, 1858-10-29

channel better; and, as we approach the
mouth Of the Muscle Shell, the river begins
to assume the characteristic appearance OF
the Missouri in every respect; and below
its mouth all obstacles to navigation for
small boats may be considered at an end.
Its width gradually increases, and near the
mouth of the Mix river, its general width
is about four hundred yards.
The above statements refer TO the river
between the goth and 30th September.
Earlier in the season, when the tributaries
are supplied from the melting Of the SHOWS
in the mountains, its depth is much greater.
In the month Of june it has three feet more
water; from the first of August to the
middle of September it falls very gradually,
and upon the first Of September the depth
is about one foot greater. This rise and
fall Of the river is very regular, and it is
but little affected by the accidents Of
weather During the high water the cur
rent is very rapid and severe, and the small
rapids are lost sight of. AS to the large
rocks sometimes found in the channel, they
are brought fron high up the river by the
ice as it goes out where the river breaks
up. During the winter they become at
tached tc the under surface of the ice, aud
in its removal they are taken along till they
are rubbed of by some gravel bar or fall
down by the melting of the ice; the next sea-
son, if on bar and near the surface, they
again become frozen up with the ice and are
moved farther down, Thus they are con-
stantly working their way down the river,
and bar that this season is encountered by
them may be free the next.
Conclusions lOih regard 10 Navigation
From the above statements it will be
seen that the only distractions to the navi-
cation Of the river by steamboats, are the
shallowness Of the water and the large
boulders in the channel. But the first
does not exist as an obstruction to boats
drawing twenty inches before the middle Of
September. As to the second obstruction,
it can, think, be obviated by providing a
boat with suitable graphing hooks, with
which she can hitch on to a rock in her
way, and drop down with it to deeper
water with but very little detention. A
boat drawing twenty inches, loaded, can
then, think, navigate the river from the
opening Of the season till the first of Sep
tember with perfect safety. Earlier in the
season it is quite probable that boats Of
three feet draught would find no difficulty
in ascending, but in order to be here in
time, they would have to winter at Fort
Union. This fact, therefore, becomes Of
no practical advantage at present. As to
wood for the use Of boats, plenty Of it can
be found upon the banks"
From Lieut.. Sarton's Report.
:" started at the driest season of the
year, when the Missouri was uncommonly
low, and had, therefore, an opportunity of
observing the river in its NEST unfavorable
state. During great portion Of the year,
the rains and melting snow in the noun
tains swell the volume of water to many
times its size at the low stages, making the
passage of boats much easier.
l embarked upon q keel-boat obtained
from the American Fur Company, and
built by them Of timber brought from the
rocky mountains. 1t was eighty feet long
by fourteen wide, had twelve oars, and
drew, when loaded, eighteen inches of
water.
For the first two days of my journey, the
water was comparatively clear, with a
gravel bottom; the channel crooked, the
current varying in swiftness between one
half and four miles per hour. In no case
did l find less than fifteen inches of water
upon the bars, and SO shallow run as this
in but one or two localities.
Owing to the peculiar nature Of the bot
tom-it being mixture in many places of
quicksand and fine gravel-it would give
way very readily to the action of the pad
die wheels, and admit of the passage Of a
boat drawing q greater amount of water
than is actually found upon the bars
The regimen Of the river above the mouth
Of the Muscle Shell is fixed. The banks
change very little, and there is very little
timber. Should steamers ruu here eventu
ally there will be a scarcity Of fuel; enough,
however, can be collected for present pur-
poses.
The "Mauvaises TSrres" lie directly
above the Muscle Shell; through these the
channel is very coed. The worst bar in
the river is above the Bad Lands, few
miles below Fort Benton, where there was
but fifteen inches Of water.
From the Muscle Shell downward, to-
wards the mouth Of the Yellowstone the
river changes The water gradually be-
comes muddy from the washing away Of
the banks; the channel is constantly shift
ing its position; the forests of cotton wood,
with which the banks are lined, falling into
the river, causes numerous snags and saw
yers. Below the Yellowstone, the Mis-
souri, assumes the same character it mani
tests to its mouth. 1t becomes thick and
muddy with the alluVial deposit it is cease
lessly bearing onward to the Gulf Of Mexi-
co. The bed of the river is much broader;
the waters separate into many different
channels, forming numerous sand islands,
sometimes covered with forests of cotton
wood.
| have no hesitation in expressing an
opinion, founded upon actual observation
q, = Il.