the odometer, in IL
days.
The winter has been very mild, and but
little snow in the mountains on the route
Lieut.. Grover, who left here on the 18th
January, with a dog train, for Puget Sound,
found no Sno,u to the entrance OF the pass
of the Rocky Mountains, and through the
mountains to St. AIary's the snow averaged
but one foot in depth. Thence to Puget
Sound he was compelled to take horses, and
passed through in good time and without
obstruction from snow. Two men whom |
sent with Lieut.. G., returned in February,
having walked from St. A1ary's in fourteen
days. My meteorological records show that
The whole amount of snow that fell at this
place since November was 80 inches, and
Exc greatest depth Of snov at any one time
Das i inches.
This Is an excellent grazing country.
There were large number of brokcn-down
horses and mules, and several yoke of OK
en-, which had come through from Sauk ra-
Plds, 11c0 miles to this point, left In my
charge during the months of October and
November. These were pastured on the
river bottoms near here I; not an animal died
during the winter; and On the 10Th March
the horses and mules were in efficient
working condition, and at the present time
the cattle are fat, fine beef. The Fur
Company's horses and oxen are worked all
winter upon food as they can pick up; in
fact, stock IN this country needs neither shell
tcr nor food from the hand of man.
The soil in the St. Mary's valley is known
TO be fertile; and any examination in this
region show that on all the mountain
streams, their valleys, within sixty miles of
the mountains afford soil of good quality and
an abundance of wood As to a proiusion
OF excellent water, any one who giances at
the numerous and neyer-failing spring
brooks and streams in the country will be
convinced than man nor beast never need
perish from thirst. Of nutritious grass there
IS everywhere an abundance; in the river
lotions, where its growth is rank, and upon
the plains, hills. and mountain slopes, which
are covered with luxurious growth of
Buffalo grass
Timber-white pine, pitch pine, and fir
is abundant and easily procurable. Stone
granite, limestone, sandstone-is found in
the river bluffs and mountains; and what
more is needed to, render this country SEM
inently fit for a railroad or emigrant route.
or to be settled by farmers, I beg to inquire
Of those who harp upon ssterile deserts
and railroad routes from New Caledonia ?''
II, as is assumed in communication to
the National.. ..Intelligencer of Sept. 5, 1853,
the occupancy. of a~country by the buffalo
is guaranty of its fertility. then does the