, 1862-07-26
letter from Lieut.. Mullan.
MILITARY ROAD EXPEDITION,
Camp on Ceur d'Alene River,
July 10Th, 1862.


July 10th, 1862.
E. B. WHITMAN, Esq.-Dear Sir: An express
has just reached my camp from Fort Benton
bringing dates as late as 9TH July, to the effect
that the entire emigration had left Fort Benton
and had taken the military road across the noun
tains for their respective destinations Fifty had
already reached the Deer Lodge gold mines
where, being well pleased with the gold prospects
found had determined to there remain; and from
the excellent accounts that l hear from these
mines by the present express the probabilities are
that many of the emigrants will make that section
their permanent homes Nevertheless on the
10th instant l despatched two of my men as far
back as the Deer Lodge valley, with an express
to the emigration to say that l would await them
at the Ceur G'Alene Mission with my train until
the first of August, and would be glad to extend
them any service and aid within the limits of our
means. My work being completed by that date,
we shall move towards Walla Walla.
do not apprehend any special trouble on the
line, though we never know when to expect diff
culties in an Indian country; but have notified
Capt Marsh that it would be well to await at the
crossing of the Spokane with the troops under
bis command until our arrival so as to ensure
protection and security to the emigration in case
of Indian disturbances.
The steamer Emile left Fort Benton on the
!
there meet the Isabel from St. Louis with freight
| and passengers and would return some time in
August to Fort Benton, where this boat would re-
main until spring and then descend to ST. Louis.
One of your enterprsing citizens, Mr.. W. j. Ter
ry, went down on this steamer to ST. Josephs,
Missouri, from which point he would take the
Overland Mail Stage for Salt Lake to there pur-
chase a cargo of -four for the Deer Lodge mines
The probabilities seem to be that the entire crops
together with the amount of flour shipped from
st. Louis, will be inadequate to supply the de-
mand for the mines during the next year.
My correspondent from Fort Benton writes me
that that point during this season reminded him
of the early days of Yerba Buena, with its long
line of trains for the interior of Washington Ter
ritory to develop up the resources CT the bowels
of the mountains.
The supplying these mines from the Pacific
slope is a matter to which the merchants aud cap
italists of Walla Waa would do well to give
some attention, in order that St Louis may not
alone be the supply depot l have always been
of the opinion, however, that when a communica-
ton should be opened by the most direct line
from the Missouri to the Columbia, the eastern
valleys of Washington Territory would necessa-
rily have two markets from which to select their
purchases. And what channel the trade of the
future is to take will alone be determined by the
the merchants of Wala Walla by their rates.
their split of accommodation, and their courte-
sizes, may be enabled to successfully compete with
eastern markets. Nature made Wala Walla
geographical center Time and energy must make
her a commercial one. The question of rates of
transportation is all important. These should be
reduced to the lowest minimum consistent with
security and proper rates of interest. Live and
let live loses of its force even in this case
and it is much to be hoped that those who now
control the lines of transportation into the inte-
rior would look at the matter in liberal and
generous light. l had hoped that when the ques-
ton of the location of the Pacific Railroad came
TO be definitely decided, the residents of the upper
country could confidently look forward to cheap
rates and rapid communications with the sections
below. But | regret to see that by the form in
which the Pacific railroad bill has passed, in this
we are doomed to sad disappointment. 1t is
true branch road is provided for from Portland
to Sacramento but if things are to be called by
their proper names, l can only regard this line
a road to connect Oregon with California, for it
does not even breathe the spirit of branch line
to the main trunk of the Pacific railroad proper
This road is all very we'll in its way. 1t was
needed to subserve present local wants and to
build up many local interests. But it can never
from the nature of things be made branch of
Pacific railroad to benefit Oregon and Washing
ton Jointly as such, or to develop up the resources
of their interior and to give to the valley of the
Columbia the importance that its marked geogra-
ply and resources demand or warrant We
needed line which from its geographical loca-
ton would have tapped many arteries of trade
and of travel which by its directness would have
given US a communication with the Atlantic sea-
board-not necessarily uiG California-but one
which IN time, by its costs and its revenues, and
the character of its internal management, would
have enabled it to compete with the main trunk
in the great essentials of transportation. If the
people of Oregon and Washington ever expect to
be benefited by any portion of the trade to and
from China and the East, which in the main is to
give importance to Pacific railroad, l cannot for
the life of me see how this is to be attained by
simply branch road up the Willamette valley to
Sacramento. So long as the trade and travel to
and fro have to pass over this additional seven
hundred miles of route, over which an additional
tariff must needs be paid, neither Portland or any
point along the Columbia can ever expect to be-
como railroad terminus to successfully compete
with San Francisco. IT. however, provision had
been made in the bill 10 tap the main trunk at a
noint from winch to the Columbia the distance
would be no longer than to Sacramento the
geography of the country indeed shows that by
this means shorter line could be had-then eve
nv probability was in favor of the branch line at
no distant day not only competing with but trans
cending in importance the so-called main trunk.
Since the settlement of the Pacific coast, Oregon
and Washington have in military, financial,
commercial and postal point of view, been only
subservent to and secondary to California, and
unless some action be taken by which they may
stand alone and independent as regards the Pa
cifc railroad location, so long too in this must
they from the very nature of things act a second
ary part for all time to come. A necessity for
this dependency at one time existed but | claim
that from year to year this must gradually dimin-
ish until it ceases to exist. In the Railroad bill
as passed, the interests of Washington Territory
are not even attended to or thought of-but she
must pour her tribute into the lap of Oregon, who
in her turn into that of California thus constituted
a tolgate where are collected and appropriated
all the revenues accruing from so mammoth an
enterprise. 1t is to be hoped that the citizens of
the Valley of the Columbia, and especially those
in the upper country, may yet move in the matter
ere it is too late, in order that the subject may
be so manipulated that ample provision be made
for that location of a road which their present
wants demand and their future prospects would
seem to promise. am, sir,
Truly and respy your obt. servt.,
JOHN MULLAN,
U. S. Army.
Letter from Florence.
FLORENCE, July 10, 1862.