230 
RECONNAISSANCE OF THE ROUTE. 
parts of the channel, and no wood. There is evidently here at times a considerable flow of water. 
Besides this we saw but little water, and there was no wood. 
The buffalo-dung was sufficiently plentiful for fuel. 
From the “Knee,” a square detached butte, of perhaps half a mile wide, with a fortress-like 
look, and accessible with horses at only a few points, I had another view of the Rocky mountains, 
the country watered by the Teton, and of the prairie to the eastward, and then was able to trace 
the general route desirable for the railway after leaving Milk river, The Missouri river mountains 
were also in view. Camped on the Teton, about five miles from the “Knee,” groping into camp 
late in the evening, having marched about thirty-three miles without water, and one of the 
mules having given out. Here we had good water and wood and tolerable grass. At this camp 
I remained the next day, the Sabbath. The Teton here resembles the Marias river, though a 
smaller stream, flowing deep below the prairie, fringed with cotton-wood, was sixty to two hun¬ 
dred feet wide, one to three feet deep, freshet-marks about eight feet above the water-level; 
at that line, width of interval one thousand feet. 
From this camp the same smooth prairie continues until terminated by the bluffs and coulees 
of the Missouri river; and save that we once more crossed the Teton, having about the same 
character already noticed, the balance of the journey does not require remark, and the route 
soon crosses the more thoroughly explored line travelled by the main train. 
September 12th .—I reached Fort Benton late in the evening, after a ride of some thirty-five 
miles, closing this reconnaissance of about two hundred and ten miles in extent, and occupying 
ten days’ time. 
Its chief value is the continuation of the survey of Milk river above where the odometer survey 
left it; the examination of the general character of the country between Milk and Marias rivers ; 
the partial reconnaissance of the “Trois Buttes,” discovering much that may prove valuable in 
these mountains of wood and stone, with more or less of land capable of tillage; the intersection 
of Marias and Teton rivers, with other surveys, enabling us to plot those rivers with a good 
degree of accuracy; and the description of the practicable railway character of the country from 
Milk river to the upper valley of the Teton river. 
Its plot was long since incorporated in the general maps of the survey ; the barometric observ¬ 
ations, few in number, but characteristic, were at Olympia among the meteorological records, 
with Lieut. Donelson, and probably are included in the missing records. The mineralogical 
specimens were turned over to Dr. Suckley. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
A. W. TINKHAM. 
Governor I. I. Stevens, 
Chief N. P. It. R. Exploration, Washington, D. C. 
13. Report of doctor John evans of his route south of the Missouri and yellow- 
stone, AND BETWEEN THE MILK AND MISSOURI RIVERS. 
[This paper, sent from Washington Territory, where Dr. Evans was still employed in the field when the report of Governor 
Stevens was submitted, was lost on the route.] 
