Sec. A Page 33 Missoulian Centennial Fort Men Work On Road
Fort Men Work On Road
In 1879-81 the troops at Ft. Missoula reopened the Mullan Trail to connect Missoula with Spokane Falls, then an Indian camp.
The road had remained virtually untouched since it was completed in 1862. Lt. John Mullan, who took a prominent part in the Northern Pacific survey, headed the project. Congress intended that the road be for the transportation of troops across the Rocky Mountains, but it also became a principal line of travel for immigrant trains.
By 1879 the entire region through which the trail led was densely covered with timber. Trunks of trees, uprooted by storms had fallen across the old trail. Bridges and large tracts of timber had been destroyed by fire. The fires were reportedly caused by men engaged in packing mining supplies to prevent competition. In some places logs were piled to a height of ten feet. Washouts were numerous.
On the St. Regis Borgia River alone, there were 40 bridges, originally substantial structures built by Mullan, most of which had to be replaced or repaired. Long stretches of the road had to be corduroyed.