, 1858-10-29

November. On the nights of the 18th and
10th ice made in the river, and suspended
navigation for the winter. | am Of opn-
ion that the ice formed at Fort Clark and
Fort Union about the same time This
was the coolest season | have ever known
in my experience Of twenty-five years.
At Fort Union have known tie river
| to be opened as early as the lst ofsApril,
and never TO be closed later than the 18th
! of the same month. In the fall l have
never known the ice at the same point to
form earlier than the 10Th, and | have
known the river to be open as late as the
25th November.
In lS45 the steamd r Tropic, belonging
TO- the Fur Company of Fox, Livingstone
& Co., left Fort Union about the first Of
November, and passed down to Fort Pierre,
where the ice formed for the winter about
the 18th Of November, aud locked the
steamers up"
The late Superintendent of Indian At
present Governor Of Utah, Alfred Cum
ming, Esq, has expressed, in his official re-
ports, even more favorable opinions as to
the navigability of the Missouri than the
above He, personally, examined the
river in 1855, on the occasion Of his trip to
Fort Benton as one Of the commissioners to
hold TIE Blackfoot council.
From the results furnished by surveys and
observations, there would seem to be no
doubt of the navigability Of the Upper
Missouri for draught steamers, drawing
from eighteen to thirty inches, according to
the season, as far as Fort Benton. None
of the observers place its capacity at the
lowest stage at less than from fifteen to
eighteen inches, and Mr. Saxton at not
less than twenty inches, aud from the de-
scription given Of the distractions at the
rapids, confidence can be placed in the
opinion Of Mr.. Culbertson, that by the re-
moVal of some few small boulders at the
principal rapids depth of two feet could
be obtained at all seasons Of the year, to
Fort Benton.
The experience Of navigating shallow
and circuitous rivers obstructed by rapids
is conclusive in favor of the economical
navigation of the Missouri. On the Mica
ragua Transit route, on the Upper Mis-
sssippi from St. Anthony's to Sauk Rap
ids, Ou the Ohio itself and especially its
Allegheny tributary, steamers are run
drawing from eleven to sixteen inches, hav-
ing capacity for passengers and freight
There should unquestionably be separate
lines-one running from St. Louis and the
towns and cities on the Missouri to Fort
Union, and the other from Fort Union to
Fort Benton.
IMPORTANCE OF THIS NAVIGATION.
We have thus, at some considerable
length, given all the important facts bear
ing upon the naVigability Of the Missouri
1t is most important line Of communion
ton with the territories Of Oregon and
Washington aud with the gold regions on
Frazer and Thompson rivers. 1t is also
important to emigrants going over land
from St. Paul and the western end Of Lake
Superior.
With a great line Of communication
opened to the Northwest on the Missouri,
and the establishment of a regular line of
steamers, all the supplies required by emil
grants can be furnished at these points at
comparatively cheap rates, so that emf
grants from Minnesota may travel light
and rapidly, depending upon rsplenishiDg
tkeir stores on the way at Forts Union and
Benton.
This river has two important relations to
the defence Of the interior Military posts
established at Fort Union and Forts Ben
ton could be supplied entirely by steamers.
In sending troops across the continent to
Oregon and Washington, where from the
nature Of our Indian relations, q large
force is now, and, probably, will be neces-
sary, for some years, the Missouri is avail
able. From Fort Benton to the point
where Col. Steptoe was recently defeated
by the Indians is some four hundred and
thirty miles. From his principal fort in
the Walla-walla, about four hundred and
eighty miles From the Fort be proposes
to establish at the mouth OF the Palouse
about four hundred and fifty miles, and
from Fort ColVille, point that should also
be occupied by troops, about Eve hundred
miles. Here is a field Of military opera
tions in the interior of Oregon and Wash
ington, only four or Eve hundred miles
frOm the head OF steamboat navigation OF
the Missouri
There is q fine plateau around Fort
Benton, and large amount of excellent
arabic andsgrazing land in the vicinity. 1t
has oil the requirement for a great depot
both for water and land travel; and the
same observation applies to Fort Union.
1t may be remarked that there is now
an excellent wagon road from Fort Union
to Fort Benton-distance 377 miles. 1t
follows the general course Of the Missouri
to Mix river, then continues up that river,
ill opposite the Bears Paw mountains
when, leaving Milk river and passing un-
der and to the westward Of the Bears Paw,
it pursueS q south-westerly course to Fort
| Benton.
As an auxiliary in the construction Of q
railroad on the northern route, its import
ance is obvious Under the recent grants
of land to Minnesota, a road has been To-