362 ITINERARY OF ROUTE FROM FORT BENTON TO CADOTTE S PASS. 



29th day. The \vngons go thirteen and three-quarter miles, and encamp on a stream on 

 Kamas prairie. A trail leads along the banks of Clark s fork, or the Flathead river, from the point 

 where this road leaves it ; but though I did not see it, I do not think it can be better for a road 

 than to go by Kamas prairie. The workmen this day labor on the road down Clark s fork. 



3Qlh day. The wagons go eleven and a half miles and encamp on Horse Plain. The work 

 men open the road as far as &quot;Big Rock.&quot; This is a steep rocky bluff, which rises to a great 

 height and overhangs the river for about 500 yards. The rock appeared to be limestone, and 

 would, I think, be easily worked. It slopes from the river at an angle of about 60. It would 

 require about two weeks to make a practicable road around this hill, and w r ould be necessary to 

 blast away a great deal of the rock. Before determining how to proceed here, a reconnaissance 

 ought to be made to determine the best way of avoiding this hill. As far as I can at present say, 

 I think a raft or boat should be made, and the wagons and effects carried by water around the 

 hill. 



The wagons should remain at Horse Plain until the road be entirely opened to Thompson s 

 prairie ; and this would require seven days, including the preparation for the water carriage, and 

 excluding the work on the road up to Big Rock. 



37 (h day. The wagons would go nine and a half miles to a prairie and encamp, where there 

 is plenty of wood and water, and but little grass. 



38th day. The wagons go ten and a half miles, and encamp at Thompson s prairie. The 

 workmen labor on the road ahead. As no good spot for an encampment occurs between Thomp 

 son s prairie and Lake Pend d Oreille, the wagons should remain at the former place until 

 within a few days of the completion of the road to the latter. 



The Indian trail, as at present existing, leads mostly through dense forests, and over irregular 

 ground, and is, moreover, obstructed by great quantities of fallen timber. These last obstructions 

 would probably have to be removed yearly, as there is reason to believe that the timber, in conse 

 quence of the great height of the trees it may be from winds, and from the forests being occa 

 sionally set on fire is constantly falling. It might be expedient to make an arrangement with 

 the Indians by which the fires could be prevented. I have estimated that it would require fifty 

 days to open the road from Thompson s prairie to Lake Pend d Oreille. 



81st day. The wagons would go fourteen and a half miles and encamp in the woods, where 

 there is very little grass. 



82d day. They go twelve miles and encamp on Barrier river, with but little for the animals 

 to eat. 



83d day. They go ten and three-quarter miles and encamp in the woods, near some springs, 

 the grass being tolerably good. 



8&th day. They go twelve and a quarter miles and encamp near the mouth of a large stream 

 from the east. There is here very little grass, but I was informed that a few miles from the river, 

 and at the foot of the bluffs, was a small stream bordered by a quantity of good grass. This 

 could not be reached but by passing through an almost impenetrable forest. 



85th day. They go thirteen and a quarter miles and encamp on some prairie hills, without 

 water. Here they would remain a day, procuring water by returning a few miles to Clark s fork. 



87th day. They would go twelve and three-quarter miles and encamp on Lake Pend d Oreille. 



94:th day. They would go twelve miles along the east side of the lake and encamp on Pack 

 river. 



99th day. They go fifteen miles and encamp at the foot of the lake. 



104^/4 day. They go twelve and a half miles, cross Clark s fork, and encamp on the left bank 

 of that stream. 



lllth day. The wagons go about ten miles and encamp near a pond. 



112th day. They go twenty miles to a small stream and encamp in the woods. 



113th day. They go nineteen and a half miles and encamp on the Coeur d Alene prairie. 



