Democratic banner., 1845-02-22
FRO N.
Correspondence of tho Platte Afgus.l
METHODIST Mission SCHOOL, }

Oregon Territory, Ndrch 6. '44.}
DEAR Bno7HER, SISTER N FRIrNDs:
DOW 6evoie u lew moments to
your service, feeling as if though ]
were talking with you, although
there ate between Us many high
mcuItams ow r~aflie., wide and ex-
tensive Prairies. and rapid running
streams-ihough you cannot hear
my voice. yet you can hear md read
the very breathings OF my soul; and,
surely, your hearts will swell with
emotions Of JOY, when ! tell you that,
through the many kind blessings Of
God, we are al! enjoying the blessing
OF health, and feel that heaven is as
nigh, from my point in Oregon. as
ii is from any point IN the United
States o! America. AS DR.. White
(the Indian agent of this country is
about TO leave for the states, | eager
ly embrace this opportunity Of wri-
ting to you, and shall, as fdI as ! am
able 10 on the narrow limits of this
sheet. give you n just and adequate
description of this country. knowing
that must necessarily omit many
items that would be of intcrest. The
difficulties of getting to this country
are not as great as ! anticipated. yet
they are considerable. We had no
difficulties until We arrived within
about one hundred miles oil this place.
where we had to abandon our way
ons, and those that had horses, pack
ed and proceeped by land; those
that had not, procured canoes OF the
Indians, and others made rats, and
thus descended the Columbia river
some taking their wagons, and others
leaving them, purposing 10 return
and get them sometime this ummer
or fall. The distance from the
states here, ! cannot tell you; bat
you will he able to form some idea
when tell YOU We left the states on
the 22d OF May, and arrived at the
W~'}e,ne:5s falls On the jth OF Novem-
Der, and think NO averaged about
- miles per day, including the whole
tune. which, according to that calcu-
lutiun. i, would make the distance
from Independence, Mo-, to the Pa
chic ocean, al the mouth Of the Co
lunhia river, about 5000 miles, and
"HA confident ii is not less. As re-
CARDS the route, | need say tut little
about 1t. as the traces made bv us
viii lie plain for years; Yeti think il
would be much higher for those com
ing 10 this country from any part OF
the Platte purchase. and u much bet
ter route, 10 cross the Missouri river
a short distance below the mouth OF
the Platte. and thence 10 proceed up
the Big Platte on the south side. and
in about 200 miles You will fall in
with our trail, which / suppose will
he perfectly plain the whole of the
way. SO much for the route; now
for tho outfit:
First. Let your wagons be light.
but strong and durable. drawn bv
oxen or mules; have one half or dou.
bic the team that is necessary to
draw the load on ordinary occasions.
Start with but little more clothing
than is necessary for the trip, and if
you will exercise a little sober
thought, You may tell as well as ]
what clothing IS necessary; lei the
clothing be strong and durable; for
gentlemen ! would recommend buck
skin rs being very suitable. rs it sci
dom ever rains during the entire
way, except for the first 900 miles,
ana perhaps for the last 900 you
may have frequent showers. Start
with the following amount of provi-
sions: 20 each person, large o~rs,naIl,
900 lbs. of flour, SO lbs. of bacon.
10 lbs. oi rice, 10 lbs. OF salt-sugar,
coffee and tea according TO your own
taste; but sugar should not be dispens-
ed with: n buShel of dried fruit TO
every four persons; to every male
person over l6 good rifle gum. 6
lbs. OF lead, and powder in proper
ton. You must not make any GER
tain dependence on game for your
PROVISION; but emigrants should, by
all mcacs. brIng as many loose cat
tie as possible, and by that NEAR
they may have plenty Of milk and
meat all the way; and when you get
here. the cattle will be very valuable,
and cost you DO labor TO keep them.
Caution 10 EmigrGnts.--The aged
and infirm should never attempt to
come to this country. for if they do.
nine cases u Of ten, they will find
their graves before they reach this
point. Those that are consumpted,
had better never start, unless they
travel in small companies, for, in large