154 
WAGON ROADS. 
spurs, would be filled up. Thus the valleys north of the Flathead lake, that leading to Colville, 
and many in the Nez Perces and Coeur d’Alene country, would smile with cottages and yield the 
products of the soil. 
The grass and water on the whole route may be considered excellent, especially in the Rocky 
mountain region. 
4. Wagon roads .—Independent of the railroad, it is recommended that wagon roads be opened 
immediately connecting the Mississippi with Puget sound and the Columbia river by the north¬ 
ern passes. In the appendix, H 27 to H 34, are given itineraries of routes from St. Paul to 
Fort Union; from Fort Union to Fort Benton—first, by the Milk river, and second, by the route 
between the Milk and Missouri; from Fort Benton to the St. Mary’s valley; from the St. Mary's 
valley to Fort Benton by the Marias Pass ; from Fort Benton to the St. Mary’s valley by the 
northern Little Blackfoot trail; from the St. Mary’s valley to Wallah-Wallah—first, by Clark’s 
fork, and second, by the Coeur d’Alene route to its intersection with that by Clark’s fork, and 
that by the southern Nez Perces trail; from Wallah-Wallah to the Dalles ; from Vancouver to 
Colville along the eastern slope of the Cascades, including the two passes of the Cascades, the 
Nahcliess and the Snoqualme Pass, and the entire route from Wallah-Wallah to Steilacoom by 
the Snoqualme Pass, crossing the Columbia above the mouth of the Yakima. These itineraries 
are quite full, giving a succinct view of the country and difficulties of each day’s journey. In 
some portions obstructions exist from fallen timber, and the time is given which will be required 
to overcome them by a resolute party of ten men, having their good ox teams, their side-hill 
ploughs, a few axes and other implements. The river crossings are particularly adverted to. 
