LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 13 



They should &quot;be numbered, and a corresponding number entered in the note-book, with a par 

 ticular description of the localities. 



It will not be necessary to make geological collections, except of soils, until you reach 

 Traverse des Sioux, as the exploring parties of Dr. Owen have already determined with suffi 

 cient accuracy the geology of that district. But after crossing the extensive drift region before 

 alluded to (where it is only important to notice the underlying rocks) you come into the rich 

 fossiliferous regions of the cretaceous and tertiary formations. Here it is of great importance to 

 make careful geological sections of the rocks exposed, and to collect all the fossil remains met 

 with, in order to determine with greater accuracy the boundary of these formations, and as far 

 as practicable of their various members. As before stated, they extend to near the falls of the 

 Missouri, and this is the only portion of the route where it is particularly desirable that extensive 

 geological collections should be made. All specimens collected in this region you are requested 

 to deposit at Forts Union and Benton, carefully packed in boxes for shipment down the Mis 

 souri river, and directed to . 



An interesting feature in the geology of the upper Missouri river country is the great lignite 

 bed, commencing about latitude 47, and showing itself at various points on the Missouri river 

 for seven hundred miles. In this vast prairie country, almost wholly destitute of timber, it is 

 important that the quality and extent of this coal bed be determined. Specimens, therefore, 

 should be collected, both of the coal and the rocks associated with it. 



Special attention is directed to the geological formations along the base of the Rocky mount 

 ains, both east and west of the main range. The age of these rocks has been a matter of some 

 doubt; and it is highly important, if any of them are fossiliferous, that collections be made. 



The Bitter Boot range of mountains is perhaps the most interesting portion of your route for 

 mineralogical research. I collected here rich specimens of iron, copper, and other valuable and 

 useful ores ; and in some portions of the range the rocks bear considerable analogy to the 

 talcose and other allied rocks of the gold-bearing regions of California. 



As you proceed northward a considerable change occurs in the geological features of the 

 country. Galena, of good quality, has been found near Fort Colville, north of the British line. 

 If these seams extend into our own territory, it would prove a discovery of great value, and it is 

 therefore worthy of investigation. 



West of the Cascade range of mountains, on the way to and from Puget sound, your parties 

 will pass and repass through the great coal or lignite region of Washington Territory. The 

 beds are of greater thickness and better quality than have been found in the same geological 

 formation in any other country, and may prove of great value. It is my intention to spend 

 several months- in the exploration of that section, but the incidental information obtained by 

 your numerous corps might be of great advantage in developing the extent and value of these 

 deposits. 



Very respectfully, 



JOHN EVANS, 



Geologist of the Expedition. 



Gov. ISAAC I. STEVENS. 



CAMP PIERCE, June 3, 1853. 



SIR: I reached St. Paul s on Friday evening last (May 27,) and the next morning went to 

 the camp which had been established by Captain Gardiner, some three miles from Fort 

 Snelling, west of the Mississippi river ; and which, in honor of the President, I have named 

 Camp Pierce. 



The camp was established by Captain Gardiner on the 24th of May, the day after the arrival 

 of the full list of mules, one hundred and seventv-tvro in number ; and on the 25th ultimo the 



