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

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PASS IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
I have already submitted my views in full as to the additional work required on my route.
The importance of a comparative survey of the lines of the Columbia river and the Snoqualme
Pass was dwelt upon, as well as of surveys to show whether the Little Blackfoot passes of the
Rocky mountains could be reached from St. Paul by a more direct route, crossing the Missouri
and Yellowstone, and direct from the western frontier of Iowa and Missouri by a route through
the Black Hills. The intermediate routes were also referred to, and much stress was laid upon
the importance of making a survey of the general route pursued by me over the Coenr d'Alene
mountains in October, 1853, to determine whether it was practicable for a railroad, thereby abridging the distance nearly one hundred miles, as well as upon a survey of the route pursued by
Lieut. Mullan in March last, on his return from Fort Benton.
Without going further into particulars, I have the honor herewith to enclose a report of Lieut.
Mullan, urging the importance to the complete exposition of the character of the northern route,
that a profile should be run up the Missouri to Fort Benton, and thence by the Northern Little
Blackfoot Pass and the Coeur d'Alene route to the Columbia valley. Lieut. Mullan's route over
the Cceur d'Alene mountains differs from my own in following a trail over the divide a few miles
farther north. The pass is much lower, and, in the judgment of Lieut. Mullan, perfectly practicable for a railroad, and involving a tunnel from a mile to a mile and a half in length. But little
work is required to make it perfectly practicable for wagons.
I have the honor herewith to enclose a copy of Lieut. Mullan's report, and to recommend it to
the favorable action of the department. His estimate I consider reliable, and his plan of operations perfectly practicable.
Should Congress make an appropriation for a military road from Fort Benton to Wallah-Wallah,
it could not be placed in better hands than Lieut. Mullan's, and thus a test be furnished to the
work on the railroad exploration, as pointed out by him, at a much smaller sum than is given in
his estimate.
I also have the honor to enclose the copy of a report by Mr. Stevens, submitting a plan and
estimate for determining with accuracy the latitudes and longitudes of the principal stations, with
the view of making the past observations available, and to recommend its adoption by the depart
ment.
Recapitulation.-Estimate of Lieut. Mullan, $5,000; estimate of Mr. Stevens, $5,500; total,
$10,500.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
ISAAC I. STEVENS,
Governor of Washington Territory.
Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.
REPORT BY LIEUT. JOHN MULLAN, U. S. A., ON A PASS IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND A PASS
THROUGH THE BITTER ROOT MOUNTAINS.
OLYMPIA, W. T., December 12, 1854.
SIR: I have the honor to submit for your consideration the following brief report on a pass in
the Rocky mountains and a pass through the Bitter'Root mountains, which I found in my
explorations during the present year.
As you have already been informed, I found a pass in the main chain of the Rocky mountains,
in March last, through which I travelled with a wagon, without the slightest difficulty. The
approaches to this pass from either side are easy and gradual-superior by far to any that I have
met in my examinations through the mountains. This pass connects with the falls of the Missouri