Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-11-07
Bx HARLEY RANSOM

Vine farwa Baedecker OF MF0neana
appeared In 1855. IL Is doubtful II
any 0Ehex e0wnexy or portion there
s8 Ina the weird was SO shortly
after settlement the subject of a
genuine gmide-bO0k with descrip-
tam Of the reute Of travel and di-
roesiOms fer proceeding along the
way Realizing the need Of hand
beck for travellers and emigranfs
Ia the northwest, Captain John
Mulkan prepared a guide for the
use Of the first tourists into Mon
tana ana the vast north Pacific
territory.
The title page Of Mullanls volume
reads as follows: Miners and Trav-
elers' Guide TO Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Montana. Wyoming, and Colo
RADIO via the Missouri and Columbia
rivers accompanied by q general map
OF the mineral region Of the north
west sections Of the Rocky mountains.
Prepared by Capt John Mullan, late
superintendent Of the northern over
land wagon road and commissioner of
the Northern Pacific railroad" The
book was published by William M
Franklin at "a Vesey street, New York.
Captain Mullan succinctly stated, in
the Introductory chapter, the purpose
OF his little volume. He wrote: The
following pages and accompanying
map have been prepared with a view
to place in the hands of travellers and
emigrants to the northwest and Pacific
coast such advice and information as
they would find useful in their journey,
when travelling by the new route"
Former Routes Hazardous
Travellers to the Rocky mountain re-
gion and Pacific coast points before |
the completion of the Mullan mill
tary road in 1862 had no alternative |
but to choose between two routes both !
OF which we're expensive and fraught /
with danger and discomfort. One, by
way of the Isthmus of Panama, in
volved an ocean journey Of 5000 miles /
and a short overland trip through I
fetid jungles teeming with yellow /
fever. The transcontinental route +
through the south pass Of the Rocky
mountains neceSsitated 1000 miles of i
land travel over difficult trails in hos
tile Indian territory.
The new road constructed by Cap
tain John Mullan under appointment
TO Cen Isaac Stevens, then governor
Of washington territory. at a cost of
$3.50. 900. obviated the necessity Of a
long sea journey and at the same time
shortened the land distance. The trip
was undertaken from St. Louis by
boat up the Missouri river to Fort
Benton. From there the Mullan wagon
road led overland across the treeleSs
prairie and down the Sun river past
Bird Tail rock. 1t followed up the
Prickly Pear valley and through the
Mullan pass Mullan, then lieutenant
in the United States army, first !
crossed the pass west of Helena that {
bears his name with a four mule army !
wagon March %, 1854. From the pass
the road followed down the Little
Blackfoot river to a point which is now
Garrison. From there 1t proceeded {
along the Clark Fork river through
western Montana to the junction of {
Regis was followed to the summit Of {
the Bitter Root mountains. The road
then crossed the panhandle Of Idaho, I
passing Occur d'Alene lake, to Walla I
Walla and the navigable waters Of the ,
Columbia river. Z
Few Evidences Remain
Among the few remaining evidences t
In Montana Of the old road Is large a
white pine about 200 yards east OF a
the tunnel on the highway at Fourth ]
inscription m r July 4, 1851" appar- 2
entity carved by a member Of Mulfans 2
construction crew The summit and s.
Fourth Of July canyon take their names Y
lrom this inscription o
Steamers on the rivers made the
'ound trip but once q year and trav-
.lers In either direction had to make :,
heir preparations early enough to s.
AXE the boats about April l either from q
It. Louis to Fort Benton or from the
- Isl