Reports of Explorations and Surveys to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economical Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 edition. Excerpt: ...at sunrise, 40; barometer 28.7. We marched twenty-five miles through a country of an entirely different character from any we have yet seen; a dense forest of pine and fir trees, many of immense size. We passed many beautiful ponds or lakes, and are encamped on the banks of a pretty sheet of clear water amid pine trees; but its waters are so strongly alkaline as to make them unfit for use, and very injurious to animals that drink of them. The native animals will not taste the water; but American horses and mules will when very thirsty, and unless speedily relieved by the administration of an acid, the consequences are disastrous. There is a spring near our camp strongly sulphureous, and boiling temperature fifty-one degrees. Saturday, August 6.--Thermometer 58; barometer 28.435. Marched in an eastwardly direction to Spokane river; the rock formation is granite. Passed a beautiful lake on the left of ' our trail; crossed a branch of the Spokane about three miles from its junction with the latter. At the ford where we crossed was an Indian village, and a wheat field of about an acre just harvested, which showed a fine crop. Arrived on the banks of the Spokane at 12 m. As it was too deep to be forded, I hired the Indians to take us across in their canoes, and succeeded in getting everything safely over by sunset. The Spokanes are a noble specimen of their race, and are as yet too proud to beg. Their chief, Garry, speaks tolerable English, having been educated by the Hudson's Bay Company. He is rich, powerful, and owns a large number of horses. The Spokanes, as well as the other tribes we had encountered, had been told that we were coming to make war upon them. They were delighted to find us friends, and came in great numbers to...