85 



practicable to take wagons along the Niobrara is shown by our expe- 

 dition in 1857. The wagons were loaded with about 2,000 pounds, 

 and drawn by eight good mules to each. 



Our time of travelling from Fort Laramie to Fort Randall, counting 

 the days necessary to stop to rest the animals, was thirty days. About 

 100 miles of this route was through sand hills, where I do not think 

 the ordinary transportation trains could have travelled except in the 

 slowest and most fatiguing manner. 



The route I have already indicated on the south side of the Niobrara, 

 in my description of that stream, would be preferable to the one we 

 travelled, on account of the sand, but the difficulty of crossing the 

 river would counterbalance the advantage gained by so doing. 



The route between Sioux City and Fort Randall is a very good one, 

 and an appropriation of $10,000 should be made to bridge the Ver- 

 milion, for the use of the troops at the fort in hauling supplies from 

 the settlements in Iowa. 



This route, and that by the Niobrara, would seem to be the most 

 direct and proper one by which to continue the military road from 

 Mendota to the mouth of the Big Sioux, westward to the South Pass. 

 But the great difficulties of the Niobrara route, and the impractica- 

 bility of any between it and the Platte, determine me to advise its 

 location direct from Sioux City to the mouth of the Loup Fork. 



The road this way, and thence along the Platte valley, will only 

 be about 40 miles longer than by way of the Niobrara. A bridge is 

 required over Middle creek, at a cost of $5,000; one over the Elk 

 Horn, at a cost of $20,000 ; and one over the Loup Fork, at a cost 

 of $50,000. A good crossing for the Loup Fork could be made for 

 $25,000. 



The next point on the Missouri which claims attention, as one from 

 which to supply Fort Laramie, is the vicinity of old Fort Lookout. 

 A route from this point should keep north of the White river, and 

 intersect the present road from Pierre to Laramie. The eastern por- 

 tion of the route I have only examined in part, but feel confident that 

 it is a good one, except for about 30 miles through the Bad Lands, in 

 which I have no doubt a route could be found that, with some im- 

 provement, would be equal to the corresponding part of the Pierre 

 and Laramie route. 



The route west of this would then be the excellent one along the 

 valley of White river, at the head of which a difficult section of about 

 twelve miles needs considerable improvement. This route would be 

 about three hundred and sixty miles from the Missouri to Fort Lara- 

 mie, and deserves especial consideration as being the proper continu- 

 ation of the route located between the Missouri and Fort Ripley under 

 the Interior Department, with the design of being continued to the 

 South Pass. Stores can be delivered at Fort Lookout for about three 

 dollars per hundred pounds. 



The route from Fort Pierre to Fort Laramie is one that has long 

 been in use, and is about three hundred and twenty-three miles long. 

 Stores can be delivered here for about |3 50 per hundred pounds. 

 I think it probable, as settlements advance up the Missouri, and 



