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

CASCADES AND LINE OF SNOQUALME PASS.
tures and dislocations of the limbs appear to be rare. The Indians are not much exposed to
accidents of that kind, on account of their indolent habits and little taste for adventure. Atrophy
of the muscles constituting the calf of the leg is almost a disease among them, in consequence of
their infrequent use in walking; all journeys being performed on horseback or in canoes, even
for half a mile distance. Consumption is common among them, in consequence of poor clothing
and shelter, combined with the weakness of constitution, generally caused by a scanty and
innutritious quality of food. Decay of the teeth seems to be rare, but they wear down from the
surface, as in horses, &c., forming smooth flat tops.
I could learn of very few remedies among the Indian tribes; they are unwilling to tell of such
as they have, which must be very few and of little value, as they place great confidence iri the
treatment and medicine of the whites. Many tribes on the upper Columbia and its branches
use the-hot vapor bath, followed by a plunge into cold water. This severe hydropathic practice
does not seem to benefit them, and is fast giving way to other remedies. The huts used for its
administration have been often described, and are used also east of the Rocky mountains. Like
all savage nations, charms and incantations are much relied on by them. An umbelliferous
plant (Pencedanum) is used by them as an emetic, as well as the root of the Sicyos Oregonus,
or wild melon, which has properties similar to those of colocynth.
There are, undoubtedly, many plants indigenous to the country, of great medicinal value.
Some of these are well known, but a long time will be required to ascertain fully the uses of the
greater part of them. Some are noticed in the accompanying list of plants observed.
Respectfully, &c.,
J. G. COOPER, M.D.
Captain G. B. McCLELLA.N,
Corps of Engineers, Commanding Expedition.
B.
SURVEY OF THE CASCADES.
4. RAILROAD PRACTICABILITY OF THE CASCADES AND OF THE LINE OF THE SNOQUALME PASS,
BY CAPTAIN GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A., IN COMMAND OF THE WEST ERN DIVISION.
[The survey of the Snoqualme Pass was carried by Captain McClellan up the valley of the Yakima to three miles west of the
dividing ridge.]
OLYMPIA, W. T., February 8, 1854.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report upon the practicability of a railroad
across the Cascade mountains.
The result of the explorations of the last summer has been to ascertain that, between the parallels of 45~ 30' and 49~ north latitude, there are but two passes through the range practicable
for a railroad: that of the Columbia river, and that in which the north and main fork of the
Yakima heads.
I will first describe the latter-heretofore erroneously called the Snoqualme, for the reason that
the river of that name, the south fork of the Sinahomlish, was incorrectly supposed to head in it.
The approach to this pass must be by the valley of the Yakima, crossing the Columbia anywhere within fifteen miles above the junction of these two rivers.
The Columbia here runs through a level and extensive sage plain, of a sandy soil; the
approaches are perfectly good; the river about four hundred yards in width.
No material for bridging exists immediately at hand.
. Excellent yellow pine grows abundantly on the Yakima, about one hundred miles from its
mouth, and can be floated down at high water with but little difficulty.
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