Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-04-08
PASS FOUND 1854
WAS UNEMPLOYED
UNTIL YEAR OF1889

Marfas pass, the most feasible
crossing of the Continental Divide
in the northern Rocky mountains,
R, is at the southern boundary of GIa-
h cicr national park. Its existence
was known 10 white men as early
y as 1870, although it was not actu-
/ ally explored until 1889. Expeditions
searching for this pass furnish the
earliest recorded history Of the
park.
In 1906 Lewis and Clark were within
! about 100 miles Of the pass. They were
/ on a side expedition from their route
/ Of travel across the continent and ap-
! parently did not know there was such
pass. The Blackfeet nation knew OF
it but were not friendly to the expedi-
ton; thus the principal source Of in
formation was denied the explorers.
Hostility of the Blackfeet, more than
any other factor caused the easiest pass
to be the last discovered. Had the side
expedition assembled the Marias river
two or three additional days before
turning back, the pass would have been
visible and much easier route to the
Pacific made available.
In 1910 Robert Greenhow published
a map showing Route Across the
Mountains" which closely approx
mates the true location of Marias pass.
Isaac Stevens, governor of the Oregon
territory, in his expedition of 1854-56,
regarded the location of this pass his
principal objective. One of his sub
ordinateS, Mr.. Tinkham, thought he
had discovered it, but it proved to be
Cut Bank pass in Glacier national park.
just why this party assembled Nyack
creek leading to Cut Bank pass instead
of the much larger Middle Fork of the
Flathead river leading to Marias pass
will never be known. 1t is thought fear
Of the Blackfeet changed bis plans.
In 1854, Mr.. Doty, another subor-
dinate OF Governor Stevens, after as
cending the Marias river, makes the |
following entry in his journal on May
oath:
Morning clear and warm. The Ma
riaS river comes through a gap in the
mountains some Is miles in wfdth-his |
(T1nkham'S) description and topog- /
raphy Of the pass and mountains do not
agree with reality and it would certain
ly seem as though he could not have J
passed through here"
MariaS pass was in view of a white
man for the first timeI
MIR. Doty apparently did not realize
it or he would have explored the gap
despite the fact that he was under Or
ders to report at Fort Benton the last
Of the month. Upon reading the report
of the expedition, Governor Stevens
senSed the elusive pass had been To-
partment instructing him to incur no
more expense in his explorations caused
of the search.
In 1887 the Great Northern railroad
had been built to Helena, with the in
5ention Of extending it to the Pacific
when the most feasible route had been
determined. In 1889, John F. Stevens
reconnaissance. That winter, accom-
panied by one Flathead Indian, he ex-
olored Marias pass. The Indian refused
10 accompany him on the last days
journey. His sufferings in midwinter,
with no camp equipment, must have
been terrible. Where thoroughly or
ganized expeditions failed in summer,
Mr.. Stevens, practically alone and in
succeeded.
It is fitting that heroic figure In
bronze now stands in Marias pass, COM
nemorating the exploit.