FROM CANTONMENT STEVENS TO OLYMPIA. 
557 
tree, and broke its neck. It was almost a worthless animal, being so vicious that it had never 
been packed. We started in the rain; and it being too Jate to make the crossing to Sun river, 
we continued up the Teton, and encamped, at 5 p. m., at the commencement of the great 
northern bend of the river. Mr. Burr, who left the train in the afternoon to hunt, did not over¬ 
take us, and we fired signal-guns during the night, to guide him to our encampment. 
September 11.—Mr. Burr did not reach camp last night; and becoming anxious for fear some 
accident might have befallen him, I started early to look for him, and also sending out the guide. 
I returned just as the train was ready to start, and was much gratified to find Mr. Burr at the 
camp. He had lost sight of the party, and being unable to find the trail, had passed the night 
on the plains. 
Taking a course S 20° W., we passed over a rolling prairie, rising gradually towards Sun 
river, which we reached at 2 p. m., and crossed just below the forks, and six miles above where 
Mr. F. W. Lander crossed. From here our course was due south, taking us, in twelve miles, to 
the summit of the dividing ridge between Dearborn and Sun rivers. Pushing on at a rapid rate, 
we reached Dearborn river, near its debouche from the mountains, at dark. Our camp is eight 
miles ahove the encampment of the main train September 21, 1853. And here the river valley 
is narrow, and bounded by lofty hills, showing generally towards the river a formation of perpen¬ 
dicular sand and limestone rock. We succeeded, after some difficulty, in getting down to the 
river, and found a good encamping ground. The country from Sun river to this point, a distance of 
twenty-four miles, is not favorable for a railroad. The highest points are about 1,500 feet above 
the valley of Sun river; and the numerous ravines and narrow valleys heading in the mountains 
and extending some distance into the plain, all of which must be crossed, render the route far 
less favorable for a road than that taken by the main train—crossing Sun river near the Big Knee, 
and passing between that and Crown Butte—and which, in my opinion, is superior to any other 
route examined. 
A route may be found passing north of the Big Knee or Sun river, and striking Dearborn river 
a few miles below our present camp. This would be the route in case it was thought necessary 
to locate the road some distance north of Fort Benton, crossing Marias river above the butte 
called the Goose’s Nose. But it will be observed that the slight advantage gained in distance 
will not counterbalance the important advantage to be gained by adopting a line located very 
nearly upon the route of the main train. These are, first, that it connects with the head of 
navigation, at or near Forts Benton and Campbell, of the Missouri river, upon which materials 
for the construction of the road, and supplies, will necessarily be transported; secondly, it will 
be seen by a glance at the map, herewith submitted, that, adopting Lewis and Clark’s Pass of 
the main chain of the Rocky mountains, touching the head of navigation on the Missouri, and 
passing as near as practicable to the northern bend of the Missouri, immediately below the mouth 
of the Bear or Marias river, this is the shortest route ; and, third, the nature of the country 
is such, that the difference in the cost of construction will more than counterbalance the extra 
distance to be travelled. 
September 12.—Morning clear and cold, with a heavy frost. We started early, and held a 
course due south, along the base of the mountains, for eight miles, passing over a broken country 
similar to that described yesterday. The broad trail leading through Lewis and Clark’s Pass 
had turned nearly due west, passing up a small creek, by a very gradual ascent, for one mile; 
then over a prairie of somewhat steeper slopes for half a mile, which brings us to the foot of the 
divide. This is a hill of steep ascent, of five hundred feet in elevation, sparsely wooded with 
scrub-pines. 
The descent is for half a mile over a fine prairie slope, to the valley of a small creek, which 
is one of the headwaters of the Columbia river. The approach to this divide is very favorable 
for a railroad, and to pass the summit-level and connect the waters of the Missouri with those of 
the Columbia will require a tunnel not exceeding one mile in length. The course from the sum- 
