should be well strengthened with large iron rods. In locating the road it may and probably will be necessary to make some change in the plan of a few of the bridges. HENRY B. SMYTH, Engineer. BELLEVUE, NEBRASKA TERRITORY, August 10, 1857. SIR: I have the honor to herewith enclose my report for that portion of the route for a wagon road between Dacota City and the Running Water. I would also acknowledge the receipt of a letter dated the 9th of July, 1857, from Albert H. Campbell, general superintendent Pacific wagon roads, advising me that $3,000 of the appropriation would be reserved to meet unforeseen contingencies, &c.; also a communication from the department, modifying my instructions, dated the 11th of July. The latter part of the 4th clause of my instructions of the 15th of May indicates that "further instructions for my future government" will be given upon receipt of my reports. I have not as yet received any further instructions subsequent to the receipt of my report of the 10th ultimo. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE L. SITES, Superintendent Nebraska Wagon Road. Hon. JACOB THOMPSON, Secretary of the Interior. BELLEVUE, NEBRASKA TERRITORY, August 10, 1857. DEAR SIR: In obedience to my instructions of the 15th May last, ordering me to make a rapid reconnaissance and survey of a route for a wagon road from the Platte river, via Omaha Reserve and Dacota City to the Running Water river, under date of the 10th of July I submitted a report of the route from the Platte river to Dacota City. I now have the honor of reporting upon that part of the route between Dacota City and the Running Water river. Dacota city is situated upon the Missouri bottom, on the west bank of the river, several feet above high-water mark, at a distance of about 8 miles from the bluffs on the southwest, and about 5 miles south of Sioux City. It is 96 miles north and 27 miles west from the mouth of the Platte river, which would be, in a direct line, N. 16° W., 100 miles. Just above this city the Missouri takes its great bend, known as the "Serpentine Bend," and near where the river changes its course from a direction south of east to that of east of south. From a point upon the west bank of the river, and upon the eastern boundary of Dacota City, it is 3 miles, in a due west course, through the bottom to the south bank of the river as it comes from the west, and just before the river has taken its great bend; whilst the distance between these points by the river is estimated at 20 miles. 100 We left Dacota City on the 11th of July and travelled over the bottom N. 75° W., S. 700 miles, where we struck the bluffs, which are low and regular, and of easy ascent; in nearly the same direction we passed over the divide about one mile, when we came into the Elk creek valley; passing up this valley for about three miles in about the same course we ascended by an easy grade upon high prairie, somewhat rolling, but eligible for a road without grading, over which we passed to Ayoway creek, at a distance of 7,63 miles; thence up Ayoway creek valley N. 69° W., 1124 miles; thence north seven miles over rolling prairie, somewhat rough, on to Lime creek. This direction was taken so as to avoid what is known as the Lime creek hills, which cover an area of about eight miles square. They are cone-like in form, with but little vegetation, very precipitous and rough from washings by the rain. The ravines are short and abrupt, forming deep gulches. Through these hills there is a circuitous divide, or narrow ridge, very hilly, with a rough surface, caused by washing, over which a road, in my opinion, is impracticable, on account of the increased length of the road, the narrowness of the top of the ridge, the abrupt ascents and descents, and the unevenness and roughness of the surface. From Lime creek we passed, in a westerly course, over a divide, into the Missouri bottom, subject to overflow, which we soon left for the bluffs. Passing over these bluffs, at a distance of about ten miles from Lime creek, we came upon a high prairie, slightly rolling, looking down upon Bow creek valley to the westward about two miles; here we changed our course to N. 35° W., and at the distance of three miles we came into the Bow valley, which, at this place, maintains a width of about one mile; thence along the valley in the same course about four miles to the crossing of Bow creek. Here we crossed upon a temporary bridge, from which we bore N. 45° W. up the valley of a very sluggish stream (a tributary of the Bow) for about four miles; thence S. 70° W. on a level prairie to a small creek, believed to be the west branch of the Bow, which we crossed by fording at a distance of nine miles from the main Bow. In looking immediately to the west we saw nothing but sharp cone-like hills, which induced us to take a course S. 45° W., along and over a divide three miles to a small stream, with water clear and cold, to which we gave the name of Campbell's run. Here we found a spring running from a chalk bank; the water was excellent and very cold. We again started due west, crossing the run at a ford with a stone and gravel bottom, and passing up a wide ravine bearing to S. of W., and down another we came, at the distance of 3 miles, upon the valley of a creek called by us Smyth's creek; the banks of this creek were high and perpendicular. Passing up the valley nearly south for about three miles, we here unhooked our horses from the wagons, and, after crossing the horses, we attached ropes to our wagons, and with the horses pulled them over. We again started on a westerly course and soon reached a high divide, the general direction of which appeared to be about NE. and SW. To the westward, as far as the eye could reach, we saw nothing but a succession of hills and ravines, with a range at the horizon, supposed to be about twenty miles distant, much higher and more abrupt in appearance than those in our immediate vicinity. On looking to the N. and NW., at a distance of from five to eight miles, we could distinctly trace the meanderings of the Missouri river. We here became confirmed in the opinion entertained after leaving the Bow valley that an eligible route for a road could not be obtained in the direction of the l'Eau qui Court from Ayoway Creek, unless we should be able to find streams, the general direction of which should be to the north of west; unless, indeed, we should pass much further to the south than the point to which we were to run would justify. We were satisfied that such streams were not likely to be found so near the Missouri. We therefore kept upon the divide, running in a southwesterly direction, surveying minutely the character of the country at every point of the compass. Immediately to the SW., we saw (what we afterwards found to be very noted) a lone tree about five miles distant, standing at the head of a ravine, perhaps fifty feet higher than the divide upon which we then were, and a few yards to the south of this tree the divide appeared to reach its greatest altitude. From this point we could view the whole surrounding country; to the N.NW. and W. we could see nothing but interminable hills and ravines, whilst in the distance we still observed this range of hills bearing apparently SE. and NW.; to the south, whilst the general appearance of the country was rough and broken, the hills gave evidence of more regularity, and to the SE., at some distance, we discovered and particularly noted a valley of considerable extent bearing E. and W., the waters evidently flowing to the east. Upon reading the odometer we found we had travelled eleven miles from the crossing at Smyth's creek. Still continuing on the divide, we saw to the south of west a grove of timber, which we reached about sunset, having travelled four miles since the last reading of our odometer. Here we found a beautiful grove, which we afterwards learned was called "Secret Grove," entirely surrounded by high hills, except the opening toward the north made by the ravine in which the grove is situated. The bed of the stream was dry at this time, but we found a deep gulch filled with water, sufficient for ourselves and horses. We crossed the ravine upon a temporary bridge constructed by our party, and bearing to the west we ascended a high ridge, from which we again saw to the N.NW. and W. the same high range of hills observed before; and in looking down irregular ravines at several points as we passed to the SW., we discovered timber marking the course of a stream which we had good reason to believe would be found difficult to cross. We therefore continued our course to the southwest, toward a high bluff bank in the distance, crossing a small run (which we afterwards ascertained to be the east branch of Bazil creek) and valley at a distance of eight miles from the grove. Whilst it was observed that this valley led in the direction of our proper route, it also led us down upon the creek that we were avoiding or trying to head, which we supposed could be done at or near the bluff banks. Continuing in the same course, we passed across a valley without water and up a ravine to the south of the bluff bank until we reached a high divide, when we struck an old Indian trail, now almost obliterated. We followed this trail on the divide in about a due west course on down a ravine to the valley of Bazil creek, having travelled fourteen miles since we crossed the east branch. This creek affords more water than any stream crossed since leaving the Platte, with, perhaps, the exception of the Papillion. The banks are of medium height, along which are found a few groves and isolated trees. The water is twenty-five feet wide, muddy and swift, with a depth of from ten to twenty inches, and a bottom of quicksand. The valley is from three-fourths to one mile wide, lying in a regular curve, and from the evenness of its surface, its proximity to water, and the richness of its soil, it promises to the farmer an easy cultivation and an abundant harvest. Passing down the valley at the distance of three-fourths of a mile we again crossed the east branch upon a temporary bridge raised by our party, and after ascending a ridge to the north we discovered the general direction of the valley to be about northwest; passing still to the north, for the purpose of finding a divide running parallel with the creek, we headed several deep ravines, and came, at a distance of about five miles from the east branch, upon the expected divide, where we also found a trail. From this point, in a direction a little north of west, we had full view of the Missouri river, distant about five miles. We followed this divide in nearly a west course until we passed down a ridge terminating upon the valley of the Bazil, and found our odometer indicated that we had travelled a distance of three miles since our last reading. The character of the Bazil was obobserved to be the same as above; the current very swift, no still water, and a hard quick-sand bottom, interspersed with small gravel. We here forded the creek without difficulty, and found a small cabin and a corn-field in the valley to the west of the creek. We ascertained that the east branch put into the Bazil about six miles above our place of fording, and that we were about one mile from the Missouri river, up the bottom of which we could not pass on account of the drift wood and under brush. We ascended a high ridge to the westward, precipitous and winding, with abrupt ascents and descents for about two and a half miles, having in full view, a little to the north of west, the Missouri and the Neobrara. Leaving this ridge we passed over the level prairie bottom of the Missouri, a distance of about one and a half mile, to a steam saw-mill recently erected on the town site of Neobrara; from here, in a due west course along the bottom, at the distance of two miles, we struck the mouth of the Neobrara, having travelled since we left Dacota City the distance of 130 miles. Map makers and geographers have been greatly at fault in the character and course of the Neobrara towards its mouth. Lieutenant Warren, United States topographical engineer, being more accurate, indicates a southern bend to this river of about twelve miles, whilst others give a southern bend of from twenty to thirty miles. We found that the Neobrara, at a point where it diverges the furthest to the south, was distant about four miles from, and immediately south of, its mouth, forming between these points a regular arc, and its greatest divergence is about one mile from a line connecting the points of the arc. The course of the river from a point eighty miles from its mouth is due east-say seventy-six miles-to the bend, where, running to the north four miles in the manner above described, it discharges its waters into the Missouri. The valley, I am assured by a gentleman of intelligence and undoubted veracity, who has travelled upon both sides of the river, maintains its width of from one to one and a half mile for the distance of eighty miles, with numerous small streams putting in upon either side; the most of which, however, he represents to come in upon the south side. About seventy miles from the mouth pine timber is found in the ravines and gulches leading into the valley, and to the westward it is reported that pine is found in great abundance. The current in this river is as rapid as that of the Platte, with quicksand bottom; the water has a muddy appearance, but of lighter color than the Missouri or Platte. At a point two miles above the mouth of the Neobrara, and the point to which we propose to locate the road, we found the bed of the channel to be 320 paces wide, 140 of which was covered with running water, with an average depth of sixteen inches. Upon our return we started from a point upon the Neobrara, two miles from its mouth, running due east four miles, when we again ascended the abrupt hills, impracticable for a wagon road, over which we passed to Bazil creek to a good ford about one and a half mile below the ford we crossed in going west; passing over the valley we reached the bluffs to the eastward of the creek, about three miles from where we left the Missouri bottom. Having, in our reconnaissance west, noted the general direction of the valley of the east branch of the Bazil, and also the direction of the heading of the west branch of the Bow, we felt satisfied that if we could, by an easy grade, pass over the divide we should find a natural route, not only practicable, but highly eligible for a road, with but little cost of construction; we therefore greatly desired to reach this valley. We passed up and along the divide south 80° east three and a half miles, when we discovered to the southeast a ravine leading on to the valley of the east branch of the Bazil, which was about one and a half mile distant, and at a point about two miles from the confluence of the east branch with Bazil creek. A road nearly level can be obtained by a small expenditure from the Neobrara, due east along the Missouri bottom, to Bazil creek, estimated at five miles; thence up Bazil valley south 70° east five and a half miles to valley of east branch; then up this valley two miles to the intersection of the travelled route. We travelled up this valley south 80° east thirteen miles to the divide, which we found to be about one mile to the southwest of Secret Grove; thence along the divide south 55° east one mile to a dry ravine of an easy grade, somewhat irregular at first, but directly putting into the valley of the West Bow, when we travelled due east for seven miles to a grove of timber. Our direct route here would have been to cross the creek and have continued our course about east; but failing to find a crossing, and observing that the valley made a bend to the south, we kept along the valley to the north of the creek, bearing north 70° east four and a half miles; here we changed our course with the valley due east |