FROM CANTONMENT STEVENS TO OLYMPIA. 557 



tree, and broke its neck. It was almost a worthless animal, being so vicious that it had never 

 been packed. We started in the rain ; and it being too late to make the crossing to Sun river, 

 we continued up the Teton, and encamped, at 5 p. m., at the commencement of the great 

 northern bend of the river. Mr. Burr, who left the train in the afternoon to hunt, did not over 

 take us, and we fired signal-guns during the night, to guide him to our encampment. 



September 11. Mr. Burr did not reach camp last night; and becoming anxious for fear some 

 accident might have befallen him, I started early to look for him, and also sending out the guide. 



I returned just as the train was ready to start, and was much gratified to find Mr. Burr at the 

 camp. He had lost sight of the party, and being unable to find the trail, had passed the night 

 on the plains. 



Taking a course S. 20 W., we passed over a rolling prairie, rising gradually towards Sun 

 river, which we reached at 2 p. m., and crossed just below the forks, and six miles above where 

 Mr. F. W. Lander crossed. From here our course was due south, taking us, in twelve miles, to 

 the summit of the dividing ridge between Dearborn and Sun rivers. Pushing on at a rapid rate, 

 we reached Dearborn river, near its debouche from the mountains, at dark. Our camp is eight 

 miles above the encampment of the main train September 21, 1853. And here the river valley 

 is harrow, and bounded by lofty hills, showing generally towards the river a formation of perpen 

 dicular sand and limestone rock. We succeeded, after some difficulty, in getting down to the 

 river, and found a good encamping ground. The country from Sun river to this point, a distance of 

 twenty -four miles, is not favorable for a railroad. The highest points are about 1,500 feet above 

 the valley of Sun river; and the numerous ravines and narrow valleys heading in the mountains 

 and extending some distance into the plain, all of which must be crossed, render the route far 

 less favorable for a road than that taken by the main train crossing Sun river near the Big Knee, 

 and passing between that and Crown Butte and which, in my opinion, is superior to any other 

 route examined. 



A route may be found passing north of the Big Knee or Sun river, and striking Dearborn river 

 a few miles below our present camp. This would be the route in case it was thought necessary 

 to locate the road some distance north of Fort Benton, crossing Marias river above the butte 

 called the Goose s Nose. But it will be observed that the slight advantage gained in distance 

 will not counterbalance the important advantage to be gained by adopting a line located very 

 nearly upon the route of the main train. These are, first, that it connects with the head of 

 navigation, at or near Forts Benton and Campbell, of the Missouri river, upon which materials 

 for the construction of the road, and supplies, will necessarily be transported ;. secondly, it will 

 be seen by a glance at the map, herewith submitted, that, adopting Lewis and Clark s Pass of 

 the main chain of the Rocky mountains, touching the head of navigation on the Missouri, and 

 passing as near as practicable to the northern bend of the Missouri, immediately below the mouth 

 of the Bear or Marias river, this is the shortest route ; and, third, the nature of the country 

 is such, that the difference in the cost of construction will more than counterbalance the extra 

 distance to be travelled. 



September 12. Morning clear and cold, with a heavy frost. We started early, and held a 

 course due south, along the base of the mountains, for eight miles, passing over a broken country 

 similar to that described yesterday. The broad trail leading through Lewis and Clark s Pass 

 had turned nearly due west, passing up a small creek, by a very gradual ascent, for one mile; 

 then over a prairie of somewhat steeper slopes for half a mile, which brings us to the foot of the 

 divide. This is a hill of steep ascent, of five hundred feet in elevation, sparsely wooded with 

 scrub-pines. 



The descent is for half a mile over a fine prairie slope, to the valley of a small creek, which 

 is one of the headwaters of the Columbia river. The approach to this divide is very favorable 

 for a railroad, and to pass the summit-level and connect the waters of the Missouri with those of 

 the Columbia will require a tunnel not exceeding one mile in length. The course from the sum- 



