, 1866-04-20
THE PEN D,oREILLE ROUTE.


a gentleman who is entirely familiar with
the country to be trayersed, has no hesita-
tiOu in pronOuncing the proposed route an
unmitigated humbug, and endorses the Null
Ian Road as every way preferable. This
current of opinion coming from men who
are entirely dsinterested, is entitled to and
should have weight in deciding the question
of routes. All that the people of Montana
desife is to have the best route opeSs6-
that by which they can obtain their supplies
cheapest and quickest. This is the only iut
terest they can possibly have 10 the matter,
and hence any opinion from that quarter
may fairly be regarded as impartial. In adj
dition to newspaper expressions we have now
before us letter written by one of the lar
gest merchants at Helena, in which it is sta,
ted that the Pen d'Oreille route has not a
single argument in its favor, and that money
expended in opening it is just that much
thrown away. The same writer asks-''can.
not something be done toward opening the
Mullan Road, the only practicable means of
communication between Montana and the
Columbia River Valley?" Ia replylo this,
we have to say, that The Merchants of San
Francisco have contributed literally toward
this purpose, but the funds having been ems
trusted to parties having interests not in
common with the public, the whole amount
is likely to be thrown away in frutless att
tempt to open the Pen d'Oreille route. So
far as the people of Walla Walla Valley are
concerned, we have to repeat what we have
before observed, that they have no particu.
lar choice in the matter of routes. All that
they desire is that the shortest and most
practicable route be ascertained, and this
fact settled, then let it be opened with the
least possible delay. The reason why they
oppose the Pen d'Oreille project, is because
they are well satisfied of its impracticability.
During the winter season, this Valley is the
great headquarters for the teamsters and
packers of the whole Northern country, and
from conversation with these hardy sons of toll
all of them practical men-our people have
become convinced the Pen d'Oreillo project
is chimerical in the last degree. In couverS
sation with scores and scores of packers, we
have heard but enc opinion expressed, and
] - Al
route In Wow of this concurrent opinion,
We ask our Portland friends whether it is
wise to expend their meaus, and the money
contributed by San Francisco, in further
ance Of u project Of such doubtful practiea
bility? With the shortest and best route
I open to BlackiOot, it is doubtful whether we
can control the trade of the county. We
are already apprised that seventy,fVe steam.
ers were preparing to leave St. Louis for
Fort Benton, and how mary more would be
placed upon the bertbs before the close of
the season we can only conjecture. This
thing, however, is certain, VIC must expect to
compete with the capital and enterprise Of St.
Louis in the struggle for the rich trade of
Montans, and in a contest of this kind it is
we'll not to be loaded down with the weight
Of circuitous and diffcnt route. Take the
sense of the county, and the opinion pre-
walls with scarce an exception, that we're it
not for the fact that Pen dOreillc promised
to give employment TO one or two additional
steamers, it never would have been named in
connection with the trade and travel to the
Blackloo country. We are by no manner of
means opposed to the employment of steam~
ers and the opening Of steamboat routes
Wherever the wants Of corBmerce require
these agencies, we say let them be provided,
but We do protest against sending the whole
trade aud travel Of the country hundreds Of
miles out Of tho way for no better reason
than that steamboat may be enabled TO
make an occasional trip t0White Bluffs, and
that our friend Moody may run ferry boat
on Pen d'0reille Lake. We have no objec.
ton to the parties in question finding en-
p!oyment for their steamers; but We submit
that in farthering their own interests steau>
boat owners have no right to humbug
freighters and miners; and more especially
do we object tc a policy Of this kind when
i is SURE 10 be attended with. the loss Of
trade, the value Of which can scarce be com
pused. Viewed in this aspect the whole
Pacific coast IS interested in having the
trade and travel To- Montana fdiloB the BosE
direct route; and it has been IL tie interest
of the whole people that we have Feftit a
duty to write down the Pen d0reilie huns
bug. -. -..-.. i.
THE MINT.-The Chairman Of the House
Committee on Mipihg has reported in favor