136 GEORGE H. HIMES
been opened. Much public money has been disbursed for the transportation of troops and supplies on boats that might have been saved had there been an easy land route.
So soon as I can look over my books, I will furnish you a detailed statement showing the heavy and expensive ship- ments by the river to The Dalles. It amounted to more than $25,000 each quarter, and sometimes probably more than that sum in one month, dependent, of course, upon the season of the year and the forces east of the mountains. I refer to the amounts paid by Government for military purposes.
The country east of the Cascade Mountains is now quite populous and exceedingly rich in mineral and other resources. The trade by the river is now greater than at any other period, and is increasing.
The demand for a land route through the Cascade moun- tains becomes more serious and important every day. As a military measure, it is important to connect the lower Columbia with the great interior by a practicable wagon road. I have seen the importance of it during the Indian wars. It would be still more necessary in case of a foreign war.
Respectfully submitted,
RUFUS INGALLS,
Brig. Gen., Chf. Qr. Mr., Army Potomac.
m
General Ingalls was born in Denmark, Maine, in 1820. He graduated at West Point in 1843, and served through the Mexican war. He came to Oregon in May, 1849, as the quartermaster, with the rank of captain, of a company of artillery under the command of Major Hathaway, who estab- lished the U. S. military post of Fort Vancouver. During the Civil war he was the quartermaster general of the Army of the Potomac. He retired from the army July 1, 1883, and soon afterwards became a resident of Portland until his death in 1893.
GEORGE H. HIMES.
