, 1861-08-08

Believing that everybody in Oregon and Wash.
ington Territory feels interested in the progress
making by Lieut. Mullan, in the construction Of
the Fort Benton Road, we CoPy from the Portland
Daily Adrertiser late letter from him, addressed
to citizen Of Portland. In connection with this
important work, 1t may be stated that, owing to
the discovery Of gold in the Nez Perces country,
and the extension Of steamboat navigation con
sequent thcreupon, the actual land travel over
this road, from the head Of navigation on the
Missouri to the nearest naVigable point attained
on this side. Is reduced to four hundred miles.
This is fact Of no little importance to the emi.
grant, and one which should be generally known
in the East We are confident that knowledge
Of the advantages Of this route ia all that is now
needed to attract emigration this way. With
this knowledge fairly before the people Of the
East, We have nothing to fear for the future Of
our Territory. The following is the letter al
luded to:-
MILITARY RoAD EXPEDITION,
Camp in Bitter Root Mountains, W. T,S
June 30th, 1851.
Your favor Of the 10Th inst. reached me yes.
terday;: Il found me at my post Of labor, in
dense belt Of timber of the Bitter Root noun.
tains. We are now pushing through this seq
ton, and shall reach, think, the Coeur d'Alene
Mission by the 18th or 18th Of July, at which
time and place our heavy bridge work commen.
ces. Thus far We have done much heavy work.
have 10 open section Of thirty miles Of new
road around the northern rim Of the Cnur
d'Alene Lake, which was necessary in order 10
avoid a location through bottom which, in early
spring, has proved to be too wet for heavily
ladened teams. Though the belt Of mountains
was dense aud fOrbidding when We attacked
them, four weeks ago, We nave made them, IN the
interval, wear more smiling and civilized ap-
pearance. BY the construction Of thirty.One
miles Of wagon road thus far.
] have located and improved, thus FAR. one
hundtcd and ninety-six miles oi our road. and
from the Mission onward We shall progress more
rapidly. have now one hundred working men,
with pick, shovel and AK, and am averaging,
through the timber and with tho hillside excav-
atoms aiOng the mountain spurs, almost one
mile per day. ] feel more and more sanguine,
day BY day, and as see the route Of the road
gradually assume shape and torn out or the
chaos Of woods, rocks and Wilderness, become
more and more sanguine as to It's ultimate end
and destiny, in o,,rning up near and direct
thoroughlarc to the eastern sections Of Oregon
and Washington. To me, since 63, It has Leen
proud project; and though q bachelor. I feel
as much attached 70 Il as father does 10 a orou.
Using son, whose daily progress and development
be car fully, anxiouSy and assiduously watches.
Let crcakers cavil, and in their cushioned seats
over widespread bOards and around comEMtabIe
indo tifys, comment upon and criticise the
labors Of those who, out Of doIrs, for four wears
have baltled against the elements and aaaips,
nature in her widest armor, and decry the
efforts Of those who viii one day create their
prosperity. Let all these things take place. but
ia.~ zilliue and patent to abide the result
though long It may Be in coming. To me, 1t
has been truly pleasant and not unpoetjcal
naS. q picture lines Of steamers plovinc the