Messrs. Sloate and Osborne, the engineers, remain here and will push immediately forward when the new shaft arrives." But the experiment was abandoned at this stage.

Since Nebraska was, in law and in fact, exclusively "Indian country" prior to the time of its organization as a territory-1854'-it had no roads except such as had been laid out

1 Post routes were established by acts of Congress as follows: August 3, 1854, Nebraska City, Bellevue, and Omaha City to Ft. Calhoun.

August 18, 1856: "From Nebraska City to Marysville, Kansas Territory; from Omadi to Fort Lookout; from Omadi to Elkhorn river; from Omaha City by Fort Kearney and Fort Laramie, to Great Salt Lake City; from Omaha City, by Elkhorn, Fontenelle, and Running Water, via Fort Randall to Fort Pierre; from Omaha City by Florence, Fort Calhoun, De Soto, Cuming City, Tekama, Black Bird, and Omadi to Dakota City; from Omaha City to Kearney City; from Omaha City by Nebraska City, Kearney City, Brownville, and Nemaha City, to Whitehead; from Dakota City to Sergeant's Bluff, Iowa; from Dakota City by Ayoway Creek and Running Water river, to Fort Laramie; from Dakota City to Fort Pierre; from Omadi to Sergeant s Bluff, Iowa; from Plattsmouth by Kenosha and Wyoming, to Kearney City; from Wyoming to Sidney, Iowa; from Wyoming to Salt Creek; from Nebraska City to Salt Creek; from Kearney City to New Fort Kearney; from Brownville to New Fort Kearney; from Brownville to Linden, Missouri; from Missouri river, between Great and Little Nemaha rivers, by Archer and Salem, and to Big Blue River.”—(U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 11, p. 133.)

March 3, 1855, from Oregon, in Holt County, Missouri, to New Fort Kearney, on the Platte river, via Stephen W. Story's, on the Missouri river, between the two Nemahas, Mr. Purket's on Muddy creek, John A. Singleton's on the Great Nemaha, Mr. Bobet s on the Great Nemaha and Marysville on Blue river; from Nemaha agency in Kansas territory, to the mouth of the Niobrara river in the territory of Nebraska, via Stephen W. Story's at Story's ferry, Brownville, Nebraska City, Weeping Water, Thompson's at Thompson's ferry, Platt mouth, Bellevue, Omaha City, Winter Quarters, Florence, Black Bird Hills and Black Bird City; from Bellevue City to Fort Laramie, via Omaha City, Fontenelle, Pawnees, on Loup Fork: from Nebraska City to Ft. Laramie, via New Ft. Kearney and Ash Hollow; from Linden, in Atchison County, Missouri, to Nebraska City, via John Worland's and Bennet's ferry on the Missouri river; from Glenwood, in Mills County, Iowa, to Bellevue City, via St. Mary s, Iowa; from Bluff City, Iowa, to Omaha City; from Oregon, in Holt County, Missouri, to Brownville; from Sidney, Iowa, to Nebraska City; from St. Mary's, Iowa, to Plattsmouth; from Tonora, Missouri, to Brownville; from Tonora, Missouri, to Nebraska City; from Bluff City, Iowa, to Winter Quarters; from Florence to Fontenelle, by way of Dodge City; from Glenwood, Iowa, to Plattsmouth; from Sidney, Iowa, to J. D. N. Thompson's at Thompson's ferry; from Magnolia, Iowa, to Florence; from Magnolia, Iowa, to Black Bird City; from Sergeant's Bluff, Iowa, to Black Bird City; from Leavenworth City, by Stanley's, Mooney, Grasshopper Falls, Rock Point, Vermillion, to Dyer's on Big Blue; from Sergeant s Bluff to Florence; from Atchison to Marysville.-U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 10, p 713.)

in the natural course of travel, and no bridges except such as might have been voluntarily built by travelers over the smaller streams. The first appropriation for a highway within the present Nebraska was made by act of Congress, February 17, 1855, which authorized the construction of "a territorial road from a point. on the Missouri river (opposite the city of

The following routes were established by act of June 14, 1858:

"From Brownville, via Nemaha City, Archer, Falls City, Monterey, Salem, Pleasantville, and Pawnee City, to Table Rock; Nemaha City via Salem, Plymouth, and Powhatan, to Topeka, in Kansas; Omaha City to Iowa City (Iowa); Omaha City, via Ceda Island, Eight Mile Grove, Mount Pleasant, and Waterville, to Nebraska City; Plattsmouth to Pacific City (Iowa); Fontenelle, via Lewisburg, to De Witt, in Cuming County; Nebraska City via Helena, Kingston Beatrice, and Blue Springs, to Marysville, in Kansas; Blue Springs, to Atchison (Kansas); Nebraska City, via Hamburg, Clarinda, and Bedford, to Chariton (Iowa); Nebraska City, via Quincy. Red Oak. Jun tion, to Winterset (Iowa); Covington to Sioux City (Iowa); Monroe, Monroe County, via Cleveland, Columbus, Buchanan, Emerson, North Bend, Fontenelle, Cuming City, Medail, mouth of Soldier River, to Magnolia, Iowa; Bellevue, via Fairview, to Plattford; Bellevue, via Junction City, to Council Bluffs (Iowa); Bellevue via St. Mary's to Pacific City (Iowa); Bellevue, via Hazelton, Elk Horn, Fremont, Springville, Franklin, Emerson, Buchanan, Columbus, Monroe, Grand Island City, to New Fort Kearney; Bellevue to Laramie City; Omaha City, via Missouri River, to St. Joseph, Missouri; Dakota City, via Galena, to Pacific City, on the Niobrara River; Brownville, via Nemaha City, Peru, Winnebago, St. Stephens, Yankton, and Rulo, to St. Joseph, Missouri; Fontenelle, via De Soto, Calhoun and Cincinnati, to Magnolia (Iowa); Omaha City via Bellevue, Plattsmouth, Rock Bluffs, Kenosha, Wyoming, Nebraska City, Otoe City, to Brownville; Archer to Geneva and Shasta; Plattsmouth via Rock Bluffs and Kenosha, to Sidney (Iowa); Nebraska City to Linden (Missouri); Florence, via Golden Gate to Fontenelle; Florence, via Elk Horn City, Fremont, North Bend, Emerson, Buchanan, Columbus, and Nebraska Centre, to New Fort Kearney; Florence, via Crescent City, Pymosa, Lura, Hamlin's Grove, Bear Grove, Morrisburg, Wiscota, Adel, and Boone, to Fort Des Moines (Iowa); De Soto to Pymosa (Iowa); Plattsmouth, via Cedar Creek, South Bend, and Parallel City to Long Island; Niobrara to Sioux City, Iowa; Decatur, via Ashton, Belvidere, to Dennison, Crawford County, Iowa; St. Stephens to Archer; Dakota City, via Sargeant's Bluff, to Fort Des Moines (Iowa); Bellevue to Fort Des Moines (Iowa); Omadi, via Logan, St. John, Addison, Ponca, Concord, and St. James to Niobrara; Niobrara to Fort Randall; Fort Randall, via the mouth of the Blue Earth River, to the mouth of the Little Medicine Knoll River; Niobrara, via Ponca Reserve, to Chimney Rock.”—(U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 11, p. 356.)

By act of June 30, 1864, a route was established: From Omaha City, via valley of the Elkhorn to the Niobrara river; from Julesburg, Nebr., via Ft. Laramie and Deer Creek, to Virginia City in Idaho.-(U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 15, p. 321.)

Council Bluffs), in the territory of Nebraska, to New Ft. Kearney in said territory."1 On the 3d of March, 1857, Congress appro

By act of March 14, 1866, the following were established: "From West Point, Cuming County, to Rock Creek, in said county, ten miles; Pawnee City via Frieces Mills, Nebraska, to Seneca, Kansas; Dakota City, via West Point, to Columbus; Brownville, Nebraska, to Rockport, Missouri; Big Sandy, Jones County, to Rose Creek, Nuckolls county; Plattsmouth, via Glendale, South Bend, Ashland, Salt Creek, Rock Creek, Lancaster, Saline City, Saltillo, Centreville, Olive Branch, Clatonia to Beatrice; Plattsmouth, via 8 Mile Grove, to Weeping Water; Decatur, via Logan Valley, West Point, St. Charles, and Jalappa to Fremont; Desoto, via Arizona, to Decatur."-(U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 14, p. 7.)

By act July 26, 1866, the following were established: "Dakota City to Yankton, in Dakota Territory; Plattsmouth to Columbus; Ponca to Fremont, Saint John's, Iowa, via De Soto and Fontenelle, to Buchanan; Brownville to Table Rock; Brownville to Grant; Fremont, via Jalappa, Saint Charles, Greenwood, West Point, and Rock Creek, to South Fork of Elk Horn." -(U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 14, p. 287.)

By act March 2, 1867, the following were estabfished: From Plattsmouth, via Weeping Water, Stoor Creek, Shirley Station, Lancaster, Saline City, and Middle Creek to Blue River; Beatrice via Snow City to Big Sandy."-(U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 14, p. 553.)

'U. S. Statutes at Large, vol. 10,

p. 608.

George L. Sites, the superintendent of the construction of this road, appears to have been living at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and on the 19th of May, 1857, he was instructed by the interior department to make a rapid reconnaissance of the whole route; and July 10, 1857, Mr. Sites reported the results of his examination. His instructions, he said, stated that, "It is presumed that Congress did not contemplate the construction of a road designed to be thoroughly graded and bridged, to be commenced with a view to future appropriations, but that a road to meet the immediate wants of the settlers in that region should at once be made from point to point, such a road as can be made throughout the entire distance for the sum appropriated for that purpose."

Mr. Sites observed that "The counties of Sarpy, Douglas, Washington, and Dacota have the great body of the timber and at present contain about seven-eighths of the entire population north of the Platte." The Elkhorn valley, north of Fontenelle, the county town of Dodge county, was destitute of timber. He reported that the Poncas trail' winds with the ridges, very meandering, and along which wagons pass in time of flood, from Omaha City to Iowa [Aoway] Creek, passing about fifteen miles from this place [Dakota City]." This dry weather route, however, increased the distance between thirty-five and forty miles. He procured field notes of a survey of a territorial road from Cedar island, about seven miles from the mouth of the Platte, to Omaha, and surveyed a route with compass and chain from a point on the Platte, three miles above its mouth, via Bellevue, to a point where it intersected a survey of a territorial road from Bellevue to Omaha. He measured the distance "upon the present traveled route" between Omaha and Dakota City with an odometer. It was thirteen and one-half miles by this route from the Platte river to Omaha-eight miles along the valleys of the Platte, Papillion, and Mud creek, nearly level, the rest over a high, rolling prairie.

priated $30,000 "for the construction of a road from the Platte river via the Omaha reserve and Dakota City to the Running Water

From Omaha to Florence the line ran on the level bench lands of the Missouri valley; from Florence to Ft. Calhoun, nine miles, four and one-half miles of which was over bluffs, the remainder over high prairie, nearly level.

"Ft. Calhoun to De Soto, a distance of five miles, it is level, passing through about three miles of timber directly at the foot of the bluff, and two miles of prairie. De Soto to Cuming City, seven miles, one of which is upon high, rolling prairie, and six upon bench land. Cuming City, via Tekamah, to Decatur, about thirty-two miles, the route is level, upon bench lands. We here pass into the reserve, eighteen miles in width, the entire distance of which is high, rolling prairie, known as the Backbird hills, skirting upon the timber in the gorges putting into the Missouri. By winding with the ravines and ridges a very fair road can be obtained. This brings us to the foot of the bluffs, where we have the bench lands of the Missouri to Dacota City, a distance of nine miles. We start immediately upon the reconnaissance from this place to the Running Water, and, owing to the mail facilities, will not be able to forward a report of this portion of the route until after our return to Dacota City."

Bridges, he thought, were "not absolutely necessary across Moore's creek and the two Blackbird creeks, as fords can be obtained by cutting down the banks, which, however, are very high and steep." His plan for the construction of bridges which he thought cheapest and simplest was as follows:

The abutments to be formed by driving piles to a solid foundation, in a row, and sawing them off to a proper level, and connecting them at the top by a capsill; and they may be further secured by diagonal braces halved to the uprights or pinned to them. For the longer bridges there should be several bents placed parallel to each other, and firmly connected together by cross pieces. Where piles cannot be driven, a grillage may be formed by laying square timbers horizontally across each other and securing the uprights to them, and the grillage retained by an enrockment; or the abutments may be made of cribs composed of large square timbers, halved into each other and otherwise firmly connected with iron bolts or wooden braces, the enclosed area being filled with stone or earth. For a bridge not exceeding 12 feet sleepers are to be laid parallel to the direction of the road-way, resting on the supports to which they are notched or pinned with iron bolts and the flooring nailed down on them."-(Ex. Docs., 2d Sess. 35th Cong., vol. 9, pp. 101-6.)

nus.

On the 10th of August, 1857, the superintendent reported from Bellevue giving an account of the reconnaissance between Dakota City and the western termiHe found Dakota City situated about eight miles from the bluffs bordering the Missouri valley on the southwest, five and a half miles south of Sioux City and ninety-six miles north, and twenty-seven miles west from the mouth of the Platte river. Fifteen miles from the crossing at Smyth's creek the party "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.

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 16 inches. Between the

territory of Nebraska to intersect the military road now established leading from Walla Walla Walla to Puget Sound." July 22, 1856, $50,

On the 4th of March, 1858, the superintendent reported progress in the construction of the road as follows:

"On the 4th day of June I reached Omaha City, Nebraska Territory, and, under my instructions of the 15th of May, repaired to the vicinity of the mouth of the Platte river to await the arrival of my engineer. Mr. Smyth arrived on the 25th, and on the 6th of June we started upon our reconnaissance, for the full particulars of which I beg leave to refer to my reports to the department, dated, respectively, the 10th July and the 10th of August, 1857. We commenced the location of the road on the 25th day of August, and completed it on the 12th day of October, 1857.

"In the location of the wagon road from the Platte river, via Omaha Reserve and Dacota City, to the Running Water river, we started upon the north bank of the Platte river, about three miles from its mouth, at a post marked 'Commencement of wagon road from Platte to Running Water,' and running a little to the east of north we passed over the valleys of the Platte river and Pappillion, via Bellcone, to a high rolling prairie, thence on to Mud Creek valley, and over a divide, reaching Omaha City at the distance of 13 miles from the Platte, about 9 miles of which is over the rich bottom lands of the above named valleys, and the remainder over a delightful rolling prairie of a gentle grade, making the route to Omaha City highly eligible for a wagon road, with but a small expenditure, exclusive of the bridge across Pappillion creek.

"Passing to the north through Omaha City, and crossing over a small creek upon the bridge erected upon the military road from Omaha City to Fort Kearney, we run along Twenty-fourth street, in the city of Saratoga, to its terminus, thence north 23° west, to the foot of and through Main street, in Florence, over the second bottom lands of the Missouri, perfectly level, crossing Spring and Mill creeks, and reached the bluffs of the Missouri at a distance of five miles from the military bridge. Here we crossed a high ridge and passed down on to the valley of Poncas creek; crossing Poncas and following the valley for one mile we again crossed a divide, somewhat rolling, over on to the valley of Deer creek; thence along the valley and over Deer creek, where we again came upon the second bottom lands of the Missouri; crossing Turkey creek we reached the town of Fort Calhoun, at the distance of 14 miles from Omaha City and 38 miles from the Platte river.

"Passing through Thirteenth street, in Fort Calhoun, and changing our course to west of north, still continuing upon the second bottom or bench lands, we crossed Moore's creek, Mill creek, and Glover's creek, and reached the city of De Soto, distant from Omaha 19 miles and from the Platte 33 miles.

"We again came upon the highlands immediately adjacent to the river, passing over Ohio street in through the town of De Soto, and after continuing upon the highlands for one mile we descended again upon the second bottom or bench lands; crossing South creek we reached the town of Cuming City, distant 40 miles from the Platte. Thence north, on Clay street, through Cuming City; thence bearing to the W. of N., we crossed North creek, Stewart's creek, New York creek, Pike creek, Spring run, Dry creek, and Tekama creek, to the town of Tekama, distant from the Platte 55 miles, thence north, on Thirteenth street, through Tekama; bearing again to the W. of N., we crossed Silver and Elm creeks and reached Decatur City, lying

000, "for the construction of a road from Ft. Ridgley, in the territory of Minnesota, to the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, in the

to the south of and adjoining the Omaha Reserve, distant from the Platte 72 miles. Running up Broadway, through Decatur City and over Wood creek, we passed into the Omaha Reserve, up Wood creek valley for about four miles; thence over a divide of an easy grade on to the valley of the South Blackbird; thence along this valley to the crossing of the creek at the Omaha Village'; here the valleys of the South and North Blackbird creeks come together; crossing the North Blackbird we reached, by a gentle grade, a divide nearly level upon its surface, but somewhat winding, upon which we continued for about 16 miles, where we passed down from the bluffs to the Missouri bottom, and crossing Omaha creek we reached the town of Omadi, distant from the Platte 101 miles; thence, on Eighth street, through Omadi to the south end of Twentieth street, in Dacota City, distant from the Platte 105 miles.

"The route from one mile north of De Soto to the Omaha Reserve, a distance of about 37 miles, was over the bench lands of the Missouri; a rich loam and sandy soil, unsurpassed for farming or grazing, and forms a direct and beautiful road. Through the reserve we wind along the divide which separates the waters which flow into the North Blackbird and Omaha creeks from those which flow directly into the Missouri.

"Upon either side of this divide the country is rough and broken, and to the east, skirting upon the river, timber is found in considerable quantities; descending the ridge we pass over the first bottom lands, of great richness and fertility, but rather too low for a good road during the wet season; this brings us to Dacota City. From Dacota City, continuing over the first bottom lands, we reach St. John's City, at the distance of eight miles from Dacota City; crossing over a divide, we passed down upon and along the valley of Elk creek; thence over a rolling prairie and a divide to the valley of Aoway creek; thence up this valley for about 16 miles, and over another divide, crossing Lime creek, to a high level prairie; thence, crossing East Bow creek and Main Bow creek, we pass over a beautiful, dry, level prairie to West Bow creek; thence along the valley thereof to a ridge dividing the waters of the West Bow and East Bazille creeks; thence along Bazille valley for about six miles, where we pass upon a high rolling prairie somewhat broken, and along a divide or ridge down on to the valley of Bazille creek; thence, crossing the Bazille, we again come upon the Missouri bottom, upon which we continue to the terminus of the road upon the Running Water river, (l'Eau qui Court,) at about one mile from its mouth, at the distance of 100 miles from Dacota City, and 205 miles from the point of commencement upon the Platte river.

"The entire route from Dacota City to the Running Water river, with the exception of about 15 miles, is over a rich district of country, well adapted to farming and grazing, and forms an almost natural route for a good road.

"The bridges upon the road, as located, have been constructed from the Platte river to Dacota City, with the exception of a few of small import.

"They are of the most approved plan for durability and for cheapness of construction. The frames are all of hewn or sawed timber, and the flooring is of plank two inches thick. By giving personal attention to their construction, under the direction of the department, an economy was pursued which will enable the super

territory of Nebraska." On the 3d day of March, 1865, an appropriation of $50,000 was made for the construction of a wagon road from the mouth of Turtle Hill river to Omaha, and from the same point to Virginia City, Montana. The main motive for the construction of these highways in the Northwest intendent to construct the remainder of the bridges required, and perform the grading necessary to make a good wagon road over the entire route for the sum appropriated by the 34th Congress.

"If the contract system had been pursued I have no hesitation in saying that from double the expenditure an equal amount of benefit would not have been received.

"It is, therefore, entirely owing to the wise policy of the department that the small expenditure, so far, has been productive of so much good to the Territory.' -(Ibid., pp. 115-16.)

"During the year 1857 we constructed the following bridges:

Ayoway creek.

20

.15

"The road, as located through the Omaha Reserve, passes along a high divide, and as it approaches Dacota City, which is situated upon the Missouri bottom, we have to descend a bluff bank of about 350 feet in height. This bluff was graded, under the immediate supervision of the engineer, by winding the hill with a side cut, in length one-half mile, with a grade somewhat heavy, but over which a loaded wagon may pass without much difficulty."-(Ibid., p. 122.)

January 20, 1859, the superintendent reported, from Lancaster, O., that he took up the work of construction on the 1st of April, 1858. "The first grading done was a side cut along a bluff bank, three miles north of the Platte river and near Pappillion creek bridge, of about one-half a mile in length at a cost of a little less than $250, besides the use of our own teams." He erected

was national, that is, to provide for transportation of troops and supplies into the country where British influence at the earlier dates and the Indians all the time were most to be feared. Encouragement and accommodation of local settlements was no doubt an important but secondary consideration.

three small bridges across a slough, a ditch, and ravine between the Platte river and Papillion creek and two others between Omaha and Florence. He reported that "incessant and unprecedented rains" in the spring swelled the north and south Blackbird creeks so that the bridges were carried away, and the bridge across Omaha creek in Dakota county. New York creek, Pike creek, and Spring creek met the same fate.-(Ibid., p. 119.)

Incidentally the superintendent drops into an enthusiastic description of the lands through which his road passed:

The well-matted prairie sod forms an excellent bed to carry off the water, directly after its fall, to the streams. The opening of these lands to cultivation, while they will richly repay the husbandman, it will also materially and beneficially affect these high floods, and be highly advantageous to the bottom lands.

"Springs of beautiful, clear, cold water universally form the sources of these creeks; in fact, I know of but one exception in the whole country, that of Fish creek, which lies to the east of the road, and which takes its rise from a slough formed by the discharge of several creeks without any visible inlet. Quite a number of small creeks are lost entirely in the first bottom of the Missouri before they reach that stream.

"The lands lying between the reserve and the Platte river, and in the vicinity of this road, are either held by preemption or by what is familiarly known as claims, a large portion of which are in cultivation; it is unsurpassed in beautiful scenery, or in the richness and productiveness of the soil; it is destined to be a great producing country, and will command the attention both of the agriculturist and stock grower.

"This road and the facilities offered by the bridges are of immense benefit to the settler and the emigrant." -(Ibid., p. 121.)

A report of a committee of the territorial legislature states that the entire length of the road was 208 miles, that it was "of incalculable benefit and importance to the territory," and that the road was opened and located "by Henry B. Smyth, an engineer appointed by the Government under the direction of the superintendent."

The committee asked for an appropriation for the construction of a large number of bridges over the smaller streams, for a bridge across the Niobrara river, and for the extension of the road "to the military post of Fort Randall."-(Council Journal, 5th Ter. Sess., pp. 1:0-32.)

The superintendent urged that the pecuniary condition of the people of the territory, brought on by the exorbitant prices they were compelled to pay for the necessaries of life, will not warrant an undertaking on their part to construct the bridges required for the accommodation of themselves and indispensable to the emigrant."—(Ex. Doc., 2d Sess., 35th Cong., vol. 9, p. 124.)

Keen-eyed settlers of that time still living and with fresh memories tell the usual story of extravagant and inefficient use of the appropriation for this road, and that it ought to have been put it in much better order.