Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-12-16
From the Platte Eagle.
LETTER FROM P. ii. BURNETT, ESQ.
SwEETwATrR, August 9Th, 1913.

the great Rocky Mountains, in sight of its
eternal SHOWS; and refreshed by the pure
water and air of this beautiful region.
have determined, amidst the incessant la
bors Of the Camp. to write you an account
of our progress thus far. 1t may be very
brief and it may be full That will depend
upon the time | may have TO spare. The
constant employment of a Camp, and the
great Inconvenience we have to undergo in
writing here in this wild world Of hills, an
telope and buffalo, will necessarily render
this communication almost illegible. My
friend, Col. Martin, by whom shall send
this, will be able to give you many particu-
lars, thatI shall omit. We have come so
far with great case and safety, the difficult
ties Of the way not coming up to our an
ticipations. We have had in our company
one death and one birth. Mr.. Claiborne
Payne died night before last with the fever,
(bilIious.) In Capt. Applegate's Company
Mr.. IIembray's little boy of years old
was killed by falling out of wagon, which
ran over him. In the four companies that
are now in few miles of each other, there
are about 100 wagons At Kansas river
we organized, and there were Ill wagons.
The company separated few days after
wards into three companies, and since into
four, to"wit Chiles', Applegate's, Cooper's
and Martins. We find small companies
most convenient We have as yet suffered
no Interruptions from the Indians, having
had nothing stolen and no attack made;
and s or 10 days will take US beyond all
danger. The danger Of interruption from
the Indians is very small. The most Sc
hoI hoe
been made by ourselves; and that is the
grumbng and quarrelng in camp; but
this is just as harmless as you ever wit
messed, and always ends in mere uordS.
However. we have had one fight fist and
skull on The road, neither party hurt.
| shall give you such particulars as
think will be useful to our friends who
may wish to come after us. | have taken
much trouble to learn the best mode of
travelling, and such reflections as expert
encc and reason have suggested to me
will give you, and through you to my
friends in Missouri and elsewhere.
Wagons-shoud be light two horse
wagons, strong wheels and axles, with good
workmanship and timber, light beds, and
broad strong bows, high wheels, and falling
tongue. Let them be IN good state of
repair, all the skanes and bands about the
wheels sound and strong, and no repairs
will be necessary. 1t is unnecessary to
bring any extra axletrccs, as they will
scarcely be needed and not pay for hauling,
and timber can be had on the road. Those
who bring strong heavy wagons with large
beds will regret it. Let the wagons be
loaded lightly and almost entirely with pro-
visions. There should be no useless trump
cry brought along. The covers TO the
wagons should be double and not painted,
and the upper edge Of the wagon bed should
be lcvelled so as to throw the water that
may run down the sheet, on the outside
and the bottom of the bed should be made
of narrow plank, so that if the rain should
run INTO the lower part Of the bed, it will
run through the first crack in the bottom.
Tcams-Mules may be preferable to-
wards the close of the trip, but thus far
oxen have done equally as we'll OF our
oxen we have not lost more than one out
of 20, if that many, and those that have
given out were very poor old ones, not
suited for the trip at all. We have as yet
had no need of shooting them, and will have
none, as their hoofs seem to improve as we
progress. Some of my oxen are fat enough
for beef, some have fallen off very slightly.
and others have improved upon the road;
and out of 8 yoke have lost none. have
observed that young oxen from to years
old, bear the trip mach the BEST as they
generally improve on the way. Loose cat
lie keep fat all the time. But cows make a
better team than oxen as we have abund-
antly proven on this trip. They cost less,
are easily broken, more active, walk better,
stand the trip better and are worth great
deal more in Oregon at the end of the trip,
and beyond fort Hall horses can be pro-
cured for them from the Indians, as the
u American cattle are far superior to the
California breed for milk as well as beef
They are sufficiently strong for team as
t the roads are the best in the world: and il
is not the weight of the load, so much as
the travel that wears out team. Were
going to travel the trip again, would Ger.
tainIy buy cows and break them to work
= and would furnish myself with some more
than were necessary for the team, 50 as
to relieve those that might become tired.
: Provisions, &c.-Not less than $50 lbs
flour and 40 lbs. bacon, to each person, will
! coffee and sugar, teas, and dried fruit, rice
: and other necessary articles. But above
: all except flour and bacon, plenty of mlct
cows and few good beef cattle ought t.
be brought Mix is great luxury on thu
road; and by making what we call thckenet
= milk, "a most delicious article of food)
great saving Of flour may be made. Calvei
will generally give out on the way and be