, 1863-04-11
Capt. Mullan's Report.

Odplaln jam Mullan, IN his report 10 the
Secretary of war; speaking of the wants of the
country east of the Cascades, says:
The results of our explorations of the country
between the Columbia and Missouri rivers has
developed the following wants, to which the at
tention of Congress should be specially invited
and which, if met in the liberal spirit with which
they so well merit to be handled, will rebound to
the best interest of the Government, by testing to
the fullest extent the golden resources of the
Rocky mountain region, and which, standing as the
mountains do, midway between the Mississippi
and the Pacific ocean, will develop a bond OF
union and strength between the two extreme
slopes of our continent. The following embrace
a portion Of the pressing wants of the country.
A military depot should be established at the
head of the Great Falls of the Missouri river, at
the mouth of Sun river, with a three company
cavalry post; this depot to supply four company
cavalry post to be established in the Beaver Head
valley; with two company cavalry post in the
Deer Lodge valley, and one company cavalry
post at the Hellgate. In this region are from
10000 to 10000 Indians, and these posts are
needed to guard the different emigrant roads that
will here meet, and over which emigration is de-
stined TO pass, well as to protect the hundreds
of miners and small farmers there found at pre-
sent, and that are destined to flock thither as soon
as the wealth of the Rocky mountain mines are
fully developed. The supplies for all these posts
should be shipped from st. Louis to Fort Benton.
These posts caa be economically maintained and
are military necessity for the country.
The military post at Fort Walla Walla should
be reduced to a military depot and its troops
should be sent to other points,
Fort Boise should be established as military
| post, with two companies. One company should
be stationed at Florence, or to point built in its
vicinity-possibly on Salmon river proper and
one company should be established at either Elk
| City, Pierce City, OF Orc Pine, as an examination
seemed hest to determine One company should
! be stationed at the Cour dAlene mission, on the
| Clark's Fork, at Parks crossing. Four compa-
nes should be stationed at Fort Hall, and the
military post at Fort Laramie should be main
tanned with a large and strong force These are
all needed for the purposes of protection to the
overland emigrant, and the security of the miners
while at work in the Nez Perces and Salmon river
mines. military road should be opened from
Deer Lodge to Fort Laramie, and from Deer
Lodge to Salt Lake. A military road should al
so be constructed from Fort Benton to Beaver
Head valley and from Beaver Head to Salmon
river, or to Florence
The entire mountain region from the Salmon
river mountains to the eastern plains, at the head
OF the Platte, should be explored, mapped, and
reported upon, and a short and direct connection
| had between Fort Laramie and the Salmon river
| gold mines, as it may yet be discovered that the
shortest and best route for Pacific railway to the
Columbia may be from the Platte uia Salmon
river to Walla Wala. At any rate, it is well
worthy special examination. The upper Mis-
souri, and Yellowstone rivers are well worthy be-
ing tested by steam by the Government, for great
natural purposes, as aids in building the Pacific
railroad.
The Indians should be concentrated as much
as possible, and Rocky Mountain Superintend-
ency should be established, with its head quarters
either in the Deer Lodge or in the Beaver Head
valley, and should include the Crows, Blackfeet
Snakes, Bannocks, Flatheads, Pen d'Oreiles
Kootenays, and Mountain Nez Perces.
A Columbia river Superintendency should be
established with its head quarters at Walla
Walla and to include all the Indians lying be-
tween the Rocky and Cascade ranges of noun
tains, from the 10th parallel to Utah, both in
Oregon and Washington.
A new military depot of Oregon and Washing
ton should be created, with its head quarters al
Fort Walla Walla.
! A first class military road should be opened
from Wallula to Puget Sound, and military
telegraph connect Portland, Puget Sound, and
Salt Lake with Walla Wala.
So much OF eastern Washington Territory as
was formerly portion of Oregon, and an equa
portion of Dacotah shonld be erected into a new
territory, with its capital at such point as the
center of population would at present best deter
mine.
Mail facilities should be established from He'll
gate to Fort Benton, from Deer Lodge to For
Laramie, from Deer Lodge to Salt Lake, ant
from Beaver Head valley to Florence, and from
Florence to Fort Boise; and the General LanC
Office should be ordered to have thorough ex
pioraton of this region made, at the earliest dat
practicable, and report and map made of tn,
gold region on both slopes of the mountains
A branch mint should be established at Wallt
Walla or Portland