Additional Estimate For Fort K

Author : UNKNOWN. AUTHOR
Publisher : Forgotten Books
ISBN 13 : 9781332096749
Total Pages : 34 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (967 download)

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Download or read book Additional Estimate for Fort Kearney, South Pass, and Honey Lake Wagon Road, Vol. 63 written by UNKNOWN. AUTHOR and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2015-07-28 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Additional Estimate for Fort Kearney, South Pass, and Honey Lake Wagon Road, Vol. 63: Letter From the Acting Secretary of the Interior, Transmitting a Communication From Colonel Lander in Regard to the Fort Kearney, South Pass and Honey Lake Wagon Road Sir: The subject of the construction of a bridge across Green river has been repeatedly referred to in my reports of previous years. In that of 1859 I related the fact of my stationing a party of men at that river, equipped with ropes and excellent mule teams, by the aid of which the emigrants crossed it without much difficulty, although some property was lost by them and one individual drowned. At that time the emigrants drew up two petitions asking that this river might be bridged, which, bearing several thousand signatures, in fact, the names of all the male individuals of their trains, were brought by me to Washington and referred to your department. Last summer, while constructing the western division, I again met the emigration, and learned from it that, from the changes of the river bars, the ford had become nearly impracticable. The emigrants argue, with much force that after leaving the old road at South Pass they make several days' journey before reaching Green river. They have then either to attempt its passage, at much risk of property and life, or return to the ferry of the old road by an additional travel of two hundred miles. The force of the current over the sand bars at the new crossing is such as to preclude the establishment of a ferry. The News Fork is another very dangerous and difficult crossing on the new road, as well as Smith's Fork of Bear river. If you should decide to expend the balance of the appropriation in the construction of a bridge at Green river, it would be expedient to add the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to the amount remaining of the appropriation and bridge the river below its junction with the News Fork. This sum would also enable a party, once equipped and in the field, to bridge the Smith's Fork of Bear river. Your instructions of previous years have been so explicit on the subject of not erecting costly bridges, that I could not do more than lay these facts before you in my yearly reports. The view you have hitherto taken, that the bridges would be destroyed by the mountain traders owning ferries on the old roads, is undoubtedly a correct one; but if the important crossing of Green river is to be bridged, the expedition might be directed to erect there a common block-house and blacksmith's forge, and furnish them rent free to any reliable mountaineer of former expeditions. There are several individuals who, if thus provided for, would be glad to remain at the bridge and keep it in order for travel. I cannot apprehend the destruction of a properly constructed bridge by fire. Indians. It would be highly expedient to furnish the building party with at least one thousand dollars ($1,000) worth of Indian goods, to procure the further good behavior of the Washikee band of Snake Indians. The well known probity of Washikee would render any agreement made with him for the protection of the bridge a perfectly safe one. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.