The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-18

addressed TO Gov. SinLEY, by Hon. Isaac
/. STEVENS, delegate in Congress from
Washington Territory. Gov. STEVENS is
favorably known in this State, as the ex-
plorer and energetic friend of the Northern
Pacific Railroad route -
WASHINGTON CRY, November LIST. 1855
HIS sseets"ry. Henry n. ss1y. Sossr"ot Of si""ess,
Mr. DEAR SIR -
enclose q very interesting account of DIR.
Perkins trip from the Columbia, overland to
st. Louis. He crossed by the Northern Pass,
explored by me, and went down the Missouri.
j consider his narrative as entirely reliable.
He 10 . gentleman OF character aud experience,
and has had special experience in mining.
having been connected with mining operations
in California some two years-and would sug
gest that it would do good service If his nara.
tive were published in the Minnesota papers.
also send you by this mail, the proposals Of
the Post Office department for service in Ore
gon and Washington. Route No. l217l is for
service semi monthly from Seattle to st. Paul,
to be rendered in covered wagons or post
coaches. time, twenty-five days. The Post
master General is satisfied the service ought TO
be put on. | desire to see a union of the men
ofexperienee on the two slopes, to the end
that the service may be sure TO succeed. 1t
needs not only the application Of capital, but of
special experience of the country. | shall
write to our people to this effect, of this mail,
and write you thus early to the end that the
gentlemen of Minnesota, who Nave already
used much exerton TO get the ronte into oper
alton, may know that my exertons here will be
to cooperate with them, in its accomplishment.
trust the next session We may at least get
! ample appropriations for wagon road over
the northern route, anu do not despair OF the
railroad.
| am confident the cabinet are all alive TO the
importance Of opening the northern route, in
view of the efforts now making 10 open great
communication to our North though British
territory.
Very truly yours.
ISAAC |. STEVENS.
We have not room for the entire nara
tive Of DR.. PERKINS. lie started from the
Dalles OF the Columbia, on the l1lh of
June, and arrived at Fort Benton, on the
Missouri, on the 21th of August. From
! this point, be descended by boat to 81. Louis.
The material portion Of bis narrative
tina. referring to the possibility Of a rail-
road over the northern portion Of the con
tinent--is IA follows
We left Fort Owen ou the 22i Of August
TO go over to Fort Benton, on the extreme
headwaters of the Missouri r liver. The dis
lance is estimated at about $50 miles, which
we travelled il little less than five days,
through beautiful country aud over "a uu-
tural wagon-road. Until We reached tie
east side OF the Rocky Mountains took
particular notice OF the country, md made
the remark to Major Owen that that would
eventually be the great northern route to
the Pacific ocean. not being then aware that
il was the very trail that Gov. Stevens Lad
passed over some three years previous
which shows the correctness Of his concln-
sions Nth regard 10 the feasibility OF a road
in that direction. Once in five years or
there abouts the passes may possibly he
closed with snow for month or six weeks
\ but do not think there would be any
difficulty IN passing otteucr than that, and
il may never occur. There are thousands
Of heads OF stock that are neycr led IN the
winter season grass growing all winter; it il
ionnd knee-high, aud j. species oil bunch
grass that keep always green. la its nutri
tive qualities 1t Is 80 excellent that an animal
completely run down will get lat upon it in
six weeks. The country is beautifully tim
bCrpl, With an excellent soil aud il finely
watered II il only five hundred miles from
the nayigabe waters of the Missouri river
to the Dayigabe waters OF the Columbia
river on the Pacific SIDE.
GA arriving at Fort Benton, we found "a
small skiff Of the American Fur Company
about to leave for ST Josephs and 81. Lou
"a. Down the river about 100 miles We
reached the mouth Of the Judith river, the
old Blackfeet treaty ground, where the
Biackieet assemble 10 receive their anuai-
ties. We there found some two hundred
lodges OF Biackfeet, and about four hundred
more were expected We renamed there
two days, guests o4 Col. Vaughan, the In.
dian agent Of the Blackseet tribe, aud then
continued our way down the river, pa.-
sing the different forts, aud meeting no
difficulty. After making elose observations
during our passage jown tae river, at every
point where it seemed probable tha, tbeie
might be any obstruction 10 navigation,
am able TO express the decided opinion that
steamboat can be run IRON ~. Ions 20
Fort Benton, a distance Of two thousand five
hundred miles, snd connect with the wagon
road which Lieut. MaHn il nov carrying
across tie continent, and thus open mp tina.
upper country. some have assumed HAT
tbs northern wseoa road ani mail rOa'e
wil Dc almost Usetrss 10 a commc5cia. pDini
Of view, becagse wc cannot preserve the
tropical products q Asia from fro-t n
crossing the mountains bit when W r.
memoir thai John Bul! i using every eiitt
= 10 estabi-h railroad threc Au1drel fz..',
farther north. and through a country 10.
,.,,ts-. al r.ar -..e' more 4 .aiHufs =. f4r..s