, 1858-05-21
Important Military Read in Washington
Territory from Fort WalIa-WaIIa 10
Fort Benton, on the Upper Missouri
Gold Discoveries in Washington Territory.


The following letter, published in the
New York Journal of Commerce, in com
mercial and business matters one of the
most reliable papers in the country, will be
read with interest at this time, as tending
to confirm the reported gold discoveries in
Northern Oregon and the British posses
sons, and also conveying intelligence of the
Governments intention to construct an In
migrant Road over what is known as the
northern route leading through Mullins
Pass" In a conversation with Lieut.
Mullan, who came on from Washington in
the Sonora, we learn that official advces
had already reached the Capital of the ex-
istence of gold in these new placers, and
that it is fair to presume large population
will soon be attracted to that region This
gentleman, one Of the most active and eff
cent officers in our army, proceeds to Ore
gon on the Panama, now awaiting the ar
rival of the Columbia, nearly due, before
sailing. With the filling up of this vast
realm at the north, and the construction Of
wagon road over route so eminently
practicable, who shall say but the present
improvement will be the forerunner Of the
Pioneer Railroad to connect the Atlantic
and PacifcY-iSan Francisco Times.
WASHINGTON, March 81, 1858.
The Secretary of War has issued orders
to Lieut.. John Mullan, U. S. A to pro-
ceed Immediately to the Columbia River
and organize force to commence at once
the work of opening a wagon road from
Fort Walla-walla, on the Columbia River,
to Fort Benton, on the Missouri Lieut.
Mullan will, in pursuance of those orders.
leave in the California steamer Of the 9th,
and proceed with all possible dispatch to
the field Of operations. He will reach the
Columbia by the lst of May, and expects
to have his force organized so as to COM
mence work by the lst of June His plan
of operations will be to push forward with
train of wagons as rapidly as possible, SO
as to reach Fort Benton by the lst Of 0c-
tober, when, after reporting progress, he
will return over the same route, and thence
proceed home ria San Francisco and Pana-
ma, and reach Washington in January,
1859.
The intention Of the preliminary opera
tions is to demonstrate the perfect feasibili-
ty of the route, and to open summer trail
for emigrants.
The road will be systematically compile
ted, it being the intention Of the Govern
ment to make it FIRST class road.
The Importance of this road to emigrants
cannot be too highly estimated. 1t will
fern the connecting link that will join the
military road already made from Walla-wal-
la to Puget Sound, and the route down the
Columbia, with the emigrant roads already
extended as far as Fort Benton, from the
Eastern States
The Thirty-Third Congress made an ap-
preparation for this military road, but no
action was taken upon it, until the atten-
tion Of the present Secretary Of War was
Ydirected to its great Importance by Gov.
Stevens, the delegate in Congress from
Washington Territory. Secretary Floyd
at once saw the advantage which this road
would afford to the Government and coun-
try, not only in a military point of view, as
forming means Of communicating with
our remote northwestern possessions, but as
opening q direct and easy route for emf
grants desirous Of proceeding to Oregon or
Washington Territory. He accordingly
acceded to the views of Gov. Stevens, and
promptly issued the requisite orders.
Lieut.. Mullan is well and favorably
known to the public as having been connec-
ted with Gov. Stevens great survey for the
Northern Pacific Railroad, during which be
discovered the celebrated pass through the
Rocky Mountains, between the head waters
Of the Prickly Pear Crock on the east and
the little Blackfoot river on the west,
known as Mullan's Pass, and through
which the road is so easy that Lieut.. Null
Ian in his report says he passed over it "in
wagon with his horses on q trot"
The energy, experience and intelligence
Of Lient Mullan are sufficient guarantees
that he will perform the duty assigned him
promptly and efficiently.
The result of the operations on this road
during the coming season may be looked
forward to with interest, as it will demon
strate the good judgment of Gov Stevens
in proposing that the work be approached
at once from the Pacific, rather than by
the usual tedious and expensive operations
Of commencing such roads from the eastern
side of the Rocky mountains.
Had the Government determined to COM
mence the work at Fort Benton, the whole
Of the coming season would have to be
used in getting forward the necessary
equipments and subsistence. By adopting
the present plan, saving Of at least one
years time will be effected.
The last mail from California brought
advices from Washington Territory, show
ing that an immense deposit of gold had
been discovered in the region extending
from Fort ColVille to the head waters Of
Frazer's River A letter from Port Town