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

PART 1__ _
REPORTS FROM THE FIELD.
UPPER MISSISSIPPI,
Steamer Nominee, May 27, 1853.
DEAR SIR: I have the honor respectfully to inform the department, that I left Washington
city on the 9th instant, stopped in New York one day to transact business, and taking the route
of Lake Erie and Chicago, reached St. Louis on the 15th. I remained in St. Louis until the
departure of the Fur Company's boat on the 21st, which carried up ten thousand rations'to Fort
Union, and a small party, consisting of Lieutenant Donelson, Lieutenant Mullan, Mr. Graham,
and six sappers and miners. Lieutenant Donelson is instructed to make the best possible
survey of the Missouri, and of the country in the vicinity of Fort Union, from the White Earth
to the Porcupine rivers. Whilst at St. Louis I secured the services of Alexander Culbertson,
Esq., as a special agent among the Blackfeet Indians. He has lived in the country twenty
years, and knows by name every adult male in each tribe. He estimates the number to be from
fifteen hundred to eighteen hundred lodges. I found him to be a reliable, steadfast, calm man.
He joins the main partv at Fort Union, and accompanies us to Fort Benton. The Fur Company
make the trip, 400 miles, in twenty days, four mules drawing 1,600 pounds. The grasses in
the Blackfeet region are exceedingly good, the country is well watered, and wagons can be
taken to the very base of the mountains.
The Blackfeet tribes know all the passes in the mountains, and Mr. Culbertson assures me
that we shall have no difficulty in securing the confidence of, and controlling the Blackfeet.
With vigilance and firmness, I entertain no apprehensions whatever.
Dr. John Evans, who is intrusted with the geological reconnaissance of Oregon, under the
supervision of the General Land Office, for which Congress has made a special appropriation,
has accepted the position of geologist of my expedition. He will, on his way to Oregon, go
through the "Mauvaises Terres," exploring the routes in that interesting region, connecting
it with the Missouri by two lines, leading respectively to Fort Pierre and Fort Union, and
making for my exploration collections of the highest value to geological science. The topographical information which he will collect will be a great assistance in enabling me to determine the best route for my return party. Dr. Evans will place at the disposal of the expedition all his topographical notes and barometrical observations crossing the mountains, and thus,
at very small expense, the expedition will derive from his labors great aid in both its direct and
incidental objects.
I shall reach St. Paul's this evening, where I expect to find all the arrangements well advanced to comminence the exploration, and from which place I hope to start, at the furthest, by
the first of June. I will communicate again with the department as I leave the settlements,
and will at the same time enclose a statement of expenditures up to that point.
I enclose, herewith, printed copies of the instructions given in each branch of the survey.
As the party was quite numerous, and each member receives copies of them, in addition to
if