, 1858-10-01

'tone branch going down the Columbia to
, Vancouver and the other passing up the
: main Yakima to Snoquamie pass, aud
thence to the waters Of the Sound at Sc.
attic. In Gov. Stevens plan and estimates,
provision is not only made for these two
branches reaching directly Puget Sound
and tie Lower Columbia, but also a branch
road is urged connecting Vancouver with
the Sound.
\ This route has a direct aud easy con-
nection with the newly discovered gold re-
giOns From the Ceur d'Alene Lakes the
country is entirely practicable to all parts
a the main Columbia from Fort Wala-
walla to Fort Colville Wagons and pack
trains can now pass in almost every direc-
tion. Many of the minor details Of the
railroad route have not yet been establish
ed; as, for instance, the particular crossing
of tho Columbia; whether it shall be above
the mouth of the Snake, or, whether, in
order to carry the road through as much
Of the good country and fine pine timber
on the western slope of the Bitter Root
mountains as possible it shall be taken
from the C@ur d'Alenc to the Palouse
valley, and thence down the latter stream
to its junction with the Snake; or whether,
following well down the Ceur d'Alene TO
its intersection with the Spokane river,
crossing of the Columbia shall be made
much above the mouth Of the Snake, with
view Of shortening the distance to the
Sound, and keeping the route as near as
practicable to the gold region csntering
about Colvile. These are questions which
will require careful examination when the
road is located.
1t may bo remarked, that Gov Stevens,
in his published report, carried the railroad
line down Clark'S fork, and passed it from
Clark's fork below the Pend d'Oreille
Lake to the Spokane, but stated that the
.CGur 1Aleno route was probably practi-
cable, and urged its careful examination.
This examination was made by him in
1855. He found the line entirely practica-
bic, efTecting a saving of four millions Of
dollars in the cost Of the road, and short
ening the distance some seventy-fiVe miles.
CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES. "a.
This route connects the great Lakes and
the Upper Mississippi directly with Puget
Sound and the Columbia Valley. The
distance in round numbers is but eighteen
hundred miles 1t has the least sum
of ascents and desceuts Of any route, and
the lowest grades 1t passes through a
country having many times more arabic
land than any other route. 1t abounds in
timber and wood. 1t has the least def
cheney Of water, and no serious distractions
from snow. 1t is ii connection with the
two large rivers flowing eastwardly and
westwardy from the great water shed ofI
the continent These rivers can be navi-
gated by steamers Of considerable capacity
within 450 miles Of each other. The Mis-
souri, is naVigable to Fort Benton, and the
Columbia, by following its great southern
branch, Snake river, TO the mouth Of the
Palouse From the mouth of the Palouse
to Fort Benton is but 450 miles. These
rivers, therefore, furnish the means Of
throwing the route into sections, and the |
time required to build the whole road is
simply the time required TO build the CEN
trail section, distance Of 450 miles.
Moreover, on this route only 255 miles |
are more tndn oUUU leeJ uOOV0 Lne sea |
whereas the other routes are more than
5000 feet above the sea, as follows:
South Pass Route ute,...,............... l432 Miles.
35th Parallel. Observation-Disclosures. 93s
32nd Parallel. ......,.............,.... G63 "
On the Northern route only 1875 miles
are more than 1000 feet above the level
of the sea. On the other routes the dis
tances Of more than 1000 feet above the
sea are as follows; ...
South Pass. 272 Miles.
SS19 SSIa FSTsIIe PaTaIIc5 ''''''''''''''' a5fi
Tho sums of ascent and descent on these
four routes are as follows;
-s GOV. STEVENS ROUTE.
St. Paul to Seattle via Snoqualme Pass %, ,254 Feet.
St. Paul to Vancouver Columbia Rv) .ls,O54
OTHER ROUTES.
south fass' ...., ..........'- ZJilZO "
3jth Parallel ........,...... ........... ..4B,52l
32nd Parallel, Fulton to San Francisco. .ss,2OO
These facts show the much greater
in an engineering point Of
view, Of the northern (Gov. Stevens)
route than any other.
In freight business, regard must be had
to the ascents and deScents, as well as to
Al 1 IL