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CHAPTER V

THE FUR TRADE ON THE COLUMBIA

Lewis's first report. Arriving at St. Louis, on the 23rd of September, 1806, Captain Lewis wrote to Jefferson to give him a summary of what had been accompHshed since the party left the Mandan villages in April, 1804, nearly two and one-half years previously.^

Description of the route. In the first part of the letter he describes the route pursued, and affirms his belief that it constitutes the best available line of communication across the continent. Of this line the Missouri makes 2575 miles, while 340 miles of land carriage connect the navigable part of the Missouri with the navigable part of the Columbia. Of the 340 miles of land carriage, 200 miles is along a good road, while 140 miles is "over tremendous mountains which for 60 miles are covered with eternal snows."

Despite the obstacle of the mountains, the passage, he says, is practicable from the last of June to the last of September, while owing to the abundance and the cheapness of horses among the Indians, the cost of transporting goods over that stretch of road would be

1 Tliwaites. Original Journals of Lewis & Clark, V, VII, pp.

334-337.