362 
ITINERARY OF ROUTE FROM FORT BENTON TO CADOTTE’S PASS. 
29 th day. —The wagons go thirteen and three-quarter miles, and encamp on a stream on 
Kamas prairie. A trail leads along the banks of Clark’s fork, or the Flathead river, from the point 
where this road leaves it; but though I did not see it, I do not think it can be better for a road 
than to go by Kamas prairie. The workmen this day labor on the road down Clark’s fork. 
30//t day. —The wagons go eleven and a half miles and encamp on Horse Plain. The work¬ 
men open the road as far as “Big Rock.” This is a steep rocky bluff, which rises to a great 
height and overhangs the river for about 500 yards. The rock appeared to be limestone, and 
would, I think, be easily worked. It slopes from the river at an angle of about 60°. It would 
require about two weeks to make a practicable road around this hill, and would be necessary to 
blast away a great deal of the rock. Before determining how to proceed here, a reconnaissance 
ought to be made to determine the best way of avoiding this hill. As far as I can at present say, 
I think a raft or boat should be made, and the wagons and effects carried by water around the 
hill. 
The wagons should remain at Horse Plain until the road be entirely opened to Thompson’s 
prairie; and this would require seven days, including the preparation for the water carriage, and 
excluding the work on the road up to Big Rock. 
37 th day. —The wagons would go nine and a half miles to a prairie and encamp, where there 
is plenty of wood and water, and but little grass. 
3Sth day. —The wagons go ten and a half miles, and encamp at Thompson’s prairie. The 
workmen labor on the road ahead. As no good spot for an encampment occurs between Thomp¬ 
son’s prairie and Lake Pend d’Oreille, the wagons should remain at the former place until 
within a few days of the completion of the road to the latter. 
The Indian trail, as at present existing, leads mostly through dense forests, and over irregular 
ground, and is, moreover, obstructed by great quantities of fallen timber. These last obstructions 
would probably have to be removed yearly, as there is reason to believe that the timber, in conse¬ 
quence of the great height of the trees—it may be from winds, and from the forests being occa¬ 
sionally set on fire—is constantly falling. It might be expedient to make an arrangement with 
the Indians by which the fires could be prevented. I have estimated that it would require fifty 
days to open the road from Thompson’s prairie to Lake Pend d’Oreille. 
81sZ day.—' The wagons would go fourteen and a half miles and encamp in the woods, where 
there is very little grass. 
82 d day. —They go twelve miles and encamp on Barrier river, with but little for the animals 
to eat. 
83 d day. —They go ten and three-quarter miles and encamp in the woods, near some springs, 
the grass being tolerably good. 
84 th day. —They go twelve and a quarter miles and encamp near the mouth of a large stream 
from the east. ’ There is here very little grass, but I was informed that a few miles from the river,- 
and at the foot of the bluff's, was a small stream bordered by a quantity of good grass. This 
could not be reached but by passing through an almost impenetrable forest. 
S5th day. —They go thirteen and a quarter miles and encamp on some prairie hills, without 
water. Here they would remain a day, procuring water by returning a few miles to Clark’s fork. 
87 th day. —They would go twelve and three-quarter miles and encamp on Lake Pend d’Oreille. 
94 th day. —They would go twelve miles along the east side of the lake and encamp on Pack 
river. 
99th day. —They go fifteen miles and encamp at the foot of the lake. 
104^/i day. —They go twelve and a half miles, cross Clark’s fork, and encamp on the left bank 
of that stream. 
11 1th day. —The wagons go about ten miles and encamp near a pond. 
112*/i day. —They go twenty miles to a small stream and encamp in the woods. 
113th day. —They go nineteen and a half miles and encamp on the Coeur d’Alene prairie. 
