Year: 1867




circulation for an appropriation from Congress
Of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, tC
open and complete a wagon road from Hors,
Prairie to Cabinet Landing on the Pen d'Orefs
river, iu order to open direct communication
with Montana-riee versa with the Pacific.


As the people along this road are more nearly
interested in the progress and completion Of 4
feasible and practicable road-a broad guagt
national wagon road-than those located at a
distance, we feel somewhat bound to notice
and, If we cas, do better-fayor it with our ut.
most endeavOr. As a route or line over which
this wagon road should pass, we have but one
opinion. Havingysome little acquaintance with
this route, of which We are about to speak, as
well as the one spoken of in the memorial refer
red to. with all due Difference to the latter we
prefer the one surveyed and reported upon by the
late lamented Gen. Isaac |. Stevens, as being
more direct and of greater benefit to the mass
OF the people npOn either side OF the Bitter Root
range.


Passing west from Helena, we will saw one
hnds road completed over the Deer Lodge
Pass, traversing the counties Of Deer Lodge aud
Aissoula, and connecting the eastern and west
ern portions of our own Territory. Along this
road we travel west from Helena one hundred
aud nifty miles, more or less, over as unexcep-
tionable a wagon road as can be found in the
Territories The route proposed in the pemori.
al does not mention this portion of the route at
all, but compels us from this point to find their
eastern terminus. Hellgate, Acknowledged evil
deutly to be the real gate of the n Mountains.
must be passed before digressing from Stevens
route. So far on our journey, we have kept a
due westerly course, with slight variation up
on arriving at Hellgste, however. Upon arri>
wing at Hellgate, what course does this new
Cabinet Landing, Steam Navigation Company
desire us to pursue Why, simply to turn our
course, and GO at a direct angle north some
tyz6v N orfv >6va mil
mence our one hundred and fifty thousand dol.
lar wagon road, that runs where said Company's
steam whistle blows, and can be got under way
in one hour, and takes your goods chattels, ETC.,
20 the other side of said beautiful sheet of water.
Where this proposed wagon road will, after
landing from the wherry, Nary Moody, lead the
pilgrim and stranger, the memorial sayeth not.


But, should they desire to make the same prof
table to themselves and the residents along,
and at the terminus of the proposed road, after
passing across the Lake, they will be compelled
again to vary their course, and travel south>
wardly toward the Snake or its junction with
the Columbia one hundred and fifty miles.


This is, so far, just and fair view of the nor
thern, Lake or Steamboat route. Now let us
again return to the pass known as Hellgate aud
travel to the same terminus. Moving west from
the above point we pass Frenchtown and enter
sPes see g3H9sns ne E y Jd sbe direction until we





mountains, upon a grade hardly perceptibte,
where the waters of the st. Regus Borgia and
CGur d'Alene almost meet; thence follow down
the CGur d'Alene to the Mission; thence west by
south in a direct libe to Walla Walla, or the
waters of the Columbia. The advantage of this |
route over the northern one may be easily uu> |
derstood 10y the direction indicated, which saves
at least one hundred and twenty-five miles of
travel: second the expense of constructing or
rather putting in good condition this free nation
highway would consume over fifty per cent. of
the appropriation asked for in the memorial.
This enterprise is of far more moment and more |
nearly connected with the future welfare of Nom
tana, Idaho, Oregon aud Washington than most
people imagine. Only those who have trAversed
these routes, noted the location of towns, cities
and mining camps upon both Sides can, at pres
ent, fully comprehend its great importance.
Having thus far INDUCED in a faint comparison,
reader, allow us, in vindication Of tie last props
osition, to state many teams and light wagons,
by dint of clearing timber out of the way, have
crossed and recrossed this rocky barrier this
year.


The interest of this country as well as the en-
tire northern interest of the western States and
Territories can only be subserved upon an inde
pendent and permanent basis, by prosecuting,
first, the most direct aad practicable wagon
road across the Bitter Root mountains by ats
tracing the tide of emigration over this route,
making 1t the national hlghway across the
continent, when it will take more than the ple-
thoric purse of one or two contract thieves to
make an impression, through garbled reports of
engineers sent here by government to do their
duty. Once let the people adopt this route, and
we will trust to the N. P. R. R. following the
wake, with perhaps some little deviations, with
in some FIVE years thereafter


We are glad to see the interest manifested,
both at the east and the west; and, although we
Mnll ia ra.
BILE. vet we by no means wish to cool the ardor
of those who are striving to connect this great
enterprise with their own little specuations,,so
that the connection is made by substantial
broad guage road, over which the transportation
of goods and machinery is made easy. We are
confident that the route most practicable will be
adopted by those shrewd eastern gentry, who
always ask show for their money.-Montdna
Independent.


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