The Prairie Traveler Part 23

16-1/4. Fort Union.-Road descends a hill to the fort; before this it pa.s.ses over high, firm prairie. Good gra.s.s near in the hills.

6-1/2. Pond.-No wood; good gra.s.s.

6. Little Muddy River.-Good camp.

15-1/2. Creek.-Two good camps between this and the last. Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

10. Big Muddy River.-Drift-wood for fuel.

11. Marsh near Missouri.-Good camp.

18. Poplar River.-Good camp. One or two good camps between this and the last camp.

23-1/2. Creek near Missouri.-Good camp.

15. Slough near Missouri.-Good camp.

17-1/2. Milk River.-One good camp between this and the last camp.

13-1/2. Milk River.-Several good camps pa.s.sed.

17-1/2. Milk River.-Good camp.

19-1/2. Milk River.-Several good camps pa.s.sed.

17-3/4. Milk River.-At the crossing. The road follows a trail on the bluffs, and descends again to the river.

7-1/2. Lake.-No wood; gra.s.s and water plenty.

12-1/2. Milk River.-Second crossing. Good camp.

12. Milk River.-Good camp.

15-1/2. Milk River.-Good camps between this and the last camp.

10-3/4. Milk River.-Good camp.

20. Milk River.-Good camp.

16. Milk River.-Good camp.

18. Milk River.-At the third crossing.-Good camp.

7-1/2. Branch of Milk River.-Good camp.

17-1/2. Branch of Milk River.-Several good camps between this and the last camp.

6. Branch of Milk River.-Good camp.

19-1/4. Prairie Spring.-No wood; water and gra.s.s plenty.

13-3/4. Teton River.-Road crosses "Marias River."

8-3/4. Teton River, at Fort Benton.-A trading-post.

2-1/2. Small Creek.-Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

18-3/4. Missouri River.-Good camp.

20-1/2. Missouri River.-Above the falls. Road much broken into ravines. Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

16-3/4. Missouri River.-Road crosses first tributary above Fort Benton at ten miles.

17. Missouri River.-The road becomes very bad after fourteen miles, but is better on the north side of the Missouri.

6. Missouri River.-The road is exceedingly rough and broken; crosses the river.-Good wood, water, and gra.s.s.

11. Tributary of the Missouri.-The most difficult part of the road is pa.s.sed, but the country is still hilly.

18-1/2. Tributary of the Missouri.-The road follows up the last-mentioned stream to near its head. Good camps.

15. Near the summit of Little Blackfoot Pa.s.s, on a broad Indian trail; excellent road.

14-3/4. Little Blackfoot River.-Road crosses the summit of the Rocky Mountains. Good road for wagons, with many camping-places.

17-1/2. Little Blackfoot River.-Road good, descending along the river. Near the camp a large fork comes in.

28-1/2. Little Blackfoot River.-Good road, which follows the broad, open valley for 14 miles. Good camps.

19-1/2. Little Blackfoot River.-The valley contracts so that wagons will be forced to take the bed of the river in some places. The river is fordable, and the trail crosses it five times during the day.

22-1/2. Blackfoot River.-Sixteen miles from the last camp "Blackfoot" and "h.e.l.l Gate" River's enter, and about one mile of this distance is impa.s.sable for wagons; they would have to cross the river, which is fordable. Good camps.

27-1/2. Fort Owen.-Road runs up the St. Mary's River to Fort Owen over a broad, good trail in the valley.

40. St. Mary's River.-The south Nez Perces trail leaves the main trail, which ascends the St. Mary's Valley to the Forks, and follows the southwest fork to its source. To the Forks the valley of the St. Mary's is open, and admits wagons.

24. Southwest Fork of St. Mary's River.-The road follows a narrow trail, crossing the river frequently, and is not pa.s.sable for wagons. The valley is narrow, and shut in by hills.

5-1/2. Kooskooskia River.-Road leaves the St. Mary's River, pa.s.sing over a high ridge to the Kooskooskia River.

10. Branch.-Road runs over wooded hills.

14. Creek.-Road runs over wooded hills.

9. Small Creek.-This is the best camp between the St. Mary's River and the Nez Perces country.

15. Small Creek.-Road pa.s.ses over wooded hills.

9. Small Branch.-Road pa.s.ses over wooded hills, is very rough and difficult. Poor camp.

14. Small Creek.-Ten miles from last camp the road pa.s.ses a high divide, ascending rapidly, though not difficult. Good gra.s.s on the summit, but no water.

13. Small Creek.-Good camp where the trail emerges from the woods on to the high plateau.

7. Clear Water River.-Large tributary. Road runs over high table-land, and descends to the valley of the river.

43. Lapwai River.-The road follows a broad trail down the river six miles, when it leaves the river bottom and ascends the plateau, which extends to Craig's house, on the Lapwai, fifteen miles from the river.

23. Tributary Snake River.-The trail runs over high ground from Craig's to Lapwai River, 15 miles. This river is 450 feet wide. No wood. Indians are generally found here, who ferry over travelers. The trail follows Snake River for several miles.

26-1/4. Tchannon River.-The trail pa.s.ses 5-1/2 miles up the bottom of a small creek; then runs over a steep hill to another small creek, 8 miles; then along the valley of this stream 10-1/2 miles; thence over a high hill to camp on Tchannon River, 3 miles.

11-1/2. Touchet River.-The trail crosses the Tchannon River, and ascends to a high plain, which continues to camp.

32-1/2. Touchet River.-Road follows a good trail along the valley, where good camps are found any where, with wood, water, and gra.s.s.

19-1/2. Fort Wallah Wallah.-Leaving Touchet River, the trail pa.s.ses over again to the plains, when there is neither wood, water, or gra.s.s to Fort Wallah Wallah.

Total distance from St. Paul's to Fort Union, 712-1/2 miles.

Total distance from Fort Union to Fort Benton, 377-1/2 "

Total distance from Fort Benton to Fort Owen, 255 "

Total distance from Fort Owen to Fort Wallah Wallah, 340-3/4 "

Total distance from St. Paul's, Min., to Fort Wallah Wallah, Oregon, 1685-3/4 miles.

XIX.-Lieutenant E. F. Beale's route from Albuquerque to the Colorado River.

[Distances is miles and hundredths of a mile.]

Miles. Albuquerque to 2.10. Atrisco.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

20.63. Rio Puerco.-Water in pools; wood and gra.s.s.

19.41. Near Puta.-Abundance of wood, water, and gra.s.s.

13.12. Covera.-Water and gra.s.s abundant; wood scarce.

13.06. Hay Camp.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s plenty.

25.37. Agua Frio.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s plenty.

16.28. Inscription Rock.-Small spring; gra.s.s and wood plenty.

16.32. Ojo del Pescado.-Water and gra.s.s plenty; wood for camp.

15.13. Zuni.-Gra.s.s and water plenty; wood scarce.

6.19. Indian Well.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

14.43. No. 1.-Wood and gra.s.s; no water.

11.93. Jacob's Well.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

6.57. No. 2, Navajo Spring.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

13.62. Noon Halt.-Water by digging; gra.s.s and wood scarce.

6.13. No. 3.-Gra.s.s abundant.

7.75. Noon Halt.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s abundant.

7.25. No. 4.-Water in holes; gra.s.s and fuel plenty.

3.60. Three Lakes.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s.

1.75. Crossing Puerco.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s abundant as far as Leroux Spring.

11.25. No. 5.

18.50. No. 6.

10.17. No. 7.

13.25. No. 8.

19.35. Canon Diablo.

14.75. No. 10.

13.50. Near Cosnino Caves.

17.32. San Francisco Spring.

9.06. Leroux Spring.

8.48. No. 13.-Wood and gra.s.s, but no water.

11.13. Breckenridge Spring.-Wood, water, and gra.s.s abundant.