ITINERARY OP THE ROUTE FROM FORT OWEN TO FORT BENTON. 371 
soil, and desirable for settlements. Above seventeen miles from morning camp, cross a 
tributary, forty feet wide and two feet deep, coming from the southward. Camp on the 
river, now over one hundred feet wide and three to four feet deep.. 28^ 
November 14.—During the march of to-day the valley is narrower, and the trail is not 
as good as during the 12th. The interval is narrow—quarter to half a mile wide—and 
steep; half-wooded hills, of about five hundred feet height, enclose it. In several places on 
the side-hill the trail is too much inclined or steep for wagons, and wagons would be forced 
to the bed of the river, which is fordable, about one hundred and fifty feet wide and two 
and a half to three feet deep. The trail crosses the river five times during the day. 19A 
November 15.—Sixteen miles from camp, Blackfoot and Hell Gate rivers unite. Of this 
distance, about one mile, where the trail passes to the steep side-hill, is impracticable 
as a wagon road. Wagons would necessarily keep down the interval, fording the river. 
The ford of Blackfoot river is shallow and good. Many of the intervals during the day 
have been occupied with an open pine growth ; cotton-wood, with occasional exceptions, 
is found more or less abundantly skirting the river from its source to this point. At the 
ford of Blackfoot river used by the main train in September, five and a half miles below 
the junction of Hell Gate and Blackfoot river, my reconnaissance connects with the odom¬ 
eter survey of Mr. Lambert... 2£ 
November 16.-—Proceed up the St. Mary’s valley to Fort Owen, on the route of the 
odometer survey, and already as such described—the reports of Lieutenant Donelson; a 
broad and good trail extends up the valley. 271 
Whole distance from Fort Benton to Fort Owen is (miles). 255 
This is the estimated distance by this course, and a comparison of its plot with the plotted 
lines of the odometer survey shows it to be about seven miles in excess. The actual travelled 
distance would be slightly greater than the length of the courses. A comparison with Lieutenant 
Mullan’s odometer survey from Fort Benton shows that my estimates in descending the valley of 
Little Blackfoot and Hell Gate rivers were much too small. They are hence correspondingly too 
great betwmen the summit of the Rocky mountains and Fort Benton. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 
Governor I. I. Stevens, A. W. TINKHAM. 
Chief N. P. Railroad Exploration and Survey. 
32. Itinerary of the route from fort owen by the jocko river, flathead lake, and 
MARIAS PASS, TO FORT BENTON. 
Washington City, July , 1854. 
Dear Sir : I herewith submit an itinerary of the route pursued by myself from Jocko river 
to Fort Benton, by way of Flathead lake and Marias Pass. 
October 10, 1853.—Descend valley of Jocko river to near its mouth, fording 
river several times; trail wholly on bottom lands, wide and practicable for wagons. 7 
Trail forks near the junction of Jocko with Flathead river, one branch descend¬ 
ing, and the other ascending, the latter river. In ascending the river, its valley 
is wide and open—but little wooded in the bottom-lands; the ground is easy for 
travelling. Ford the river with a depth of about three and a half feet, with a ford 
of some one hundred and fifty yards, swift current, stony bottom, and low banks. 
Camp, immediately after fording the river, in the midst of a few tall, scattered pines, 
with good grass and water, and salmon trout from the river. 101 
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