620 
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 
sandy. In short, the section of country included between the Columbia to the north and west, 
the headwaters of the Peluse and Spokane to the east, and Snake river to the south, is one grand 
plain; which, near the Columbia, is divided into innumerable chasms, called coulees, running in 
all directions, and owing their origin to one general cause. From this point to the Columbia the 
country is one grand level, gradually descending to the south. My trail struck the Columbia 
about 10 miles north of the Yakima. The distance from the great bend of the Columbia to the 
west, to the latter point, is about 130 miles. The country from this point to the Columbia is 
level, my route being along the east bank, crossing Snake river about a quarter of a mile from its 
mouth ; distance 34 miles. The distances given above are mere approximations, which will be 
corrected when the data is completed.” 
Captain McClellan, on the 28th instant, left Steilacoom with a small party in canoes to explore 
the shores of the sound, with reference to the railroad depot, and to ascend the Snohomish river 
and its tributary, the Snoqualme river, to the Snoqualme falls. From this point, with Indian 
horses procured in the neighborhood, he will go to the Snoqualme Pass; or, if the snow renders 
the route impracticable, on snow-shoes, and thence take the railroad down to the sound. Previous 
to his return to this point he will endeavor to make an examination of the work done on the 
military road. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
ISAAC I. STEVENS, 
Governor of Washington Territory. 
Hon. Jefferson Davis, 
Secretary of War, Washington City. 
Office Northern Pacific Railroad Exploration and Survey, 
Olympia, Washington Territory, January 31, 1854. 
Sir : I have the honor to report that, as announced to you in my letter dated December 19, 
Captain McClellan left Olympia on the 23d December in a canoe, arriving at Steilacoom that 
evening. He received verbal instructions to carry down the lines from the Snoqualme Pass to 
the several good harbors of the sound, .going as far northward as Bellingham bay, and to examine 
the several ports of the same to determine the proper terminus of the railroad. The duty of col¬ 
lecting information as to a wagon road along the shores of the sound from Steilacoom to Belling¬ 
ham bay, was also assigned to him. Unable to procure horses or guides at Steilacoom, he 
determined to take canoes to go by the Sinahomish and Snoqualme rivers to the Snoqualme falls, 
and thence to ascend to the Snoqualme Pass on foot. It was unfortunate that about this time 
very severe weather set in, the thermometer ranging much lower than at any time last winter, 
which was one of unusual severity. In consequence of this, and finding considerable snow upon 
the ground, increasing rapidly as they continued on, Captain McClellan, with his party, after 
going seven miles beyond the falls, deemed it imprudent to go farther, and thence returned. 
Captain McClellan was able, however, to add much to our previous knowledge of the country, 
and we know from his examinations that the route is somewhat more difficult than has been pre¬ 
viously reported. A railroad line can still be brought down, with grades approaching the pass 
from the east not exceeding fifteen or twenty feet to the mile, and with grades descending to the 
sound not exceeding sixty feet to the mile, but at the cost of an expensive tunnel. Captain 
McClellan has prepared a brief report of his operations, written hastily as merely a memorandum, 
which is extremely interesting. The enclosed is a copy of the same. 
Further examinations are still requisite before a comparison can be made between this line and 
that of the Columbia and Cowlitz rivers. 
While Captain McClellan was making these examinations, I took a trip by sailing-vessel down 
the sound, continuing as far as Vancouver’s island, my object being to take a census of the Indian 
