Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-08-09
The Oregon C0lonv--Letter from Captain
GstllimO,.
GREAT NEMAHAw SuB-AGENcY,
L., ,1:o,, Torr;forn MINI ~ 1914

GREAT NEMAHAW SUB AGENCY,
Indian Territory, May II, 1914.
ALLEN M'LANE. ESQ.
Dear Sir-Having given notice to the
public last summer, that should start for
Oregon This sping with several families !
have lhoughlit would not be undressing
to your numerous readers to know the
size of the colony that has crossed the
Missouri at Elzabc,htown this spring.
and is now thirty miles from the river. all
in good health and The best of spirits. on
their journey for the land Of PROMISE
The independent Oregon colony is far
the largest, from the most authentic infor-
nation that can get, tina, has ever start
ed from any point on the Missouri TO cross
the Rocky Mountains. l. contains the
following professional men and mechanics
viz One minister, one lawyer, one mill.
wright, three mllers, one tailor. four
bIacksmilhs. one cooper. two cabinet-ma-
kers, five carpenters, one wheel-wrighl,
three shoemakers, one gunsmith, one wa.
gon maker, and the rest farmers. There
are now in the colony SIS families. l35
men, $50 persons. 48S oxen, lS9 cows.
I6 of which are team cows.) as young
ta,tIe, 66 horses, d mules. and 81 wag-
ons-makng in all of the horned cattle.
$50 head. The inspectors. Messrs. Jere-
miah Clark and Jeremiah Burns. Of An
.,ra.u nnnn,y Mo-. having inspected the
wagons. allowed that 60 were capable Of
sustaining $500 cwt.; 48 2OUO. and Is
1900, and the strongest teams were allow
ed TO draw 5000. others 5000, and none
less than 1000 while the weight of the
loads was found. on inspection not to be
more than half what the wagons were
Judged 10 bear, and but half the strength
of the team. The teams consist entirely
of oxen and cows. no mules nor horses
being used for teams. The inspectors al
so reported that they found full supply
of provisions and ammunition in the colo
ny. to wit: $50 pound Of flour to each
person, and SO lbs of bacon; and 5 lbs.
Of powder aud 10 lbs. lead for each male
person over the age of fifteen years and
good gun.
The crossing of the Missouri at Eliza
be,htown. Andrew county, was found to
ne an excellent place for ierrying stock
and heavy loaded wagons. there being an
eddy on each side of the river at that
point, (Samuel's Ianding,) which greatly
facilitates the crossing; and the river, at
the Great Bend being driven against
the high bluffs a, E lizabeth:own, is very
narrow. and is. am confident. the best
place for ferry 10 cross em'grants going
to Oregon there is on the river; and IN
addition to the natural advantages which
Elizabe.htown affords, having many cold
springs pouring from it's hills, Tor the
health and comfort of emlgranls that may
arrive there pext spring and encamP a
round i, before ferrying their effects over
The river. would say that Elzabethtown
will soon be one of the most thriving and
delightful villages in upper Missouri; and
I would advise all to come there 10 cross
mex, spring, as they can obtain all kinds
If merchandise for their outfit at Eliza
bethtowp. as Low as can be purchased al
any village on the Missouri. and Mr. Dii>
limo. who has fine Touring mill within
two miles of the village, will furnish fionr
far The emigran,s on the most reasonable
terms: and saw mill being also in the
vicinity. furnishes facilities for making a.
nv repairs of wagons which may be found
needlul. The route, also, from Chicago,
on lake Michigan. when emigration will
begin TO set towards Oregon. as | am con-
fiden, it will. in year or two, from the
middle and New England states. will be
found to be the mos. direct and expedi.
,ious in coming from Chicago to Bloom
ing,on in Iowa Territory. from thence TO
IowayilIe on the Des MONIES, irom mere
to Grey's mill on Grand river from 'here
to Savannah, in Andrew county, NO. anu
from thence TO Elizabe,t.own. on the rIv'
-, ;. El;zabe,h,own, Mo-, dislalce of
about $50 miles.
The road TO this point, the Agency,
from the Missouri, is very good after pass