Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-10-25
BRAVE EXPLORERS
CHARTED FIRST
MOUNTAIN ROUTE
INDIANS TOLD WHITES HOW TO
FIND THE PASSES OVER
ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Before it was possible to build our
great transcontinental railroads a
more difficult task had to be under
| taken-that Of finding practicable
routes. When in 1853 the government
! decided to seek such a route 1t was
thought to lie between the Mississippi
river and the Pacific coast. and the
governor of Washington territory.
Isaac I. Stevens, was appointed to
survey its eastern portion, while Capt
George B. Mcclellan would have
charge Of the western division. That
the first transcontinental road started
from Omaha and followed a more
southern route, does not detract from
the invaluable service rendered to our
country by these two men,
Captain Mcclellan, later General
Mcclellan of Bull Run memory, was
a fine engineer, whatever his reputa-
ton as a general. And no man could
have been better fitted for the oner-
GUS task assigned him than Governor
Stevens. And what was that task?
Sought Mountain Passes
Starting from the upper Mississippi. |
he was to examine the passes of the |
several mountain ranges, the geogra-
ply and meteorology of the whole IN
termediate region, the character as
avenues of trade and transportation
of the Missouri and Columbia rivers,
the rains and snowfallS Of the route
especially in mountain passes and, In
short, to collect every species Of in
formation bearing upon the question
of railroad practicability"
This would seem to be quite enough
for one man to undertake, even with
the skilled assistants who accompa-
MED him; but more was added. There
were several tribes of Indians through
whose country he must pass. 1t was
part of his duty to conciliate them,
as some of them were not friendly to
the whites. He would encounter Sioux,
eros Ventres, Flatheads, Nez Perces
and other tribes, and much depended
upon his ability to make peace between
them and the whites, and also between
the Indians, who we're always at war
with one another. The Blackfeet,
Crows and Sioux we're then powerful
tribes and of different stock, the
Crows being related to the Sioux who
came from the Carolinas,
while the Blackfeet are allied to the
Governor Stevens was eminently
successful as a peacemaker. He was
both Just and humane in all his deal
ngs with the Indians nor could ne
)e held responsible for the fact that I
lis treaties were the opening wedge ;
or dispossessing the Indians of all !
heir best land. His success as a medi- r
ltor was undoubtedly partly due to
he cooperation of Alexander Culbert- +
ION, who thoroughly understood the r
Indians, and whom they trusted. p
1t was at st. Paul, where he had 4
decided to outfit for his work, that r
Governor Stevens met Culbertson, who q
him to what is now Mon !,
ana, part of this state-the western =
then included in the =
erritory of Washington. t,
purchase Supplies fl
Having chosen st. Paul as his start n
ng point, Governor Stevens decided e
o send a detachment by the water
QUITE to Fort Union, and he would go =
verland. Provisions, wagons and mules =
rere purchased for the journey, and :,
4 addition, DR.. Borup of st. Paul i
ontributed four "Pembina carts, I" :
41OWn " carly oSJOlCAS AiCAC do 1OCO Is
liver carts. They we're made entirely -
+ wood, and sometimes the wheels =
-ere wound with strips of buffalo a
ide. Two to six of these were driven II
y one man. 9,
OF them Governor Stevens says: :,
They look as if made for only one -
rip, and the creaking of the wheels II
n their wooden axles does not give =
he idea of their standing much r
ervice. ~
Their first appearance to those of G
he party unaccustomed to the sight,
18th the oxen harnessed to them, N
aused much merriment; and as they 81
loved over the prairie the singular bl