The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-06-08
THE WESTERN ROUTE.

Our friends to the westward are agita-
tinalhe question of the Montana trade.
and urging the repair of the Mnllan
road, as an entering wedge to the secur-
ing to the west of the trade now almost
absolutely monopolized by St. Louis.
The oregonidR, of May 18th, has the fol-
lowing on the subject:
Mr.. Phillip Iitz, who has spent the
last six month apon trip to Washing
ton, on business connected with the open
ing of the Mullan road, arrived here by
the last steamer He is confident that
no difficulty will be experienced in get
ting from Congress, at it's next session,
an appropriation sufficient to open the
Mullan road from Walla Walla to Hell
ena, Montana. The sum he estimates as
sufficient is $4,000. He passed over
the road last fall and found that the only
portion of the road which cannot now
be travelled with wagons, is that from
the Coeur d'Alene Mission, two hundred
and nine miles from Walla Walla to the
Missouri river. q distance of about sew
enty miles This part of the road lies
in the Ceur d'Alene mountains, where
the Mullan road frenuentIy crosses the
river The bridges built by Captain
Mullan were all very low and were
washed away by the first high water
which followed. 1t will be necessary TO
replace some of these, and to grade few
places to avoid crossing the river 1t
will be necessary also 10 repair or recon
struct some of the corduroy road laid
down by Mullan. The original expendi-
ture on the road was $240000, and il
was opened for wagons to Fort Benton.
When Mullan began the road at Walla
Walla, he was somewhat inexperienced.
but as he went on he naturally learned
his business better and the consequence
is the worst part of the road is that
which was first bullion the Walla
Walla end, and there the greater part of
whatever appropriation may be given
must be expeaded. Mr. Ritz, after gath
ering all the information attainable on
his trip, expresses the unqualified opin-
ion shat the Montana trade belongs TO
the Pacific slope, and that even goods
from New York can be transported TO
Virginia City or Helena, via Portland.
Oregon-should the Mullan road be
opened for wagons-cheaper than by the
way of ST. Louis and the Missouri river
Freight from New York to ST. Louis. he
says, costs $40 per ton, while the same
II
about S23. From St. Louis TO Helena,
by river and wagon road is near 1000
miles travel from Portland to Helena,
by river and wagon road, is about 100
miles. With an appropriation of S75,-
600, he thinks every part of the road
from Walla Walla to Helena can be put
in excellent condition for heavy teaming
and that then goods can be transported
through from Portland at less cost than
from st. Louis. We of this side would
have another advantage: while the boats
from st. Louis can make only one trip in
a season, the same team on this side
could make two if not three trips. Mr..
Ritz expresses surprise that Portland
should quietly allow ST. Louis to appro-
pirate the Montana trade, when the facts
are patent that the most of il could be
secured by the former with less than
half the expense and difficulties encoun-
tered by the st. Louis people.