Year: 1862

persevering commander of the Walla Wulla
and Fort Benton Military Road Expedition,
announcing the arrival of four steamers at
Fort Benton from St. Louis, bringing three
hundred and fifty passengers, some of whom
are now en- route over the military road to
this valley The letter also contains assu-
RANGES of the discovery of rich gold mines
in the Bitter Root and Big Hole valleys,
and the opinion is advanced by the writer
that extended prospecting in that country
will develop rich and extensive gold mines.
These steamers made the trip from St. Louis
to Fort Benton in thirty-two days. One
of tbem has returned for the purpose of
making another trip the present season
They brought up large stocks of goods for
different merchants from St. Louis.
town is being established at Fort LaBarge,
which place is situated at the head OF nav
igation and two and half miles from Fort
Benton In the early times of hunting and
trapping, this point was occupied by the
French Fur Company. At later period,
the American Fur Company established a
trading post at Fort Benton, and pr5secu-
ting their operations with more vigor and
effect, succeeded at length in monopolizing
the business of the country, and the French
post was ultimately abandoned Messrs.
LaBarge, Harkness & Co., have established
a line of steamers from St. Louis to Fort
Benton, and line of stages through from
the latter place to the Bitter Root valley.
These gentlemen have also established
heavy trading house at Fort LaBarge, and
have sent out printed handbills to the fol-
lowing effect;


The subscribers have opened large stock of
goods, suitable for the miners, hunters and farm
ers of this new country; and general assortment
of merchandise for trading. We have also a large
steam engine, with saw mill and grist mill of the
best kind.


We have also established our miners line of
superior steamboats,, which will run regularly from
the opening till the close of navigation. One boat
will start from our Post on the opening of navi-
cation, and one from St. Louis Miners and 9th
ers can send any kind Of goods by this line, with
the certainty of Their being promptly delivered.


Gold dust will be taken at the highest price.
We vii! also carry it to St. Louis and deliver it
at any bankers, at moderate charge and as the
Government is about to remove the U. S. mint
from New Orleans to St. Louis, it will be the best
market for dust.


By this route the citizens of Oregon and Wash
ington reach their friends in the States in one
foarth the time they can by any other route, and
at one-fourth the expense. We will put on line
of stages to the Bitter Root valley, which will en-
able miners to reach the richest gulches in the
world in from 80 to 35 days from ST. Louis.


The Miners Line is the only sure and quick
mode of communication between the great North
west and the Mississippi valley,


We chronicle the above facts in the pro-
gress of this vast interior country with feel
ings of the most lively anticipation, because
we regard them as unmistakable omens of
an immediate connection between ourselves
and the people on the other side of the
mountains, and a future resplendent with
civilization and advancement The Rocky
mountains scaled, the military road com
pleted from Walla Walla to Fort Benton,
the great highway which forms the connect
ing link is open to the emigrant, the mi
ner, and the adventurer All honor to the
men under whose auspices and direction
this great work has been carried forward,
and whose indomitable energy and unyield-
ing perseverance have secured the triumph
ant result. Isaac I. Stevens and John Null
Ian merit the grateful homage of the people,
in that they have labored faithfully for the
accomplishment of this line of communica-
ton between the people of the Atlantic and
Pacific. The one by his active efforts, pro-
jected and drew the outline the other,
with firm purpose and an eye single to the
one object-despite the reproaches of those
who pronounced the project visionary and
impracticable-en the field and execu-
ted the great work. The architect and
builder rests from his labors and to-day
Lieut.. John Mullan stands forth the master
of bold and noble enterprise, and one
which will not fail in after years to bring
him an abundant reward Already, and
before he has fairly retired from the labors
attendant upon its completion, the fruits
are springing forth in line of stages over
the road from Fort Benton to Bitter Root
valley, across the Rocky mountains, dis
tance of three hundred and fcrty-fve miles,
and only two hundred and seventy three
miles from this place.


Who can calculate the benefits which
will result to mankind from the completion
of this work ? The Imagination may por-
tray it in pictures of brilliant coloring, but
figures may not estimate it. As forerun-
ner and harbinger, it gives promise Of most
extraordinary developments. Experience
has amply illustrated the importance of be-
ginnings like the one under consideration,
and its lessons have accustomed us in this
age of progress to look for and expect
vast ,train of improvements to follow them
in rapid succession. And SO shall we do
in this instance, without the least appre-
hension of being disappointed. The con-
struction of wagon road from Fort Benton
to Walla Walla, across the Rocky noun
tains, surmounting formidable obstacles on
every hand, is in itself a great work, and
one which a few years ago was universally
regarded as chimerical scheme. But the
times and the notions of men have under