Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-05-09

Ave- ! . Ass Ave- 10 SAPeVseV usIo tO-uSy "
confer with parties from Lewiston about
another survey Of the Clearwater route.
Union.
The above is the FIRST item We have
ever observed in any Wslla WalIa pa.
per abiding to tho Clearwater route.
The TELLER has frequently called at.
teniion to this route ~ thu shortest.
best aud as permeatiog better country
than the present surveyed route via the
Pen d'Orillc. II was . great misfor>
tune Ito the reputation Of the Clear
water PASS Of the Bitter Root noun.
tsius that the surveys Of the Northern
Pacific engineers were confued to the
north fork Of the stream, so ~ to reach
the head or fish creek, for two reasons;
first. the Fish creek pass is much too
far north for direct line Of the main
track Of the road, 10 case the grades Of
the pass were easy and practicable;
second. from pear the mouth of TIE
north fork to the summit the road does
not traverse q country susceptible Of
settlement. except for purposes Of cut
ting timber. and the margin Of the
stream il rock bound with perpendicu.
lar bluffs for a greater portion Of the
distance. When the subs who made
this survey reported to their chief. Mr..
Roberts, he rightly concluded that this
was not good route. and 80 did the
company; but We think Mr.. Roberts
greatly erred in not ordering 40 inves
tiestion Of the middle fork pass. which
is 10 more direct line and through a
better country before be assumed to
say that there was 20 good pass south
Of the Pen fOrille pass. Mr.. Roberts
formerly jumped It the conclusion and ]
60 published. that the construction Of
railroad across tho Cascade mountains
north Of the pass Of the Columbia river
was 6nancial impotsibility." This
no had to take back sitter Clerks party
made their report Of the Cowlits pa.s
and recently no hes sdmitted the prac.
ticabili,y Of that pass for railroad. and
~ comparatively small cost Of con.truc.
ticn for mouutain pass. Az Pr al.
den. Wright said 10 Washington city
last winter, Mr.. Roberts il good man.
a good engineer, but be couceivcs ao
opinion aud holds il, bringing al his
skill and knowledge to boar 10 supper,
Of that first conceived opinion, instead
Of making further Investigations to
learn whether or not there may be good
reasons for modifying bis said opinion. |
This was tue in regard TO bis position
IN regard to there being no pass via the
Clearwater Lieut.. Moberly, then in
the employ Of the company, was or.
dered to make accommodating from
the Bitter Root vallsy to the SUNNI. 10
the vicinity Of the Lo In. which he
did the same year that Esstwick and
party went up the north fork. Mpbcrly
found an excellent route for ascending
to the summit from the esat. He re-.
ported that he found Pass over the
SUNNI, at point south Of the Lo Lo
trail. which Vas upwsrds Of 1000 fec,
lower than the paiat whore the said 10
Lo trail crossed the eams divide. as
taken By the barometer. He intended
to make the descent on tits side and
come down the middle fork Of the
Clearwater, but the timber vas dense,
and he ~ent back to the Lo I.o trail,
aud with bic autmah came 70 the mid.
die fork crossing, ths.e constructed two
boats Intending 70 come down the
stream opposite his discovered pass, and
then make 40 exaniaasion of the %
prosches TO the auno;t from this side,
as wel as descend the stssam aud ex.
anime it's banks to lie meath; but when
but short distance from HE place Of
lsuneh;ss be stove he boat eoassioisR
his supplies aad last then u tie stream.
This forced him 20 90 back % HE All
mails, and with them he came ovee the
trail to Leuiston to get fresh supplies
and thea ~ back and complete HE
examination; bat on arriving here he
received orders to - aad joia Esssv;sk
then on the north fork. Moberly When
here told us that be vas we'll sa.i.fed
that the middle FORK pass wss iov
pas. aud the esads 70 il from the east