COUNTRY UPON SHOALWATER BAY AND PUGET SOUND. 
467 
vations, it would not be a serious one. After crossing the hills it would run almost entirely 
through prairie. A good stock trail, exclusive of bridges, could he cut through such a country 
for about $15 per mile; a wagon road complete would cost $50. Several of our crossings could 
be avoided by keeping a little farther from the river, and points could be selected for bridges 
beyond the influence of the freshets. It is more than probable that another route would be found, 
on exploration, to connect by the northern fork of the Willopah with the Satchall, which would 
still further shorten the communication with Olympia. Of this, however, we had no means of 
satisfying ourselves at the time. 
The proper season for an exploration of this district is at some time during the winter, when 
not much rain is expected. The Indians recommend February. During the months when the 
maples are in leaf, it is impossible to see even a few yards in advance. The best course would 
be for a party of five, packing provisions on a horse, to cut the trail as the} T go. They can in this 
way proceed almost as rapidly, and with less fatigue than they could carrying provisions, tools, 
and blankets, themselves. The amount of open prairie is not sufficient in this valley to afford a 
stock range, but there is enough for a considerable number of good farms. The salt marshes, 
too, are available except during the highest tides of winter. But for cultivation, there are very 
few single tracts in the Territory of equal extent, and of as good quality. 
Another route of communication, concerning which I was instructed to make inquiry, was one 
from some point near the mouth of the Columbia to Olympia, more direct than that by the 
Cowlitz. 
One route which appears probable is by way of Gray’s river, a large stream running into 
Gray’s bay, opposite to and a little above Astoria. No attempt has been made to push through 
an examination of this, as no one has been sufficiently interested to do it; but from the descrip¬ 
tions of persons who have been there to cut timber, it appears to have a valley much resembling 
that of the Willopah, though narrower, the soil black and rich, and the ground covered with alder 
and vine-maple. Should this prove practicable, as there is every reason to believe, a road would 
not only open up to settlement a tract of valuable country, but much shorten the distance 
between the mouth of the Columbia and the Sound. The tide is said to extend up the river 
about twenty miles, to a fall of some twelve feet in height. There is a bar at the mouth of 
Gray’s river, but the water inside is sufficient for large boats. Another route, in some respects 
preferable, is by way of the Elokamin, a stream emptying into the Columbia just below Cath- 
lamet, about twenty-five miles above Astoria. This heads with the south fork of the Chihalis, 
and in the opinion of Judge Strong, of Cathlamet, is perfectly practicable. It would have this 
advantage over the Gray’s river route, that its terminus would be at a regular landing place of 
the river steamers, and accessible at all seasons of the year. 
The practicability of a good wagon trail from the Willopah to the Cowlitz, is sufficiently estab¬ 
lished. Its western terminus might be at Woodward’s, about thirteen miles from the mouth of 
the river, to which point small steamboats could run at all seasons; and in surveying it, it would, 
perhaps, be best to make that the starting point. In laying out a road to the Columbia it would 
be preferable to begin from the head of the Chihalis, and be governed as to the terminus by the 
nature of the country. The importance of both these roads is almost too obvious to require 
comment. 
Shoalwater bay has now no communication with the other parts of the Territory, except by 
the Columbia river or by the Chihalis; both of which routes are circuitous, and, during the rainy 
season especially, very inconvenient and exposed to serious delays. As the seat of government 
will probably be at some point on Puget sound, it is essential that a connexion between them 
should be established, practicable at all seasons, within a reasonable time. And in a military 
point of view, no less is it essential that so accessible a harbor should not remain without com¬ 
munication with the interior. 
The direct land communication between the mouth of the Columbia and the Chihalis country 
