336 REPORT AND ESTIMATE. 
of the springs, and having an altitude of 2,982.2 feet. The descent to the Marias involves 
difficult and costly work, and must be made in 13 mile along the foot-hills and up the stream, 
which should be crossed by a bridge 100 feet high, at an altitude of 2,782.9 feet; the altitude 
of the point whence the descent commences being 2,865.1 feet. The route then continues up 
the Teton 92 miles to the Cracon du Nez, with a descending grade of 3.17 feet to the mile. 
The bluffs of the two sides of the Cracon du Nez are about 100 yards apart, the foot of the 
bluff in the Teton being 81.5 feet above the foot of the bluff on the Missouri. By commencing, 
however, a cut before reaching the bluffs, we reach the valley and commence going up the 
Missouri, with an embankment about 41 feet above the immediate line of the river, but which 
can be very much reduced by being adjusted along some foot slopes that line the valley. The 
descent can be made to the valley by a grade not exceeding forty feet to the mile, without 
heavy excavations or embankments. By either of these routes there will be no difficulty about 
supplies of water. The Box Elder, its several tributaries, the Missouri, the Marias, and the 
Teton, will furnish an unfailing supply. The longest distance without water will be on the 
plateau route, viz: from the Box Elder to the Marias, a distance of 31.5 miles; it is probable, 
however, that water can be procured by sinking wells near the springs. Either route can be 
easily supplied with all the materials for construction. The Bear's Paw, near by, as well as 
the country south of the Missouri, will furnish timber of all kinds. There is good limestone 
and sandstone in the vicinity of the route; sand for mortar and clay for bricks. 
FORT BENTON TO ENTRANCE TO TUNNEL.—CADOTTE’S PASS. 
Cadotte's Pass may be reached from Fort Benton either by keeping up the valley of the 
Missouri to the mouth of Sun river, thence up the Sun to a point nearly opposite the Rattlers, 
thence crossing the Sun between Crown Butte and the Rattlers, and continuing nearly on the 
course pursued by the main train, or the crossing of the Sun may be made by ascending the 
plateau from Fort Benton and passing by the springs and prairie lake referred to in the 
itinerary. The distance by this latter route from Fort Benton to the entrance to the tunnel of 
Cadotte's Pass will be one hundred and two and two-tenths miles. This is four miles longer 
than the trail pursued in 1853, for I have allowed two miles to make the descent into and the 
crossing of Sun river, and two miles for that of the Dearborn. The distance from Fort Benton 
to the crossing of Sun river will be 553 miles; thence to the Dearborn thirty-six and seven- 
tenths miles; thence to the entrance to the tunnel ten miles. From Fort Benton to the springs 
the distance is sixteen and one-fourth miles, to the lake eighteen and a half, and thence to the 
Sun river twenty and three-fourths. 
There will be no difficulty in adjusting grades over this distance not exceeding forty feet to 
the mile. The highest summit, at a distance this side of the prairie lake of seven and three- 
quarter miles, is three thousand eight hundred and thirty-six feet above the level of the sea. 
There is a summit five and a half miles beyond the prairie lake whose altitude is 3,702 feet 
above the sea. The altitude of the prairie lake is three thousand five hundred and fifty-eight 
feet. To adjust, however, a grade of forty feet, there will have to be cuts through the several 
summits, and excavations and embankments throughout the route. Sun river should be crossed 
with a bridge fifty feet above its valley, and the descent must be made with much care by side- 
hill locations, for in fifteen and three-fourths miles there will be a descent of three hundred and 
sixty-six feet. The Dearborn is crossed about a mile and a half above its junction with the 
stream flowing from Codotte’s Pass with a bridge seventy feet above its immediate valley, and 
