76 FROM FORT LARAMIE TO FORT BRIDGER. 



and the road, consequently, is mnch lengthened. The other route 

 was laid out by the Mormon community in 1847, and conducts the 

 emigrant to their city, in the southern part of the Salt Lake 

 valley, causing him to vary from the line of his direction rather 

 more than a degree southwardly : this he has to recover by a direct 

 north course to the crossing of Bear River near the north end of 

 the lake, whence he proceeds in a north-west direction, until he 

 intersects the old road from Fort Hall. I was desirous of as- 

 certaining whether a shorter route than either of these could 

 not be obtained by pursuing a direct course to the head of the 

 lake, or to the point where Bear River enters its basin through 

 the Wahsatch range from Cache Valley. If practicable, such a 

 trace would save the emigration the great detour that has to be 

 made by either of the present routes, and would have a direct 

 bearing upon the selection of a site for the military post contem- 

 plated for this region. I had ascertained that this selection had 

 not yet been made, the officer designated for that purpose having 

 determined to winter his command in temporary quarters, in the 

 vicinity of Fort Hall. A glance at the map will show the import- 

 ance of this "cut-off" to the travel for either Oregon or Califor- 

 nia. I therefore determined to make the examination myself, 

 accompanied by Major Bridger, and to send forward the train to 

 Salt Lake City by the Mormon road, under the command of Lieu- 

 tenant Gunnison, whose health had become so far established as 

 to enable him to resume his seat in the saddle. The train left, ac- 

 cordingly, on the 16th; but as we returned to this point by the 

 same route the following year, I defer for the present any descrip- 

 tion of it. I was myself detained until the 20th, by the absence 

 of the partner of Major Bridger, who was on a trip to Salt Lake 

 City, and without whose presence Major B. did not deem it 

 prudent to leave the fort. As the examination was intended to be 

 a mere reconnoissance, without instruments, a couple of men, with 

 as many pack-mules, a little flour and bacon, with some ground 

 coffee, and a blanket a piece, comprised all the preparation it was 

 thought needful to make, taking care, however, that the little party 

 should be well armed. 



