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.
sandy. In short, the section of country included between the Columbia to the north and west,
the headwaters of the Peluse and Spokane to the east, and Snake river to the south, is one grand
plain; which, near the Columbia, is divided into innumerable chasms, called coulees, running in
all directions, and owing their origin to one general cause. From this point to the Columbia the
country is one grand level, gradually descending to the south. My trail struck the Columbia
about 10 miles north of the Yakima. The distance from the great bend of the Columbia to the
west, to the latter point, is about 130 miles. The country from this point to the Columbia is
level, my route being along the east bank, crossing Snake river about a quarter of a mile from its
mouth; distance 34 miles. The distances given above are mere approximations, which will be
corrected when the data is completed."
Captain McClellan, on the 28th instant, left Steilacoom with a small party in canoes to explore
the shores of the sound, with reference to the railroad depot, and to ascend the Snohomish river
and its tributary, the Snoqualme river, to the Snoqualme falls. From this point, with Indian
horses procured in the neighborhood, he will go to the Snoqualme Pass; or, if the snow renders
the route impracticable, on snow-shoes, and thence take the railroad down to the sound. Previous
to his return to this point he will endeavor to make an examination of the work done on the
military road.
r obedient servant,
ISAAC I. STEVENS,
Governor of Washtington Territory.
HON. SJEFFERSON DAVIS,
Secretary of War, Washington City.
OFFICE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD EXPLORATION AND S URVEY,
Olympia, Washington Territory, January 31, 1854.
SiR: I have the honor to report that, as announced to you in my letter dated December 19,
Captain McClellan left Olympia on the 23d December in a canoe, arriving at Steilacoom that
evening. He received verbal instructions to carry down the lines from the Snoqualme Pass to
the several good harbors of the sound, going as far northward as Bellingham bay, and to examine
the several ports of the same to determine the proper terminus of the railroad. The duty of collecting information as to a wagon road along the shores of the sound from Steilacoom to Bellingham bay, was also assigned to him. Unable to procure horses or guides at Steilacoom, he
determined to take canoes to go by the Sinahomish and Snoqualme rivers to the Snoqualme falls,
and thence to ascend to the Snoqualme Pass on foot. It was unfortunate that about this time
very severe weather set in, the thermometer ranging much lower than at any time last winter,
which was one of unusual severity. In consequence of this, and finding considerable snow upon
the ground, increasing rapidly as they continued on, Captain McClellan, with his party, after
going seven miles beyond the falls, deemed it imprudent -to go farther, and. thence returned.
Captain McClellan was able, however, to add much to our previous knowledge of the country
and we know from his examinations that the route is somewhat more difficult than has been previously reported. A railroad line can still be brought down, with grades approaching the pass
from the east not exceeding fifteen or twenty feet to the mile, and with grades descending to the
sound not exceeding sixty feet to the mile, but at the cost of an expensive tuninel. Captain
McClellan has prepared a brief report of his operations, written hastily as merely a memorandum,
which is extremely interesting. The enclosed is a copy of the same.
Further examinations are still requisite before a comparison can be made between this line and
that of the Columbia and Cowlitz rivers.
While Captain McClellan was making these examinations, I took a trip by sailing-vessel down
the sound, continuing as far as Vancouver's island, my object being to take a census of the Indian
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