The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-02-26
The Pacific Northwest
Fifty Years Ago,

| + OtU IpcuVOus CcpUct0Uct IOs - tCOos
Governor Stevens issued nOrder No.
49, c0ngratulating Lieutenant Sax.
ton and his party upon their safe
arrival at Fort Benton from the
mouth OF the Columbia. Lieutenant
Grover, Ia command Of the advance
party to open communication with
the parties west Of the mountains,
met Lieutenant Saxton near the di-
vidlng ridge. daylight n0w breaks
through the struggles Of three months
saws Governnr Stevens. ION the 9Th
Of June the supply train left Camp
Pierce, on Amelia, and on the 9th Of
September the parties from the Miss
issippi and the Pacific shook hands
across the continent. The pass Of
the Rocky mountains is found to be
more than 1000 feet below The south
pass, and is not only practicable, but
expressly made TO our hands for the
great northern railroad"
Three days later, Governor Stevens
reports to the war department from
Fort Benton that the arrival. Of Lieu
tenant Saxtun, has made important
changes in the plan Of continuing the
survey westward. lie says he was on
his way to the Piegan camps TO Sc
cure guides for the survey OF the
Marias pass and to provide for per.
manent relations OF peace with the
Blackfeet, when Lieutenant Growers
express overlook him, 65 miles from
Fort Benton, with the information
that he Grover had met Lieutenant
Saxton just near the dividing ridge;
that the road passed over by Lieuten.
ant Saxton was In many places, in
consequence OF timber, impractica5lc
for wagons, and that he would be at
Fort Benton one day after the ex-
press, with much valuable informa.
tion as TO the route west of the
mountains. II Immediately deter
mined to return," says Governor
Stevens, ''scnding forward Mr.. Stan
ley, the artist Of the expedition, with
Hammel, the interpreter, and three
voyageurs, to see the Indians and
invite them to Fort Benton.
"On my return, which was accomp-
lshed in less than "a hours, placed
Mr.. Lander's party in camp on the
Marias river, where it would be In
position either to move on to the cx-
ploration of the Marias or join, by
running side line, the main party
as 1t entered Cadotte's pass.
"Lieutenant DonelsOn having in
formed me, by the express bringing
Lieutenant Growers letter, that he
should, the next day, move on with
the whole party, in pursuance Of my
instructions, I dispatched early in
the morning our Indian guide, tt
direct them to move forward the ad
] vance party, that delay might moi
) occur in the survey Of the country
but to keep the supply tram IN CAM
r till my arrival to meet with Lieuten
G ant Saxton for consultation.
D "Reserving to subsequent portion
e of this report some account Of Lieu
G tenant Saxton's admirable reconnais
( sance, one made under many dificml
e Ties, it will be SUFFICIENT for me l,
e state that our mutual congratulation
G were Of the most cordial character
G lie left Washington In April will
! instructions TO organize a suppl
!, train on the Columbia, to establish
depot OF animals aud provisions a
the st. Mary's Village, and, passin
: over the Blackfeet trail, to meet m
at Fort Benton.
s.It was ia Washington we deter
mined to direct our first exploratio
Of this pass. AS we approached
. | lTOu OtllS oIuC VI VIC MOuuVoioo, "
Il called 1t Cadotte's pass from Cadotte
s one Of our guides, who passed over
X two years since. Ny first thought o
# reaching Fort Benton was to sen
d forward Lieutenant Grover, to ascel
e tain whether he had reached 81
IS Mary's or was on his way to thl
d point. point to the circumstanc
: Of their actual meeting within thre
n miles of the dividing ridge, as som
d evidence of the goodness Of the pas
j. and how well it was understood !
the frst-instructions.
:. "Cadotte's pass is by the baromet'
= measurements OF Lieutenant Saxtc
nearly 5000 feet below the south pas
! and is much better route both
summer and in winter. II prescn