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.
8. Such observations as to the navigability of the Columbia as may be practicable at this late
season.
9. Moving the main party to Puget sound over the pass found by Captain McClellan to be
the best.
10. Meteorological posts at Wallah-Wallah, at Olympia, and possibly at Fort Colville.
11. Office work at Olympia, preparing the report.
WORK PROPOSED FROM THE RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS IN THE SPRING TO THE CLOSE OF THE
NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
1. Careful explorations of the Marias Pass of the Rocky mountains, and such other passes as
from information acquired on the resumption of the survey shall come into competition with that
at Cadotte's Pass.
2. The completion of the exploration of the Bitter Root and Cascade ranges, it being scarcely
practicable to accomplish it the present season.
3. Instrumental surveys of the passes in all three ranges found by exploration to be the best.
4. These passes to be connected by reconnaissance in the best practicable manner.
5. The best pass in the Rocky mountains to be connected with the best crossing of the Mississippi, by a review of the whole line by a small party under the charge of a competent estimating
civil engineer, regard being had to questions of supply and modes of construction; spur roads to
the Missouri and a connexion with Lake Superior and the roads leading eastward from the
Mississippi.
6. The careful survey of the Columbia river, to determine to what extent it can be made
useful in transporting supplies, &c., for the construction of the road.
7. Examinations in relation to connecting the most practicable route with Oregon and California.
8. Re-continuance of the meteorological posts.
9. Information to be collected as to emigrant routes, wagon roads, and country adapted to
settlement.
I append to this report copies of all the orders since leaving Camp Pierce, and copies of all
the important instructions since leaving Fort Union. These papers will, in connexion with
this communication, giye as full a report of the present state of the exploration as my limited
time will allow.
1. Copies of my three letters to the department of the 8th of September, forwarded by Dr.
Evans, and which will not probably reach Washington till after this communication is received.
They give a bird's-eye view of operations; state that the survey fund will probably be exhausted
in October; state my determination to continue the survey, and organize a small but efficient
winter force, in readiness to resume operations in the spring, and urge the recommending
Congress to pass in the deficiency bill an appropriation of $40,000 to continue the work the
remainder of the present fiscal year. They ask that the $10,000 now in the treasury, of the
sum allotted from the appropriation to the survey of this route, and such other sums as may be
applied to it from other appropriations, may be drawn from the treasury and be placed on
deposit with the Treasurer, subject to my order. The only modification I now make of these
views is, that I would recommend urging Congress to pass an appropriation of $150,000 to
continue all these great railroad explorations during the remainder of the present fiscal year, and
the same amount in the general appropriation bills for the next fiscal year.
2. Copy of my Order No. 18, (marked No. 4,) issued on the arrival of Lieutenant Saxton at
Fort Benton.
3. Copy of my instructions to Lieutenant Grover, (marked No. 5,) directing him to reconnoitre Cadotte's Pass, ascertain whether Lieutenant Saxton had arrived at Fort Benton, and
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