, 1866-11-02
me MuIIan Road.

day's stage, have much to say in relation to the
Nulfan road and the importance Of having it
opened. The travelling correspondent of the
Post, who has latAly passed over the road, has
The following;
Wagons have passed over the road the pres
ent season, and with little trouble, and the idea
of its requiring an immense sum to make it a
good, practicable wagon road, is fallacious In
the extreme. To remove the fallen timber, re-
pair the grades, and recorderoy the road where
necessary, SO as to make it perfectly good 10
low water, will not require sum in excess of
three thousand dollars; the construction of new
bridges and repairing those now standing,
would require the sum of not more than ten
thousand dollars, although the st. Regis Bor-
gia and the stream on the opposite side Of the
range are crossed one hundred times BY actual
count. They not of great width, however,
and even were they not rebuilt or repaired at all
It would affect the route only for short period
during the spring. All the hills and mountains
are splendidly graded, and why the people of
Montana do not undertake the clearing Of this
great highway, and thus open up rou.e by
which they may receive their supplies at rates
from one-half to two-thirds cheaper than at
present, is a mystery unfathomabe to all who
have ever been on the road. Goods Of all des-
criptous ear be had at lower rates in San Fran
cisc5, considering the difference in quality, than
Virginia for about the same rates as from Salt
Lake, with this route once open. Wheat is sells
| ing here toNday at sixty cents per bushel, and
dull at that while other articles of produce are
in proportion. Let Montana and the Columbia
river region unite hands in this work if either
section has not energy sufficient for the small
undertaking alone, aud push the matter to a sue
cessful issue"
The Helena Radiator also discusses the ques-
tion of opening the Mullan road, and concludes
a leading article as follows;
" As much as our citizens desire TO see the
Mullan road, and all other routes connecting us
with our Western friends, put in the best possi-
BILE condition at the earliest day, the matter is,
with US, comparatively viewed, a question of
secondary importance. We have other routes,
and other directions of supply. The Missouri
river, it is now demonstrated, is navigable for
light draft boats the greater part of the year.
| The experience of the present season has set at
rest all mistrusts on the question. The year is
now far advanced, and the arrival of the steam>
er Miner at Cow Island, last week, is proof that
boats, properly constructed and pfndentIy
freghted, may still plow their way up the Mis-
souri,. From eight to ten months out of the
twelve we may have steamboat communication
hwith st. Louis. 1t is thought that merchandise
Twill be laid down in Helena next spring, from
St. Louis at eight cents per pound, or $3.50 pei
ton greenback rate. Western operators may
I not be able to compete with these figures thIO
Helena and Virginia City but they may secure
the bulk of the Bitter Root He'll Gate and Deel
Lodge trade-perhaps control it, The entire
1regiOn from here through to tie Pen dOreillt
lake is auriferous and the country, on eilhel
L side of the Missouia divide, is susceptible o.
cultivation. The people Of Central and Eastern
MoutIna have an equal interest with Oregon
and Washington Territory in having these val
leys settled with Hgriculturists. We desire t
see the chain of settlements between the navi
gable waters of the Missouri and the Columbil
complete and our enterprisng citizens will dt
all towards that end that could be reasonabl,
expected of them. The incoming legislator
will certainly renew the prayer to Congress 70
an appropriation for making the Mullan road
passable wagon road. If laying the necessitie
of the case before the General Government il
t the strongest terms will be effective, the memo
rial will certainly be responded to. But expe
rience has taught the people Of the Territories
, of late years especially-that the development
of their country is manly eepeH Gent upon thci
own public spirit and enterprise. Memorial
zng is an uncertnin method of reaching practi
cal results. $50 900, judciously expended
: would male the Mulan road passable fer loade
wagons at all seasons of the year. 1t strike
US that this is IN Insignificant sum to be assesse
e upon the merchantile interests of as thrifty an
G promising d country HS COlumDlh Nhiley, iron
Walla Walla to Portland. Have public meeting
called in the principal towns immediately an
i solicit subscriptions. Make the Mu'l,u roa
d " passable for loaded teams" Immediately; aud
!. we should succeed in getting al appropriate
J. from Congress, it cen be very advantageous
: expended IN still further improving the road,
e in opening the shorter one by way OF LOlo For
e trail. All shoulders TO the wheel
10 In view ofthe interest thus manifested by OF
y Montana neighbOrs, is it not surprising that II
e people of Walla Walla valley are apparently il
is different TO a measure that SO nearly concern
n their future prosperity This apathy is una
d countable, and indicates anything but an ente
to prising spirit Itis possible, yes, highly prob
is hble, that the road will be opened whether v
il assist or not; but for the credit of our comm
at nifty, we trust to witness the exhibition of
III more liberal spirit in regard to an enterpri
is in which we are so largely interested.
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