ROUTE FROM FORKS OF THE PLATTE TO THE GREAT BASIN. 263 



either on the dividing ground between that river and the Repub- 

 lican, or (had that proved unfavourable or impracticable) by the 

 valley of the latter stream; either of which lines would have led 

 us over ground as yet unexplored. Circumstances unfortunately 

 prevented this design from being carried into execution. 



As any examination of the country over which we passed, other 

 than a very general one, was foreign to the objects contemplated 

 by my instructions, I have contented myself with simply adverting 

 to such prominent geographical features of the country as came 

 under my observation ; being satisfied that so weighty an enter- 

 prise as the selection and construction of a great line of communi- 

 cation with the Pacific waters will not be entered upon without 

 previously well-considered and connected explorations. These, of 

 course, will be of a character much more minute and elaborate than 

 could be possibly made in the progress of a rapid reconnoissance, 

 the results of which must necessarily be of a character too general 

 to form the basis of other than a conjectural estimate as to com- 

 parative merits of difi"erent and conflicting routes. 



The valley of the Salt Lake being the only point between the 

 Missouri and the Pacific whence supplies of provisions can be pro- 

 cured, it must become an object of no little importance to embrace 

 it in any scheme for a road across the continent. 



I have already, in a previous portion of this report, suggested 

 the route which I considered the best between Fort Bridger and 

 that point, and which, taken in connection with the line to the head 

 of Crow Creek, will give an excellent trace for a wagon-road all 

 the way to the city. As to a railroad, the route is good as far as 

 Camass Prairie; but the trace thence by either of the canons at 

 present travelled through the Wahsatch range to the city, will, I 

 think, be impracticable, or at least enormously expensive. ' From 

 the Camass Prairie, however, it is proposed to descend the Timpa- 

 nogas, which reaches the upper level of the Salt Lake Valley at 

 Lake Utah, some fifty miles south of the^ city. This part of the 

 route I have not personally examined, but from descriptions given 

 of it by the guides and others, I have little doubt that it will prove 

 entirely practicable. 



After reaching the Salt Lake Valley, the road, as I have here- 

 tofore suggested, might fork, one branch leading to Oregon, and 

 the other to the Pacific within the limits of California. The former 

 would descend the valley of the Jordan, to Salt Lake City, w^hence 

 it would traverse a perfectly level country, along the eastern- shore 



