262 EOUTE EASTWARD FROM HEAD OE CROW CREEK. 



to the Atlantic which commences at their eastern hase. All appre- 

 hensions on this head were, however, set entirely at rest by the 

 reconnoissance, which fully demonstrated the existence of a route 

 through these hills, not only practicable, but free from any ob- 

 structions involving in their removal great or unusual expenditure. 



It was a subject of deep regret that our only remaining baro- 

 meter (a cistern barometer) had been broken by the warping and 

 cracking of its wooden frame in the dry and rarefied atmosphere 

 of these elevated regions ; as it would have been in the highest 

 degree satisfactory to have made a precise comparison of the rela- 

 tive elevations of the ground on the line of this reconnoissance 

 with those already ascertained by previous explorations upon the 

 old route by the South Pass, the Sweetwater, and North Fork of 

 the Platte. Although this was -unfortunately impracticable, yet a 

 careful observation of the ground on both routes has enabled me 

 to form a general comparison between them ; and has led to the 

 unhesitating conclusion that, in point of diminished distance, easy 

 grades, freedom from serious obstacles, and convenience and abun- 

 dant supply of materials for construction, the line of this recon- 

 noissance presents a trace for a road that is not only perfectly 

 feasible, but decidedly preferable to the other. 



Prom the head of Crow Creek, the way to the eastward lies 

 open in various directions. By striking over to the Lodge-pole, 

 and pursuing the valley of that stream to its* junction with the South 

 Pork of the Platte, an almost straight line will be secured from 

 Port Bridger to the Porks of the latter. Thence the Missouri can 

 be reached either by the north bank of the river, on the route at 

 present travelled by the Mormons, or by following its south bank, 

 and crossing over to the Blue, below Port Kearny: the valley of 

 the latter stream can thence be pursued to its junction with the 

 Kansas, and thence along that river to its confluence with the Mis- 

 souri. Should a route still farther south be deemed desirable, the 

 features of the country show, that- by adopting the valley of a 

 stream flowing between the Lodge-pole and the Crow, it would not 

 be difiicult to strike the South Pork of the Platte in the direction of 

 the heads of the Republican Pork of the Kansas, and by means of 

 this latter stream either to reach the Missouri at the mouth of 

 the former, or, by a slight divergence, at some lower point, as 

 might be thought most expedient. 



It had been my intention to continue the reconnoissance from the 

 head of the Lodge-pole to its junction with the Platte, and thence 



