Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 1, Pt. 2

NAVIGATION OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER.
"While on the subject of timnber, I will briefly allude to its quality and quantity. Along the
Bitter -Root and Hell Gate rivers, and in the mountains in their vicinity, the red pine and the
larch, favorite trees in ship-building, are found in great quantities. Farther down their streams
we find, in addition, cypress, cedar, hemlock, spruce, and fir, besides several hard-wood trees.
The timber country extends from the main range of the Rocky mountains to a point about 80
miles below Fort Colville. From thence to the Dalles there is no timber. At the Dalles it again
appears, and trees of many descriptions, and frequently of enormous size, are found thickly
covering the valleys and surrounding hills."
Also, in reference to other subjects, he says: "Good building-stone is found along nearly the
whole route. There are a few pieces of excellent land along these rivers; their waters are clear
and beautiful, and filled with thousands of fish of the different kinds of the salmon family."
By trifling improvements on Clark's fork and the Columbia several considerable lines of communication by steamers could be opened, which would greatly facilitate the construction of the
road. The Hudson's Bay Company's large freight boats ascend from the lower end of Pend
d'Oreille lake to Horse Plain, a distance of one hundred and thirty-five miles, making two portages, and descend from above our northern parallel to Vancouver. Steamers drawing from 20
to 24 inches of water can, at low stages, ascend to nine miles above the lake, and still farther at
higher stages of water. Between Colville and De Chute's rivers, on the Columbia, there are
but three bad obstacles to navigation for steamers drawing 20 to 30 inches of water, viz: Kettle
falls, the Priest's and Buckland's rapids. A portage would probably be required at each of
these places. None would be required at Ross's rapids, nor at any other points below the mouth
of the Spokane than those designated. One or more may be required between Okinakane and
the Kettle falls. The Cascades and the Dalles are also bad obstacles. By improvements either
in the bed of the river or in the use of locks at these several points on the Columbia and Clark's
fork, and by the substitution of the rail where such improvement is impracticable, it is not
doubted that a continuous communication can be established from the mouth of the Columbia to
the mouth of the Spokane, and probably to Colville, and from the Pend d'Oreille lake to Horse
Plain. Rails will undoubtedly be required at several of the places, and transfers be made from
steamer to steamer.
The steamers should be of light draught, great power, and will be used chiefly as tow-boats.
By a thorough organization, transportation could be effected at a moderate expense, when the
amount is sufficient, as in the case of a railroad, to authorize the requisite preliminary outlay.
The present high rates of transportation by the Columbia river arise from the monopoly that is
exercised and the scarcity of labor. In the construction of the road the river must be availed
of to the mouth of the Yakima, and for 135 miles on Clark's fork, from the Pend d'Oreille lake to
Horse Plain.
For many interesting details in reference to this river, the country, and forest growth of its
banks, the advantages which it affords for manufacturing, and for suggestions in reference to introducing the salmon into the upper country, and thus affording food to the almost starved Indians,
by blasting a race-way in the Great Falls twenty-five miles above the mouth of Clark's fork,
I will refer you to Dr. Suckley's report, a copy of which is given in the appendix.
I will also refer you to the reports of Captain McClellan, Lieutenant Donelson, Lieutenant
Saxton, and Lieutenant Arnold. The latter officer, after having ascertained the latitude of the
mouth of Clark's fork, which was about 490, ran a line from Fort Colville, by the Grand Coulee,
the mouth of the Spokane, and the mouth of Snake river, to Wallah-Wallah.
Lieutenant Arnold says as follows in relation to the Grand Coulee and the vicinity between it
and the Columbia:
"I again descended to the river by a steep and rocky trail, and marched three miles, encamping near the mouth of the coulee.
"The trail leaves the river to the north, and passes nearly south. After an ascent of 243
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