THE DALLES-CELILO CANAL 151
a long letter to Gen. John E. Wool, then at Fort Vancouver in command of the U. S. Troops in the Columbia River district, from which the following is taken:
"As to transportation, I would urge that a line of barges be established on the Columbia ; that supplies be hauled in wagons from the Dalles to the mouth of the De Chutes, and thence by water to Fort Walla Walla."
"The Hudson Bay barge should be adopted, only be in- creased in size. The barge most commonly in use carries 6,000 pounds and requires seven men. But the great difficulty in the river is at the Falls (Celilo) at the mouth of the De Chutes river, which is avoided by hauling in wagons to above that point. A barge could be constructed which would carry 12,000 pounds, require eight men, and make two round trips a month from the De Chutes to Fort Walla Walla. Supplies for 500 men, say four pounds per day, including clothing, ammunition, &c., and forage for 500 animals, 12 pounds a day, each animal, would require 10 of these barges, 80 men, about ten (10) three-yoke ox teams, running from the Dalles to the De Chutes. An ox team could not make more than three round trips from the Dalles to Fort Walla Walla, in two months, and this would be more than ought reasonably to be expected. To transport the above amount of supplies and forage in wagons would require 100 ox teams and 100 men. Unless foraged on the road, oxen, after making one round trip must have rest, and a large number of spare oxeri must be at hand at both ends of the line to keep the teams con- stantly in motion." * * *
"I believe it is practicable to run stern-wheel steamers from the mouth of the De Chutes to above Walla Walla, and as far as the Priest Rapids ; but time will be required to get a suitable one on the route, and establish wood yards. There is nothing but drift wood on the immediate banks of the Columbia, below the mouth of the Wee-natchap-pan."
Readers of our history know well that Gen. Wool did not take kindly to any advice from Gov. Stevens and conducted
