ROUTE NEAR THE FORTY-FIRST AND FORTY-SECOND PARALLELS. 69 
could no doubt be obtained from tbe Platte, and ties from the Wind River chain, and excellent 
building-stone on the Sweet Water. 
The sum of the known ascents to be overcome from Council Bluffs to the South Pass is 6,650 
feet, including 460 feet at the Hot Spring Gate, to avoid which it was gained and lost. 
The Bear River mountains, lying due west from the South Pass, forbid any direct passage 
in that direction. As yet, we know of no practicable way of reaching Salt lake but by Fort 
Bridger, through the pass explored by Lieut. Beckwith. This would carry us down the 
Sandy creek, a tributary of Green river, with coal in its banks, to the crossing of the latter 
stream : elevation 6,238 feet; distance 81 miles ; average grade for the first four miles west of 
the South Pass, 70 feet; and for the remaining 77, 13 feet per mile. The width of Green 
river is here 400 feet, and the ford excellent, (Aug. 16, 1843.) No doubt exists as to the 
practicability of connecting with Lieut. Beckwith’s survey in the neighborhood of Fort Bridger, 
elevation 7,254 feet; distance from Green river 50 miles: we thus have, from Council Bluffs 
to Fort Bridger, by the South Pass route, a total of ascents and descents of 9,386 feet, and a 
total distance of 943 miles. 
By Bridger’s Pass .—This proposed route is not so well known as the other. It keeps the 
South fork of the Platte (100 miles) to the mouth of Lodge Pole creek, which it is then pro¬ 
posed to take. This creek has never been continuously explored. Fremont crossed it near its 
mouth, and represents it as a clear, handsome stream, running through a broad valley, having 
a uniform width of 22 feet and depth of 6 inches, (July 6, 1842,) a few green willows on its 
banks forming a pleasing contrast to the surrounding barrenness. The timber appeared to have 
been formerly more abundant. He crossed this creek again, as near as he could ascertain from 
his “uncertain means of information,” about 120 miles from its mouth, the elevation being 
about 4,800 feet: the banks were here about 700 feet above the stream ; average slope about 
four feet per mile. 
From this point to the Cheyenne Pass, in the Black Hills, is about 60 miles. The Black 
Hills act here much like the sustaining walls of a terrace, the plain at their east base being 
much lower than at the west. Capt. Stansbury says, speaking of this pass, that his “examina¬ 
tions fully demonstrate the existence of a route through the ‘Black Hills’ not only practicable, 
but free from any obstructions involving, in their removal, great or unusual expenditure.” 
The elevation of the east base of the mountains must be about 5,000 feet; the elevation of 
Laramie plain is 7,500 feet; the most favorable supposition is, that the pass is no higher. Not 
knowing in what distance this elevation is gained, it is impossible to speak of the grades. In 
crossing the divide between Laramie and Medicine Bow rivers, the elevation is given by Fremont 
at 7,994 feet; but there is such a confusion between Fremont’s and Stansbury’s maps, that 
its distance from the Cheyenne Pass cannot be ascertained. At the crossing, the North fork of 
the Platte has a width of 160 feet, depth 2 feet, (Sept. 6, 1850 ;) elevation, by Fremont, 6,820 ; 
distance from Cheyenne Pass, by Stansbury, 102 miles; thence to the summit of Bridger’s Pass 
30 miles. Capt. S. says the slope either way from the summit is so gentle as scarcely to be 
perceptible. In the table of distances we find it stated, that “the champaign country continues 
north to the Wind River mountains, and can be crossed in many places, the choice being 
determined by considerations of fuel and water.” 
It is altogether probable this pass does not differ much in elevation from the South Pass, 
and may be supposed the same, viz : 7,490 feet. 
From the summit west the line descends Muddy creek a few miles, then crosses a rolling 
divide, (height not known,) between it and Bitter creek, both tributaries of Green river, and 
down the latter to Green river, elevation about 6,200 feet; distance from Bridger’s Pass 135 
miles ; (the Green river is here 800 feet wide ; the deepest water found, September 13, was 
3 feet, but in high stages it is a formidable stream, and will have to be ferried;) thence to 
Fort Bridger, 60 miles. One important feature of this route, from the Cheyenne Pass to 
