The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-05-30
CAPTAIN JOHN MULLAN
AND HIS FAMOUS ROAD
STORY OF PIONEER HIGHWAY
THAT CONTRIBUTED TO SET
ELEMENT OF WEST.

The camp ground that is being pre-
pared at Pottsville for the accomoda-
ton Of tourists over the Yellowstone
trail by E. C. Pulaski, local represen-
tative of the forest service, in con-
junction with the Shoshone County
Good Roads association, is expected 10
be ready for service by the time the
snow is removed from the summit to
permit travel. A box will be placed
permanently on the camp ground con-
tanning much information desired by
tourists in the line of distances. in
formation regarding interesting land
marks, resources of the country
through which the road passes, and a
brief historical statement regarding
the building of the Mullan road by
Captain John Mullan. The Yellow
stone trail parallels this historic high
way through western Montana and
across Idaho The story of the Null
Ian road is interesting to many people
in this district, particularly since mon
uments are soon to be erected in hon
or of the builder in Mullan, Wallace
and Kellogg. The story as told in
the camp box follows
The MuIIan Road.
1T was on this spot that Captain
John Mullan and his party of soldier
and civilian road builders camped
while constructing the historic high
way that bears his name across the
divide.
Impressed with the necessity of
means of direct communication be-
tween Fort Benton, at the head of
navigation of the Missouri river, and
river basin, the war department in
1853 ordered Lieutenant afterwards
Captain) John Mullan. of the Second
Field artillery. U. S. A., to investigate
and report the most feasible route for
a wagon road connecting these two
important military posts, the distance
being 624 miles. He completed his
task and returned to Washington in
the road along the ST. Regis de Borgia
and the Occur d'Alene rivers, crossing
the intervening Bitter Root range a
short distance south Of Lookout pass
where the Northern Pacific now eros
ses the divide.
mo further action was taken until
1858, when congress appropriated
100000 for the construction of the
road under the direction of the war
department Captain Mullan was
commissioned to take charge of the
work, and in the fall of that year ar
rived at Fort Walla Walla to begin
construction. The original road skirt
ed the southern shore Of Lake Occur
d'Alene crossing the st. Joe and
thence up the valley of the Occur
d'Alene river. The road was practi-
cally completed in 1861. However,
Captain Mullan found the low ground
along the lower st. Joe to be serious
obstacle, and he proceeded to seek a
feasible route north of the lake. In
this he was successful, and 1t was
while making this change that the
famous canyon through which a mod
ern highway is now being constructed
received it's name July 4, 1861, found
Captain Mullan and his road builders
in camp at Wolf Lodge. Work was
suspended and all Joined in celebrat
ing Independence day. "Old Glory
was unfurled to the breeze and le
canyon echoed with its loyal salute,
while far to the east across mountain
and plain the great conflict was on
which was to determine whether the
flag should continue to wave as the
emblem of Liberty and Union, one
end inseparable." 1t was thus that
Fourth of July Canyon" received its
name