, 1858-10-29
From the American Railroad Journal.
Northern Pacific Railroad.

Northern Pacific Railroad
In our last issue, we called attention to
the Importance Of the Northern route TO
the Pacific, and presented briefly its char,
aetsristic features. In the present number
We propose to treat of the Missouri river,
both as q line Of communication leading
from the Mississippi valley to the North
west Pacific, and as an auxiliary in the
construction Of the Northern Pacific Rail
road.
NAvIGABILITY OF THE MISSOURI.
The Missouri has been for many years
naVigated by the Fur Companies as far as
Forts Benton and Campbell, some thirty
miles below the great Falls. 1t has always
been RsVigable for steamers to Forts Union
and William, at the mouth of the Yellow
stone, and, according to the stage of the
water, sometimes as high as the mouth Of
Milk river. These steamers have generally
drawn some three to four feet Of water, and
have carried some five hundred tons Of
freight. The distance from St. Louis to
the meuth Of the Yellowstone is 1881
miles; to the mouth Of Milk river, 2,067J
miles; to Fort Benton, 2,4l5 miles, and to
the mouth of the High Wood Creek, 2,43O
miles.
In 1858, this river was carefully exam
insd by order of Gov. Stevens in the ex-
ploratioR Of the Northern route. Lieut..
Donelson examined and reported upon it
from St. Louis to point III miles above
Fort Union. Lieut.. Grover carefully sur
veyed it from Fort Benton to the mouth Of
Milk river, and ascertained the velocity Of
its current and the depth of water at all
points where there seemed to be any dan
ger Of obstruction. Lieut.. Saxton made
the entire trip in a keel boat, drawing
eighteen inches, from Fort Benton to Fort
LeaVenworth. The examination made by
Lieut.. Grover, and the trip Of Lieut.. Sax
ton were in September aud October when
the water was at its lowest stage.
We give the following extract from their
reports:
From Lieut. Growers Report. =" The
Missouri, from the Great Falls to near the
mouth OF the Muscle Shell, is clear, rapid
stream, Of no great depth, and with q
gravel bottom. Its general width, which,
for some miles belew the falls, is about two
hundred yards, gradually increases as it
flows on receiving its tributaries. Its chan
mel is quite variable, and its course is
checked by many bars of gravel across its
bed, causing rapids. At present l shall
notice only those Of the most Importance as
limiting the height to which boats can as
cend, and the draught to which they must
be confined to make the ascent. From the
falls succession of wild and impossible
rapids extend some ten miles down, where
they become less frequent, to the mouth Of
the High Wood Creek-a small tributary
which empties itself into the river on the
right hand side, and about fifteen miles be-
low the falls.
Immediately below. the mouth Of this
tributary the river assumes the character
which it retains as long as it flows over a
Gravelly bottom. The next rapid of i'm
Portance is one that becomes SO from the
shallowness of the water, there being only
fifteen inches on the bar. This rapid is
about Eve miles below Fort Benton. In
mediately above the site Of the old Fort
Mckay, another rapid occurs with twenty
inches on the bar, aud one opposite Burnt
Island, about twelve miles below Fort Ben
ton, with twenty-five inches on the bar.
There is no other obstacle upon either Of
those bars than want Of water. A rapid
known as Publeus," few miles below,
had twepty-three inches of water on the
bar, but clear channel. Another, with
ont name, few miles below this again,
had two feet on the bar, but this season had
several large rocks near the channel. But
the worse point on the whole river, with
the exception perhaps Of the one first men.
toned, is one which goes by the name Of
"Dauphinies" rapid, about sixteen miles
below the mouth of Dog river. Here a
gravel bar extends across the whole river,
and small gravel island near the middle
divides the stream into two branches, oi
nearly the same depth, and causes bend
In the channel Of both; in addition to this,
boulders Of a ton weight are frequently
found in and near the channel The depth
Of water in the channel was twenty inches
Its rate did not exceed four and hall
miles per hour The current is stronger
nere than at any other point on the river.
There were several other rapids below this
out OF no consequence as compared to it
From this point, which is about sixty mile;
above the mouth Of the Muscle Shell, the
river sand begins to alternate with the
gravel Of the bottom, and the rapids aud