The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-08

Yellowstone, in the mountains to the
north Of the Big Hole, and south all along
the eastern slope to the southern line OF
Idaho. ....
THE TRAVELLED ROUTES TO THE MINES.
The route pursued by Captain Fisk g
party of 1868, is shorter than any other
route yet followed by emigrant parties to
the Idaho mines, by 800 miles. He went
north of the route of last year, and from
near the White Earth river journeyed near
ly due west within about Is miles of the
British line to north of the last crossing of
the Milk river, thus avoiding the sterile
plains and alkali water of the valleys of
the Missouri and Milk rivers. He found
this route as easy as that of last year, .
good road for wagons, with abundance of
wood, water and grass. 1t is Capt. Fisk's
opinion that the route of his party of1S63
is not only the best summer road, but is
entirely practicable for winter use-that
stages may easily be run on that route
from Fcrt Abercrombie to Fort Benton
the winter through as they are now run
from ST. Paul to Abercrombie.
From Omaha and other points i'll Ne
braska and Kansas as many as 100000
men start each year across the plains for
the gold fields of the Rocky Mountains
Omaha is more upon the border of c;vilizs,-
| ton than St. Paul, but, as the map shows,
by any route that can be travelled from
there, it is further to the particular gold
fields of which we are speaking than from
St. Paul. From Omaha the trail across
the plains is through 700 miles Of sage
brush barrens where ali the water is alkali.
The trail is marked by skeletons Of mules
and oxen, and little mounds where are
buried the thousands of unfortunate eni-
grants who have died from the hartlships
OF the journey across this great sanity
plain. But it is the old trail Fcetn; Mt
went thai way; the mail stages an'! eZ-
press follow it, and emigrants viii sex it
until they know that another and better
route is opened and made safe to erGigra,t
parties.
NEW ROUTE PROPOSED.
Capt. Fisk proposes & new route to the
Idaho mines, which presents in its favor
every prospect OF feasibility with tie great
advantage of being more direct and 600
miles less travel from navigation in the
West to the heart of the mountains st
Bannock City. He proposes to start from
Fort Ridgley, pursuing a westerly course,
crossing the Missouri at about the 45th
parallel, striking the Yellowstone at or
near tue mouth of the BE Horn, and thence
pursuing nearly direct course to Ban
mock City. This route will require fer
ry over two rivers. Every other stream
can be crossed by wagons withoul bridge
or 'erfy.
The distance from Omaha by the trav-
eled route to the Big Hole country is 1870
miles the distance from St. Paul by
Capt. Fisks route of this year is 1349
miles; the distance by the direct route
proposed would not exceed $50 miles.
The country between Fort Ridgley and
the Missouri is well known to be easily
crossed. But yesterday We announced
the return of party to Fort Rldgley, con-
sisting of $50 men with 3O0yoke of oxen,
who have, since the 18th of last month,
carried supplies to the Indian post on the
Missouri river and returned without hav-
ing suffered any hardship, though the
journey was made in part in mid winter;
and a letter from one of the party even
describes the journey as pleasant.
Beyond the Missouri on the 45th par
allel we cross the broad plateau from
which flows the streams that make north
to the Missouri and the Yellowstone,
country represented by hunters and trap
pers to be the garden of the unexplored
northwest, the feeding ground OF the buff
falo, and the favorite hunting grounds of
all the Northern Indians. Here it is known
that wood and grass are plenty, and that
pure water is everywhere found.
NOT TOO FAR NORTH.
In comparing the feasibility of the pro-
posed route with the travelled route south
of it, it is common to think at once the
farther north the more desolate and unin-
viting the country, whereas as we cross
the valley of the Mississippi and approach
the Rocky Mountains, the very contrary is
true. In the summer time at the south
on the plains is the great sandy desert
where sage brush is almost the only vege-
tation, and the water of the whole country
is impregnated strongly with alkaline salts.
At the north, except narrow belt upon
the plains Of the Missouri, the water flows
pure from countless springs that feed the