, 1860-08-24
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY AUGUST a. 1860

road to Puget Sound would involve the ex.
pense of bridge across that great river;
and besides, there is no safe harbOr at PU-
get Sound"
Speaking Of Puget Sound as the ter
minus of Pacific Railway, Commodore
Wilkes says: at is one of the most noble
estuaries in the world, without danger Of
any kind to impede navigation, harbors
without distractions at any season of the
year, and excellent ports"
Mr. Loughborough, in speaking of the
plans for changing the commerce of the In
dies, refers to that of Col. Benton, publish
ed in 1918, and says: "The proposition was
to substitute steam navigation upon the
Missouri and Columbia rivers, for the sea
voyage, and connecting these streams by
natural or turnpike road With the infor-
nation which we now have in respect TO
this route, it is scarcely necessary to re-
mark, that it does not merit the slightest
consideration; we will, however, mention
some Of the physical distractions which, in
our opinion, render it impracticable. In
low water, the Columbia river descends
over a long succession OF rapids aud falls, to
the PaciGc-one of these, the Kettle Falls,
is one hundred and sixty feetY
We were not aware that the Columbia
was "a long succession of rapids and falls
to the Pacific" To our certain knowledge
it has been navigated by sea-going vessels
and steamers to the Cascades, lG0 miles
from the ocean, for the last ten years; and
also from the Cascade to the Dalles, As
miles, by steamers, and from the Dalles to
Fort Walla-walla, lao miles, a steamer has
been running for the last 8 years. .
Kettle Falls, which are represented by
Mr.. Loughborough to be l60 feet-nearly
equal to the Niagara-haye fall of Is
feet perpendicular.
DR.. Suckley, Surgeon and Naturalist Of
the Northern Pacific Railroad Exploration,
made the trip in canoe from Fort Owen,
near the Rocky mountains, down the Bitter
Root, Clarke's Fork, aud Columbia river,
to Fort Vancouver, in 1858, and in bis Of
fcial report says; The time occupied in
making the whole distance was SO days, or
two days less than was occupied by the
main train under Lieut.. Donelson, between
the same points. The running time, exclu-
siVe Of stops, was 1854 hours, and the dis
tance, approximate, as measured by the
course of the rivers, including the greater
apd lesser bends, was l049 miles This
will give an average speed Of 81 miles
per hour. There were but three portages
on the wnOle route OF any magnitude; one
Of 1900 PAGES on the Clarke river, above
Lake Pend d'Oreile; one on the Columbia,
at the Dalles, Of 800 PAGES; and lastly one
at the Cascades of miles in length. 1t
should be borne in mind that this passage
was made at the lowest stage of water,
when the current was proportionately fee
ble."
OF Kettle Falls, Dr. Suckley says: ''The
Indian name is Schwan-ate-koo, or deep
sounding water. Here the Columbia pitch
es over ledge of rocks, making fall Of
about 10 feet perpendicular"
Mr.. LOughboFough Says; Lewis and
Clarke found forty-two rapids and falls, 10
their descent of the river; and moreover,
Clarke's riVer-the one proposed for steam
naVigatiou-is absolutely filed at is mouth
by the fall of an Overhanging precipice.-
Bot if there was not q solitary rapid or
other obstruction, the navigation Of the
river would be impossible, because it de-
scends at the rate of more than 81 feet per
mile, and we are advised that no steamboat
can be constructed which will stem such a
current"
Clarke's Fork empties into the Columbia
by fall of fifteen feet in height, and $50
yards in width. Dr. Suckley, in his official
report, says: "At point about 60 miles
above the Pend d'0rille Mission, is the
Pend d'Orile or Kalispelm Lake formed
by dilation of the river; it is beautiful
sheet of water, about As miles in length
Below it the river is sluggish and wide for
some twenty-six miles, where rOpds are
again encountered during low water. From
point nine miles above the lake to these
rapids, distance of about so miles, steam
boats drawing from 20 to "a inches, could
readily ascend. In high, of course, the
distance would be heightened. There
would be but one obstacle between the
Cabinet twenty-five miles above Lake
Pend d'Orille,) and point ten miles below
the Mission, distance of lao miles. The
obstacle alluded to is where the river is di-
Vided by rocky islands, with fall of six
and half feet on each side At this point
lock might readily be constructed. The
Hudson Bay Company's large freight boats
are in the habit Of ascending from the low
er end of Pend d'Orille Lake TO the Horse
Plains, distance of about 1876 miles. This
involves two portageS. l have dwelt on
these particulars, knowing how important
they will prove in relations to questions Of
railroad construction aud the transporta-
tion Of supplies
"From the Horse Plains, before spoken
!. Of, the river, so far as have examined it,
J would be excellent for these purposes. Tim
Der in this manner could be transported a
: great distance"
Says Mr.. Loughborough: Lewis and
] Clarke attempted to descend Lewis Fork,
t (Snake river, in canoes, but found it i'm
practicable on account of the canyons and
; falls" The record Of the expedition Of
. these officers show that they took canoes
( on the Kooskooskia. SO miles above its