NAVIGABILITY OF THE MISSOURI. 
vertical, and, in horizontal projection, would be zigzag lines, in consequence of the earth con¬ 
tinually falling into the water at numerous points. In low water, I was informed, these banks 
often have at their base a pebbly or rocky beach, inclining to the water’s edge, and being from 
ten to forty feet wide. 
After the Yellowstone, the principal tributaries of the upper portion of the river are the Moreau, 
the Cannon Ball, and the Shayenne ; they are only navigable for canoes or buffalo-boats. 
The following general facts were principally furnished me by persons who appeared to be well 
acquainted with the Missouri: 
However difficult to find it, there is always a good channel in the river. In consequence of 
the diminished effects of the current, the channel, though not so deep, is less changeable, and 
more safe for navigation by steamboats of light draught in low than in high water. 
As steamboats descending the river proceed with nearly treble the speed they would have in 
ascending, they find in sand-bars a much more formidable obstacle in the former than in the latter 
case; it is often necessary to unload in part before they can be relieved after encountering the 
bar in descending. 
Along that portion of the river where it flows through the great prairies, the frequency of 
storms, generally from the northwest, is a very serious impediment to the navigation. This was 
found to be true during the voyage of our steamboat, except that the storms were not generally 
from the northwest. 
The Missouri is affected by two annual floods, which greatly facilitate navigation by the larger 
steamboats. The first and lesser flood is caused by the melting of the snows on the prairies, 
and generally takes place in May; the second arises from the melting of the mountain snows, 
and occurs in June. Steamboats, heavily freighted, and bound for the Yellowstone, should leave 
St. Louis about the middle of April, in order to have the full benefit of the June rise. The river 
above Council Bluff city is closed by ice from about the middle of November to the first of April. 
It is thought that steamboats could, were it not for the ice, ascend to the mouth of Milk river 
throughout the year; this being the highest point to which the navigation has heretofore been 
carried. 
I believe the voyage of the “Robert Campbell” in 1853, forty-two days ascending to Fort 
Union, and about seventeen days descending thence to St. Louis, may be taken as an average trip. 
But it appears to me that there exist almost certain means of reducing the time of ascent at 
least one-third, and possibly one-half. The same steamboat can easily perform in one season 
two trips to Fort Union and back. 
With reference to the improvements that might be made of the Missouri, my information was 
not of the character to enable me to estimate their cost, or to say where or in what manner they 
should be applied. For that purpose a more detailed survey should be made, and the person 
having charge of such should become acquainted with every portion of the river at all stages and 
seasons. 
It occurs to me that it would be highly advantageous to adopt some system for maintaining a 
knowledge of the river at all points; and for this purpose, to establish posts of observation, at 
which competent persons should ascertain and keep an account of all information bearing on the 
subject of the navigation. A telegraph along the banks of the river, besides being valuable in 
other respects, would, it seems to me, be very useful for the transmission of that information from 
post to post; and steamboats in passing could thus communicate, for the benefit of those behind 
them, the state of the river above or below the posts of observation. Most of the obstructions 
in this river, I think, are of such a character that it will be necessary to remove them every two 
or three years. An engineer, or board of engineers, should be appointed, whose duty should con¬ 
sist in reporting, from time to time, to the people, merchants, or State legislatures interested, or 
to Congress, what obstructions should be removed; furnishing estimates, and stating in what 
