Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-11-11
FROM THE SURVEY.



Union Pacific engineers that left Lew.
is.ou on the 4th Of August last, up the
Clearwater river, over the Bitter Root
mountains, INTO the Bitter Root valley,
/ have cudcavored, in previous correspon-
dcnces, to keep the readers Of the TEL.
LER posted Ms to the Progress Of the
survey, aud TIE practicaLility Of the
proposed route, which intentions Of tho
company is to cocnec, with some point
on the Utah l. Northern in Montana
(prcbably at Auaconda) over the Bitter
Root range. down the Clearwater valley,
VIA Lewiston to Puget Sound.
After reaching the summit Of the
Bitter Root mountains, the main object
then was TO find . practicable pass
through the range. whereupoa Chief
Engineer T. A. Clark and his guide, A.
T. Bcall, accompanied by two other men
who were detailed to perform duties with
this exploring party, started out from
camp on an exploration, and travelled the
main range for seven days when all sup
plies we're consumed. and necessarily were
obliged to pull out and re-stock. Upon
doing this they returned and explored for
two more days, but 10 vain. The pass
that they were seeking 10 well known,
bearing the name Of the Beall pass which
was discovered BY A. T. Beall. who was
10 charge Of . party who made . baro-
metical survey through the rangein 1880.
Bsall was employed BY this party as
guide, but unfortunately he came 10 to
the valley several miles south Of this pass
and when upon discovery 10 1880 he
came 10 on tho north side, and endeavor.
ed to approach it from the wrong side in
= mountainous region makes 4 marked
change owing to the lay Of the range,
and the marked peaks having no resem-
blance from the south side. The con.
sequences Of this exploration was, that
about fourteen inches ofsnow fell, which
rendered il an impossibility to prospect.
During this exploration the main party
were en-, . 4 10 running liue over the
Elk City pass, which We found to be at
the elevation Of 600 feet above tide.
The approaches Of this pass are excellent,
but the grade is heavy, some one hun.
dred feet 70 the mile, and it will necessi-
tate tunnel from one mile. to one mile
and hslf to reach anything like an
admissible grade. AT al hazards the
party run Eve miles Of line on the west
side Of this pass and six miles on the
east side, when the deep snow and the
-inclemency Of the weather would mot
permit any further progress. At this
discon.inuancc order the entire party
proceeded to Missoula Montana, one
hundred and Ave miles north, aud there
disbanded for the season. The party
will return again 10 June next aid CON-
plete the survey and exploration, rs Mr..
Clark, ~ well AZ the U. r, are fully d..
termincd to find ! practicable r,ute
through this range Of mountains, il one
exists. Engineer Ray, who was engaged
with party running survey from the
east side Of the range from Anaconda. il
still in the Big Hole country Finishing
the survey. Mr.. Clark is At the present
near Fort Fred Steele, where he was
ordered to complete little work in that
section. Il the Union Pacific decide not
70 build this they will beyond doubt
finish the survey from Snake river to the
Sound, and complete the route 1t - early
a date ~ possible. I have authentic
information that the main object Of the
company 1t the present u 70 bind the
continent With steel rails, and this too,
At IN early date, aud necessarily the rad
must come either via Snake river or the
Clearwater. In cass the road should be
kaiit down SAske river, the chances will
Be great that branch viii be extended
east to tap the Clearwater valley.
The pack trails that was engaged in
the party lett Missoala on the 24,h ult.,
and may 10 expected here shortly. They
come via the Mullan read. Some Of the
party come home and some Of them 60
east. Harry Thatcher went east, and
may be expected home BY the first Of
December. All otsthe party stood the
trip well. even il they did sustain life on
fried water and elk trasts for about ten
DAYS Of the time.
We wore in Missoula four days, where
The time was agreeably spest. Missopla
is apparently a buaaliss lite city IL
about 1900 inhabitsSss, built lidsly
With brick, aud the sdty in general has
the appearance Of uSush wealth. The
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