CHAPTER VI. 



* . 



Railroad Practicability of the Rocky and Coeur d Alene Mountains. Description of the 



ranges and of the several 



In determining the route through the Rocky mountains, regard must be had to the difficulties of 

 approach as well as to the difficulties in the pass itself. Before considering the question, it 

 will first be necessary to show the route through the Coeur d Alene mountains. 



The Cceur d Alene mountains may be regarded as extending from Snake river to Clark s fork, 

 and as covering from two to three degrees of longitude. Clark s fork separating it from a range 

 still farther north, called the Kootenaies mountains, has its source in the Rocky mountains in two 

 principal branches one flowing from the south, called the Bitter Root river, and the other 

 flowing from the north, and called the Flathead river. These rivers separate the Coeur d Alene 

 and Kootenaies mountains from the Rocky mountains, and with the exception of a mountain 

 spur running down towards their point of junction, giving, however, a good pass from the one 

 valley to the other they form a continuous valley extending along the western base of the Rocky 

 mountains from 45 30 of N. latitude to far north into British territory. To the south, however, 

 at the headwaters of the Bitter Root, of the Snake, and the three forks of the Missouri, the 

 Cceur d Alene unites with the main chain of the Rocky mountains. 



There are at least four passes in the Coeur d Alene mountains, well known to the aborigines : 

 the pass of Clark s fork, the Cceur d Alene pass by the Coeur d Alene mission, the northern 

 Nez Perces trail, and the southern Nez Perces trail. The northern Nez Perces trail is the route 

 of Lewis and Clark, and was not examined. The three other passes have been carefully 

 examined by me. There is said, however, to be a fifth trail between the Cceur d Alene and 

 northern Nez Perces trails, more practicable for wagons than any of the others. This has been 

 explored by Lieutenant Mullan, but his report has not been received. 



The southern Nez Perces trail leads from the southwest fork of the St. Mary s river, connect 

 ing, by a tolerably direct route, St. Mary s valley with Wallah-Wallah. For 120 miles it passes 

 over wooded mountains, dropping at times into valleys, and, crossing them, ascends the spurs and 

 hills again. Its elevation rarely if ever falls so low as 3,000 feet, and sometimes reaches as high 

 as 8,000 feet an estimate, the barometer having been cached at the (height of 7,250 feet. In 

 the month of December, when, with considerable detention and difficulty, Mr. Tinkham crossed 

 the mountains on snow-shoes, the snow was generally about three feet deep, sometimes six feet, 

 and in a single instance, as near as could be ascertained, ten feet deep. The average depth of 

 the snow tor the whole 120 miles was a little less than two feet. Tributaries of the Koos-koos-kia 

 head near the sources of the southwest fork of the St. Mary s river, and offer the only possible 

 chance of getting through the Bitter Root mountain. This direction is by the Koos-koos-kia. 

 A tunnel will be required at the divide separating the two streams. The Koos-koos-kia was 

 crossed near its head, at an elevation of 3,760 feet; its valley in this place is narrow and dark, 

 with steep, rocky and wooded hills enclosing it. It has the same character where it unites 

 with the Clearwater river after leaving the mountain. Between these two points the river has 

 not been examined. The northern Nez Perces trail is very much of the same character, and 

 does not come into competition for a route. The Cceur d Alene Pass may be briefly described 

 as a pass formed by two streams flowing in opposite directions from two lakes almost half a 

 mile apart. The western lake is about 700 feet above the eastern. The two valleys, though 



