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

LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
tality. In reference to the Blackfeet, whose country we are now about entering, I am assured
by Mr. Culbertson, my special agent for that tribe, that they will receive us with open arms,
and that no trouble need be apprehended. The necessary precautions will, of course, be taken to
secure against attacks and loss of animals, but I can see no reason to apprehend the slightest
trouble with any of the tribes to be met upon the route.
The enclosed memorandum will give you a more -full account of the details of the operations,
and the enclosed sketch of a railroad route certainly practicable, at a cost probably not exceeding
$40,000 per mile. It is certain that the two great key points of country are the valleyof Mouse
river and the region of the Bois des Sioux. The Mouse river is erroneously given on all the
maps. It nowhere approaches'the Missouri nearer than thirty or forty miles, and the pass
over the Coteau is so gradual, and the whole valley is so open, that the ascent is scarcely
observed.
I must not fail particularly to advert to Lieutenant Donelson's excellent survey of the Missouri river, as high as the boat has been navigated the present season, some one hundred and
twenty miles above this point, and the numerous collections made by him on the route; and to
a very extended reconnaissance of the White Earth river, and the Cotean de Missouri, during
which, in'nine days, he passed over a distance of two hundred and thirty-five miles.
A more detailed account will be given hereafter. I shall from Fort Benton make report on
the navigability of the Missouri, with sug~gestions for, and an estimate as to its improvement.
T. S. Everett, Esq., the quartermaster and commissary clerk of the expedition, returns from
this point to Washington, and will call on you personally, to give you information which I
cannot embody in a report at this time.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
ISAAC I. STEVENS,
Governor of WIashington Territory.
Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS,
Secretary of War.
N. B.-The memorandum I regret I cannot prepare in time, and shall have to refer you to
Mr. Everett for additional particulars which cannot be found in this brief letter.
NORTIERN PACIFIC RAILROAD EXPLORATION AND SURVEY,
Fort Benton, Upper Missouri, September 8) 1853.
SIR: We left Fort Union on the 9th of August, and pursued the Milk river line, abandoning
the two lines contemplated in my letter of the 8th of August. The junction of the two parties
was made at the Big Muddy river, and resulted from my inability to furnish proper transportation and the requisite force to the two parties. The train moved forward under my charge
until the 24th of -August, when with a small party, including Alexander Culbertson, Esq., the
special agent among the' Blackfeet Indians, and accompanied by two select detached parties
under the respective directions of Lieut. Grover and Mr. Lander, I started in advance, and
arrived here on the 1st instant.
We found that the Missouri is much out of place on all the maps, and the Milk river still
more so-flowing nearly due west. Up to this point, we have fbund the country entirely
practicable for a railroad. Whichever pass in the mountains may be decided upon, the Milk
River valley will furnish a good approach.
Dr. Evans, geologist of the expedition, arrived here on the 5th instant, having made a'complete and satisfactory examination of "Mauvaises Terres," the country south of the Yellowstone from the Black hills to the Missouri river, and north of the Missouri, between the ilk
and Missouri rivers.
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