24 
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN MCCLELLAN TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 
Estimate for fiscal year ending June 30, 1855, $40,000. 
In addition to the above, I am satisfied that the Missouri can he navigated by steamers to 
the falls above this place, and I would recommend an appropriation of $10,000 to test the ques¬ 
tion next year. The Indian Bureau needs a steamer exclusively for its own use. 
RECAPITULATION. 
For continuing the exploration and survey of a route for a railroad from the headwaters of 
the Mississippi to Puget sound, including the thorough examination of the passes of the mount¬ 
ains during the winter, and including a steamer to determine the practicability of navigating 
the Missouri river to the falls, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1854, $40,000. 
For continuing the survey of a route of a railroad from the headwaters of the Mississippi to 
Puget sound, including an instrumental survey of the best mountain passes, for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1855, $40,000. 
I have the honor to he, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
ISAAC I. STEVENS, 
Governor of Washington Territory , in Charge of Exploration and Survey. 
Hon. Jefferson Davis, 
Secretary of War. 
Northern Pacific Railroad Exploration and Survey, 
Fort Benton , Upper Missouri , September 8, 1853. 
Sir: I have to request that $10,000 still remaining in the treasury, of the sum allotted to 
me from the appropriation for the survey of the several routes for a railroad from the Missis¬ 
sippi river to the Pacific, he drawn out and placed on deposit, subject to my order, with the 
Treasurer of the United States. 
In a report of this date, I have made estimates for continuing the survey the present year, 
and have recommended that an appropriation of $40,000 he asked of Congress. I will earn¬ 
estly request that, from existing appropriations legitimately applicable to such a purpose, a 
portion of this sum he drawn out and placed on deposit with the Treasurer of the United States, 
subject to my order, and that I be advised of the action of the department at the earliest prac¬ 
ticable period. Communications should be sent to me at Olympia, Washington Territory. 
I regret I cannot go into more details at this time. But at this moment I feel that I must throw 
my energies into the almost herculean task before me, and send in careful estimates on reaching 
Puget sound. 
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
ISAAC I. STEVENS, 
Governor of Washington Territory , in Charge of Exploration. 
Hon. Jefferson Davis, 
Secretary of War. 
Camp at Ketetas, on Yakima River, 
September 18, 1853. 
Sir: I have the honor to report that, in consequence of the great detentions caused by the 
miserable quality of the animals and pack-saddles with which I was provided, and the difficult 
nature of the country through which we have passed, I was unable to reach the valley of the 
Wenass (a branch of the Yakima) until August 20. Hearing, from what seemed good 
authority, that there were numbers of government mules at Steilacoom, and that the trip could 
be made in five days, I at once sent in my pack-horses to be exchanged, and to bring out 
provisions to enable me to start from here with three months’ supplies; intending to occupy 
myself, in the meanwhile, in examining the jiasses near Regnier. On my return from the 
