Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1843-12-30
Progress Ofths Oregon Expedition,
SwEErwATER. Apus, 5ih, tS43.

Progress ofths Oregon Expeditions,
SwEErwATER. Agus, 5ih, iS43.
TO the Editor IF The Piaae Eagle.
DEAR SiR:-We are here in the Pas,
OF the great Rocky Mountains. in sigh,
ofits eternal SHOWS. and refreshed bv The
pure wafer and air Of this beautiful re
g'on. I have determined. amids, The in.
cessan' labois Of the Camp, 10 write you
an account Of our progress thus FAR. |,
may be very brief and il may be full -
That will depend upon the ,ipe | may
have 70 spare. The constant employ
meat Of Camp. and the great iinconven.
renee We have 70 undergo in writing here
70 lt's wild world of hills, antelope and
buffalo, will necessarily render this com
munlcation almos, illcgiblc. NY friend
Col Martin. BY whom | shall send this
will be able TO give you many particulars,
that shall omit. We have come SO FAR
with preni ease and safety, the Difficult
ties oil The way no, coming up to our an
,icipa'ions. We have in our company
had no accidents and tave had one death
and one birth. Mr.. Claiborne Payne died
night before las with the fever (billious. !
IN Capt. Applecate's Company Mr.. Hem
brays little boy Of years old was killed
by falling out Of wagon which ran over
him. In the four Ca;sras:es tha, arc
now in n few miles Of each o.her, there
are about 1870 wagons. At Kansas river
we organized and there were III wagons.
The Company separated few days af:cr
waros INTO three companies, and since into
tour, to wit: Chies,' AppIegate's, Coop
er,s, ard Martins We find small com
panles most convenient We have as ye,
suffered no interruption from the Indians.
having had nothing stolen and no attack
made; and 8 or 10 days will take us be.
You'd all danger The danger Of inter.
rnp'ioh from the Indians is very small -
The most serious difficulty we have had
% meet has been made by ourselves; and
that IS the grumbIing and quarreling in
camp but; TIN, is just as harmless as you
ever witnessed, and always ends in mere
'n"rds However we have had one fight.
fist and scull. on the road, neither party
hurt. 49,
shall give you such particulars as Z
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 Ss expe
rlencc and reason have suggested 70 me
! will give you, and through you MY,
friends in Missouri and elsewhere.
Wogons-should be light two horse
wagons. strong wheels and axies, with
good workmanship and timber, light beds,
and broad strong bows, high wheels, and
falling tongue. Let hem be in good state
OF repair. oil the skanes and bands about
the wheels sound and strong, and no re-
pairs will be necessary 1t is unnecas-
sary to bring any extra axie,rees, as they
will scarcely be netd cd and not pay fdt
hauling. and timber can be had on the
road Those who bring strong heavy
wagons with large beds will regret Ill
Let The wagons be loaded lightly, and al
most entirely with provisions There
should be no useless trumpcry brought
along. The covers to the wagons should
be double and not painted. aud the upper
edge OF the wagon bed should be leve!lrd
so rs TO throw the water ih,t may run
down the sheet, on the outside, and the
bottom Of the bed should be made of mar
row plank. SO that ii the rain should run
into the lower part of The bed. it will run
through the first crack in the bottom
Teams Mules may be preferable tow
ards the close fthe trip, bull thus far oxen
have done equally well Ofour oxen We
have not lost more than one out Of 90, If
that many, and those tina, have given OF,
were very poor old ones, no, suited for
the trip at all. We have as yet no need
Of shoeiag them, and viii have none, AS
their hoois seem to improve as we pro-
gress Some OF my oxen are fat enough
Tor beef, some have fallen of'sery slightly.
and othsrs have improved upon The road ;
and out Of 5 yoke | have lost none !
have observed that young oxen from
5 to years old, lear The trip much tie
best. as they generally improve on the
way. Loose cattle keep fat all the time.
But COWS make better team than oxen
as We have abundantly proven on this
trip. They cos, less, are easily broken,
more active, walk better. stand The trim
better, and are worth a great deal more
IN Oregon at The end Of the trip, and be-
You'd fort Hall horses can be procured
from tht m from the Indians, as the A..
merican cattle are far superior TO the
Californian breed for milk as well as
beet. They are sufficiently strong for a
team as the roads are the best in the
world; and it is not the weight OF the
load. so much us the trasel: that wears
out the team. We're going to travel
the trip again ! would certainly buy
cows and break them TO work, and would
furnish myself with some more than
were necessary for the team, SO as 10 re-
iieve those tina, might become tired.
Provisions, .c.-Nol less than i5O'5s.
flour and 4Otts bacon, 10 each person.
with coffee and sugar, teas. and dried
fruit, rice, una other necessary articles
Blu: above all except -four and bacon, plen
~ oil mich cows aud lew good bee f
cattle ough, TO be brought. Milk is n
great luxury on tie road: and by ma
KING what We call thicksned milk Ia mos,
delicious article OF leod) a great saving
Of flour mny Be made. Calves will gen
orally give out on the way aud may be
slaughtered for veal. II will not do 10
depend upon the baffaio for meat on tie
way. You see none under 800 miles
from the settlements and then only about
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