The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-02-26
not the slightest dIfficulty to tbs
passage OF a railroad.

II learned from Lieutenant Saxton
that ranges were more ditllcult thar
those Of the Rocky mountains; that
they could not be crossed luter than
October, aud that the greatest dis
patch must be used To reach the
Pacific before the setting IN Of winter.
also learned that Captain Mcclellan
was probably still struggling in the
passes Of the Cascade range, north Of
the Columbia, to ascertain the most
practicable one, and that he. could
not be expected to rush his line cast
of the Colombia Tie present season.
"My previous arrangements had
been based on the winter not settlnH
In till the middle or lastof November
and on having before me at least u
working season Of eight weeks. I
found II to be reduced at the very
outside to six, and, as regards the
Bitter Root range, where snow falis.
on the 10th and sometimes as early
as the 10th OF October, to five weeks.
The plateau between the Milk and
the Missouri rivers rises gently, and
is Ia almost every direction practIcS
able for railroad. s-sk
"The St. Mary's valley connects
with other valleys, running both
north and south, ut the base Of the
mountains an aggregate distance of
$50 miles. Thus Cadctte's pass con-
meets all the railroad lines north Of
the Missouri with all the lines fr0nr
the Columbia to Puget sound. Acc
cordingly determined to leave my
wagons ut this point, to resort entires
ly to packs TO send my whole forcs
through Cadotte's pass with tho
greatest dispatch and direct them on
several routes westward through the
Bitter Root and Cascade ranges tV
ascertain the best pass and to connect
with Captain McClellan's work, and
thus endcavor to collect the present
season the data to establish the
practlcability OF railroad from the
headquarters of the Mississippi tv
Puget sound.
ssThc survey OF the Marias pass
was deferred, and Mr.. Lander, under
orders for this service, was directed
to report to Lieutenant Donclson.
who was continued IN charge OF the
main party operating in Cadottc's
pass. 1t was with great reluctance ]
abandoned the survey Of the Marias
pass. am sanguine that II Will
prove the best pass, and 1t more
naturally connects with the line of
the Clark's Fork uf the Columbix
river. The great obstacle to the sur.
vey Of these passes, and especially tho
Marias pass, Is the immense forests
which, In all directions, Obstruct tine
way. The superabundance Of nature
has to be done away with IN meas
ure before the full measure Of her
, gifts can be known. The Indians
pursue the best trails they can tinds
but they have no axes to hew their
way; nor, finding one pass practicable
) have they the patience to search for
better ones.
"To reach the valley of Clarkfs
D Fork, road from Cadotte's pass
: must make considerable detection
: to the north, ard it is believed that
/. in no other direction can road be
. run to the Pacific, in consequence oi
5 the impracticablc character 0f that
). portion Of the Bitter Root range OF
h mountains lying Immediately west VI
y the St. Mary's valley. Should, how
q ever, good pass be found leading t.
( the Little Salmon fork Of Snake
e river, and should this route to tn,
e Pacific prove more fcasible than more
northern routes, than Cadotte's pas.
: will more naturally lead to it, and Il
n the preferable one. DIR. Evans sur
Il vey shows that q railroad line can bt
e run on nearly a straight course from
), the mouth of MIX river, between thu
t Milk and the Missouri, to the falls
q and which, in connection with i
d good pass in the Bitter Root range
r west Of St. Mary's, would make th,
/. route by Cadotte's pass, the Little
Is Salmon, or Kooskooskia; river no,
C only remarkably direct route bu
.e one that, by branches to Puget sound
le to the Willamette valley Of Oregon
$, and even to California, would affort
n great facilities to emigrants to botl
territories, and be In connection will
er the great port OF the Pacific. I shal
n give as much attention as practicabl
IS. to the passes in this direction, thJug'
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