FROM CANTONMENT STEVENS TO FORT HALL AND BACK. 319 



boat navigation from the east to within six days of the headwaters of the Pacific, the advantages 

 possessed by this northern country can be overlooked or lost sight of? Will not the emigrants 

 take the shortest and most direct line to the Pacific ? It has been proved beyond a cavil that 

 there is a wagon road from the headwaters of the Mississippi to the base of the mountains, and 

 that there exist through the mountains passes practicable for wagons. In addition to this, the 

 great line and length of water communication from St. Louis to the base of the mountains renders 

 this section especially invaluable in a commercial point of view, and gives it a degree of import 

 ance possessed by none other. 



Should it prove that the country westward from the mountains to the Pacific is feasible and 

 practicable, I hesitate not in saying that this section may yet prove the great key to unlock to our 

 country rich and hidden treasures, and that will afford to our capitalists an inviting opportunity for 

 investments. It might be said by some that this is nothing new. It is true that these things have been 

 as long as the country has been in existence ; but why have we not taken possession of them why 

 have we not used the advantages that Nature herself placed right at our doors? It it is only because 

 we have not felt the need, the necessity for them until the present ; but now we do feel the necessity, 

 and that deeply, of turning to our account not only every natural advantage afforded us, but to im 

 prove those natural advantages by artificial ones in a word, to connect the Atlantic with the Pacific, 

 not only by a water but a land communication. The exertion and enterprise of a private company 

 alone has made known to us the importance possessed by the great river Missouri, extending and 

 pushing their posts farther and farther into the Indian country. As time progresses, they have now 

 reached the farthest confines and limits of the Indian country east of the mountains, and have 

 thus made us aware of the existence of a treasure in the very heart of our country, and which 

 may yet tell upon our public coffers. These men saw the advantages that would be possessed 

 by this river, were it navigable to a great distance above its mouth ; knowing full well the ease 

 and economy of thus transporting supplies, and bringing from the Indian country their furs and 

 peltries. With this view they attempted its navigation; success crowned their efforts, and year 

 after year are they repaid a hundred fold for their exertion and enterprise; and now is a single 

 steamer seen following the tortuous channel of the Missouri from St. Louis to a point twenty-two 

 hundred miles above its mouth a solitary, but, I trust, a sure pioneer of the long line of steamers 

 that may yet be seen ploughing the waters of the Missouri from St. Louis to the Rocky mount 

 ains, and be instrumental in arousing our people to a sense of the advantage possessed by us, and 

 which only needs an industrious and persevering hand to be turned to our nation s benefit; and 

 to these men be the credit. 



Truly and respectfully, your obedient servant, 



A/rrTT A M 

 MULLAN. 



Governor I. I. STEVENS, 



In Command of the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey, Sfc. 



25. REPORT OF THE EXPLORATION FROM CANTONMENT STEVENS TO FORT HALL AND BACK, BY 

 LIEUTENANT JOHN MULLAN, U. S. A. J WITH HIS ROUTE UP THE ST. MARY S, TO AND UP THE 

 JEFFERSON FORK OF THE MISSOURI. 



CAMP STEVENS, ON THE BITTER ROOT RIVER, 



Washington Territory, November 19, 1853. 



SIR: I have the honor to report that I herewith transmit a sketch of a reconnaissance from 

 the village of St. Mary s, on the Bitter Root river, to and up the Jefferson fork of the Missouri. 

 I left my camp on this river on the 14th of October last, with the intention of making the con 

 nexion between this point and Fort Hall on the emigrant road, taking with me Mr. Owen as 

 guide, there being no Indians at St. Mary s village, save Pierre, the Iroquois. Mr. Owen had 

 represented to me that he knew the route full well between the two points, but after being out six 

 or seven days he totally mistook his road ; and, having with me no map or anything to guide me, 



