ROUTE NEAR THE FORTY-FIRST AND FORTY-SECOND PARALLELS, 69 



could no doubt be obtained from the Platte, and ties from the Wind River chain, and excellent 

 building-stone on the Sweet Water. 



The sum of the known ascents to be overcome from Council Bluffs to the South Pass is 6,650 

 feet, including 460 feet at the Hot Spring Grate, to avoid which it was gained and lost. 



The Bear River mountains, lying due west from the South Pass, forbid any direct passage 

 in that direction. As yet, we know of no practicable way of reaching Salt lake but by Fort 

 Bridger, through the pass explored by Lieut. Beckwith. This would carry us down the 

 Sandy creek, a tributary of Green river, with coal in its banks, to the crossing of the latter 

 stream : elevation 6,238 feet ; distance 81 miles ; average grade for the first four miles west of 

 the South Pass, 70 feet; and for the remaining 77, 13 feet per mile. The width of Green 

 river is here 400 feet, and the ford excellent, (Aug. 16, 1843.) No doubt exists as to the 

 practicability of connecting with Lieut. Beckwith s survey in the neighborhood of Fort Bridger, 

 elevation 7, 254 feet; distance from Green river 50 miles: we thus have, from Council Bluffs 

 to Fort Bridger, by the South Pass route, a total of ascents and descents of 9,386 feet, and a 

 total distance of 943 miles. 



By Bridger s Pass. This proposed route is not so well known as the other. It keeps the 

 South fork of the Platte (100 miles) to the mouth of Lodge Pole creek, which it is then pro 

 posed to take. This creek has never been continuously explored. Fremont crossed it near its 

 mouth, and represents it as a clear, handsome stream, running through a broad valley, having 

 a uniform width of 22 feet and depth of 6 inches, (July 6, 1842,) a few green willows on its 

 banks forming a pleasing contrast to the surrounding barrenness. The timber appeared to have 

 been formerly more abundant. He crossed this creek again, as near as he could ascertain from 

 his &quot; uncertain means of information/ about 120 miles from its mouth, the elevation being 

 about 4,800 feet : the banks were here about 700. feet above the stream ; average slope about 

 four feet per mile. 



From this point to the Cheyenne Pass, in the Black Hills, is about 60 miles. The Black 

 Hills act here much like the sustaining walls of a terrace, the plain at their east base being 

 much lower than at the west. Capt. Stansbury says, speaking of this pass, that his &quot;examina 

 tions fully demonstrate the existence of a route through the Black Hills not only practicable, 

 but free from any obstructions involving, in their removal, great or unusual expenditure.&quot; 



The elevation of the east base of the mountains must be about 5,000 feet ; the elevation of 

 Laramie plain is 7,500 feet ; the most favorable supposition is, that the pass is no higher. Not 

 knowing in what distance this elevation is gained, it is impossible to speak of the grades. In 

 crossing the divide between Laramie and Medicine Bow rivers, the elevation is given by Fremont 

 at 7,994 feet ; but there is such a confusion between Fremont s and Stansbury s maps, that 

 its distance from the Cheyenne Pass cannot be ascertained. At the crossing, the North fork of 

 the Platte has a width of 160 feet, depth 2 feet, (Sept. 6, 1850 ;) elevation, by Fremont, 6,820 ; 

 distance from Cheyenne Pass, by Stansbury, 102 miles; thence to the summit of Bridger s Pass 

 30 miles. Capt. S. says the slope either way from the summit is so gentle as scarcely to be 

 perceptible. In the table of distances we find it stated, that &quot;the champaign country continues 

 north to the Wind River mountains, and can be crossed in many places, the choice being 

 determined by considerations of fuel and water.&quot; 



It is altogether probable this pass does not differ much in elevation from the South Pass, 

 and may be supposed the same, viz : 7,490 feet. 



From the summit west the line descends Muddy creek a few miles, then crosses a rolling 

 divide, (height not known,) between it and Bitter creek, both tributaries of Green river, and 

 down the latter to Green river, elevation about 6,200 feet ; distance from Bridger s Pass 135 

 miles ; (the Green river is here 800 feet wide ; the deepest water found, September 13, was 

 3 feet, but in high stages it is a formidable stream, and will have to be ferried;) thence to 

 Fort Bridger, 50 miles. One important feature of this route, from the Cheyenne Pass to 



