The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1869-07-30

NUMBER 4.
q Eese Rosstc 70 the Railroad.
tFrou the Virginia Republican, July sal
The expedition Of Messrs. Conner and
Potter In search of new route for . road to
the railroad was veg successful, while In
point Of novelty and Interest, tho Trip must
have rivalled the famous tcur Of DR.. Syntax
In search Of the picturesque. These gentle
men lef, Virginia on the nth of June. They
followed tue Madison about SO miles in $.
8. E. direction, to . point where the river
flowed through canyon from an casterly
direction and about three mules above ito
junction with the west Of ltoss's Fork. Al
this angle OF the river, continuing straight
forward, they began to ascend the ms'A
rsnge of the Rocky Mountains. which they
found 10 be very gradual to the summit
not exceeding, On this side, sixty feet to tho
mile. The ascent was completed In dis
tance Of ten miles. The descent, though
more abrupt, and less in distance, was, for
oil the purposes Of = .horoughf"re, equally
favorable. The pass for the entire distance
was covered with the verdurc Of the nutri'
tious mountain grasses. Its laain passage
through the r.nge was between two proxs-
mate peaks, about mile apart, over level
plain, the altitude Of which was estimated
by Reynolds at {, $50 feet, Or l 500 feet lower
than the famous South Pass. No part Ut
the passage was cncumbered with timber OF
rock, or any other obstruction to easy and
rapid Improvement Judge Potter, who has
trsversed every pass ot thu Rocky Mountains
between Montana and Arizona, varoneunces
this one the least difficult Of Ill for road puE-
| poses, and tho most remarkable pass in tho
entire range.
On either side Of Hcnry's Lake, which IL
the head Of Henry 5 river, Or the West branch
Of Snake river, aud which by an easy rout"
il only fifty miles distant from Virginia, III.
route was found to I've equally practicable
Leaving this they followed the river down
the west side, which, in their r'de to the
Eagle Rock bridge On Snake river in direct
course, they were obliged 70 ford twice.
This was done without difficulty, the river
being less than eighteen inches deep, and
solid gravel bottom. Their course for thirty
five miles below the Lake, lay on solid
plain, forming one of the finest natural road
beds in the world; perfectly level and freq
from hills OF distractions Of any sort, with
out a stream in the whole distance, which
IVES not easily fordable. Here they were
met by low wooded range of about 2oO
feet elevation. Passing over this, which
they pronounce capable Of easy improve"
ment. they rode on without obstruction over
level country to Eagle Rock Bridge, cem.
pleting the trip from Virginia within ono
hundred and fifty miles Of travel.
Remaining In that vicinity few days.
they left on their return by the east side Of
Henry river, starting ~ =" po'". 30 ..'''~.
above the Eagle Rock Bridge, This route
to Hsnry's Lake, 10 about 20 miles shorter
than the one ON the west side, and over
more favorable country, with the excep'
, ton of the streams, which being more nu'
meruus, larger and Of greater depth, wosl1
require expensive bridging; beside, which,
in order to make the route direct, bridge
across Snake river would be necessary. The
distance by this route from Virginia to Snake
river would not exceed 12O miles.
Mcssrs. G. and p. are of opinions that there
is no necessity for hill in the road from
. Blane's, which 10 ten miles distant from Viz
/ ginin, TO the Eagle Rock Bridge. 1t is ID
: every respect the most practicable country
in the mountains for q good. permanent road
Over the eastern route there is not mile Of
sand In the entire distance, and but three o.
, four miles over the western, while over tn
, present stage route, there are at least twenty
five miles ofdeep heavy travelling. Their
| is . gradual descent all the way to Henry
: Lake to Snake river. TherOutc lays through
picturesque, beautiful country. Th'
streams arc .apid, pure and frequent, ant
the general conigurslion Of the country full
of singular and attractive scenery. The b
sin of nenry's Lake presents many features
of interest, and where the route crosses tn
wooded range below that point, the rive
, makes leap from the precipice Of 30 feot
which is followed Immediately by beauti
full cascade Of twenty five feet. 1t is at thi'
point one hundred yards in width. The fall
is crescent shaped, very perfect, and th'
; sheet is smooth and unbroken In its descent
The surroundings are well wooded, roman
tic and beautiful
, Nessrs. Connor and Potter estimate th'
!, cost of the construction of the road, includ
ing grades, bridges and improvements, frou
Blans's to Eagle Rock bridge, down the wcs
, side of Hcnry's river, at $5000. The sadvan
!. tages Of the route over tho present one ~
, iucalculabls, and the report Of these gen
. . | flemcn H,hich viii he nr.sented TO our Com