624 
LETTER OF CAPTAIN MCCLELLAN. 
homish to the falls of the Snoqualme is S. 17° E. There are also falls on the Skywhamish, the 
Nooksai-Nooksai, (that branch of the D’Wamish which heads in the pass,) the Steilaghaumish, 
the Seatchel, &c. Above the falls of the Nooksai-Nooksai is a large lake. 
With the exception of one small prairie, (now cultivated by the Indians,) about ten miles below 
the falls, the bottom of the Sinahomish and Snoqualme is very indifferent, generally consisting of 
pure sand, covered with one or two inches of soil. The section of the bluffs is of sand, clay and 
gravel, occasionally argillaceous rock, stratified and unstratified. The timber is generally poor— 
a great deal of cotton-wood, indifferent cedar, and fir; maple and alder are also met with. In 
some places there are small tracts of good fir and cedar. 
There is said to be some good land on the Skywhamish a few miles above its junction with 
the Snoqualme. The Skywhamish is rather the larger of the two. Near the mouth of the Sina¬ 
homish are extensive cranberry swamps. The bottoms are usually wide, flat, and subject to 
overflow ; occasionally, ridges border the stream. There is a foot-trail from a point on the Sno¬ 
qualme, about eight miles below the falls, to the large lake behind Seattle ; one day from the 
Snoqualme to the lake—one more to Seattle, in a canoe. 
If there is any coal in the valley of the Sinahomish it will be found some little distance back, 
in a bluff about twelve miles above the mouth. The river would be easily navigable for small 
steamers to this point, in low water. 
From the mouth of the Sinahomish I went, via Port Susan and the canoe channel, to the head 
(north extremity) of Macdonough’s island, intending to proceed to Bellingham bay. We en¬ 
camped on the island the night of the 12th. 
During that night six inches of snow fell, and a violent gale arose, so that on the next day we 
were unable to proceed. On the next day, (14th,) the wind still continuing dead ahead, and very 
violent, I turned back, taking the Saratoga passage, and encamped that night on Gedney island, 
where there is an excellent spring. 
On the 15th camped on the small lake which connects with the salt water, about five miles to 
the north of Seattle. 
On the 16th reached Seattle; the floating ice gave us much trouble. On the morning of the 
17th abandoned the idea of going up the D’Wamish, the ice being so thick and abundant as to 
close the passage. 
Reached Steilacoom, in a heavy gale, on the 18th. 
The result of my examination as to harbors is, that of all the harbors between the north end 
of Whidby’s island and Olympia, that of Seattle is by far the best, being well protected against 
the wind, having thirty fathoms of water, a most excellent holding-ground, being easily ap¬ 
proached from the Straits of Fuca, and having a good back country. It is, therefore, in my 
opinion, the proper terminus for any railroad extending to the waters commonly known as Puget 
sound. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
geo. b. McClellan, 
Lieutenant Engineers and Bvt. Capt. U. S. Army. 
His Excellency I. I. Stevens, 
Chief of the Northern Pacific Railway Survey. 
The majority of Snoqualme Indians are now at Seattle, Alki, and Steilacoom. There are now 
but seven of their houses near the falls, and some four Yakima houses. 
I should have stated that the barometer taken with us was entirely unfit for use. 
From the point above the Snoqualme falls where we turned back, we obtained a good view of 
the country towards the pass. 
