LINE FROM BASE OF THE MOUNTAINS TO PUGET SOUND. 125 
the river for bringing down lumber from above, no difficulty can be felt in supplying the portion 
of the line on the bottom lands until the wooded lands are again entered near the Dalles. 
But little is yet known about the most suitable places for obtaining building-stone. Stone is 
found in places along the whole line—generally the trap or granite rocks. Probably the only 
work for which stone will be required, other than such as shall be found near the place of con¬ 
struction, is the bridge across Columbia river, near Wallah-Wallah. Captain McClellan states 
that “good granite is found on the Columbia about 140 miles above the mouth of the Yakima; 
it may occur at a less distant point.” Dr. Suckley observed good building-stone along the 
whole line of the Columbia. 
Clean sand is noticed near the crossing of Columbia river, and on the bottom lands of Colum¬ 
bia and Cowlitz rivers, and will be obtained conveniently all along the line. 
The Spokane Plain, at a few points, is sparingly watered; but there will not be found any 
difficulty in making suitable provision for water for the use of the road. For the balance of the 
route this scarcity does not exist, and water is generally quite as abundant as is desirable. 
