INDEX 



REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR AND OFFICE REPORTS. 



Contents of volume I iii 



Resolution authorizing printing of reports iv 



Acts of Congress of March 3, 1853, May 31, 1854, and August 5, 1854, authorizing the surveys and explorations iv 



Note in reference to Governor Stevens s estimate of cost of road iv 



REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 



Provisions under which the explorations and surveys were made 3 



General map 3 



General sketch of the country between the Mississippi river and the Pacific ocean 3, 4 



General description of the mountain systems, soil, water, &c., between the Mississippi river and the Pacific ocean .. 4-7 



Remarks upon the several routes 7,8 



Examination of route near the 47th and 49th parallels of north latitude, explored by Governor I. I. Stevens and Captain 



G. B. McClellan, Corps of Engineers 8-12 



Examination of route near the 4 1st and 42d parallels of north latitude, explored by Captain J. C. Fremont, Captain 



H. Stansbury, Corps of Topographical Engineers, and Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith, 3d regiment of artillery 12-16 



Examination of route near the 38th and 39th parallels of north latitude, explored by Captain J. W. Gunnison, Corps 



of Topographical Engineers; report by Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith, 3d regiment artillery 17-19 



Examination of route near the 35th parallel of north latitude, explored by Lieutenant A. W. Whipple, Corps of To 

 pographical Engineers 20-22 



Examination of route near the 32d parallel of north latitude, explored by Captain John Pope, Lieutenant John G. 



Parke, and Major William H. Emory, Corps of Topographical Engineers 23-27 



Examination of extension of route of 32d parallel from the mouth of the Gila to San Francisco, explored by Lieute 

 nant R. S. Williamson, Corps of Topographical Engineers 27-29 



Remarks in regard to estimates of cost and equated lengths; comparison of results; &quot;the most practicable and 



economical route,&quot; its characteristics and advantages 29, 30 



Table showing lengths, sums of ascents and descents, equated lengths, cost, &c., of the several routes 31 



Table of distances of the eastern termini of the routes to the Mississippi river and the principal Atlantic and Gulf ports. 32 



List of documents accompanying Secretary s report 33 



EXAMINATION OF THE ROUTES BY CAPTAIN A. A. HUMPHREYS AND LIEUTENANT G. K. WARREN, CORPS OF TOPO 

 GRAPHICAL ENGINEERS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Route near the &amp;lt;tfth and 49*/t parallels of north latitude. 



Considerations determining the general direction of the route 



Examination of route in detail from St. Paul, Mississippi river, to the Missouri river, near Fort Union, (comprising 



topographical description, grades, character of work, supplies of building material, fuel, water, &c.) 39,40 



Examination of route in detail from near Fort Union to the eastern base of the Rocky mountains 41 



Water from the Red river of the north to Maria s river 41 



Examination of route in detail from the eastern base of the Rocky mountains to the crossing of the Spokane river.. 41-45 



Description of the passes of the Rocky mountains, and continuation of route through them 41-43 



Description of the passes of the Bitter Root mountains, and continuation of route through them 43-45 



Examination of route in detail from the crossing of the Spokane river to the crossing of the Columbia river 45, 46 



Examination of route in detail from the crossing of the Columbia river to Puget Sound, by the Yakima Pass 46 



