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 FROM CAPT AIN MCCLELLAN TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
Estimate for fiscal year ending June 30, 1855, $40,000.
In addition to the above, I am satisfied that the Missouri can be navigated by steamers to
the falls above this place, and I would recommend an appropriation of $10,000 to test the (lestion next year. The Indian Bureau needs a steamer exclusively for its own use.
RECAPITULATION.
For continuing the exploration and survey of a route for a railroad from the headwaters of
the Mississippi to Puget sound, including the thorough examination of the passes of the mountains during the winter, and including a steamer to determine the practicability of navigating
the Missouri river to the falls, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1854, $40,000.
For continuing the survey of a route of a railroad from the headwaters of the Mississippi to
Puget sound, including an instrumental survey of the best mountain passes, for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1855, $40,000.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ISAAC I. STEVENS,
Governor of Washington Territory, in Charge of Exploration and Survey.
Hon. JEFFERSON DAvIS,
Secretary of War.
NORTHERN PACIFIc RAILROAD EXPLORATION AND SURVEY,
Fort Benton, Upper Missouri, September 8, 1853.
SIR: I have to request that $10,000 still remaining in the treasury, of the sum allotted to
me from the appropriation for the survey of the several routes for a railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific, be drawn out and placed on deposit, subject to my order, with the
Treasurer of the United States.
In a report of this date, I have made estimates for continuing the survey the present year,
and have recommended that an appropriation of $40,000 be asked of Congress. I will earnestly request that, from existing appropriations legitimately applicable to such a purpose, a
portion of this sum be drawn out and placed on deposit with the Treasurer of the United States,
subject to my order, and that I be advised of the action of the department at the earliest practicable period. Communications should be sent to me at Olympia, Washington Territory.
I regret I cannot go into more details at this time. But at this moment I feel that I must throw
my energies into the almost herculean task before me, and send in careful estimates on reaching
Puget sound.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ISAAC I. STEVENS,
Governor of Washington Territory, in Charge of Exploration.
Hon. JEFFEReSON DAvIS,
Secretary of War.
CAMP AT KETETAS, ON YAKIMA RiIVER,
September 18, 1853.
SIR: I have the, honor to report that, in consequence of the great detentions caused by the
miserable quality of the animals and pack-saddles with iwhich I was provided, and the difficult
nature of the country through which we have passed, I was unable to reach the valley of the
Wenass (a branch of the Yakima) until August 20. Hearing, from what seemed good
authority, that there were numbers of government mules at Steilacoom, and that the trip could
be made in five days, I at once sent in my pack-horses to be exchanged, and to bring out
provisions to enable me to start from here with three months' supplies; intending to occupy
myself, in the meanwhile, in examining the passes near Regnier. On my return from the
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