The New York herald., 1845-01-06

and difficult 10 cross The Kanzas country, as II
may be called is 10 2Ohs prairie, generally fertile,
but destitute of timber, except upon the sire
This timber is elm, low bur oak, and small swamp
ash, along the margin OF the streams. saw only
a very few places where good farms could be
made, for want of timber This whole country
few wild deer and antelope. We saw no squirrels
Blue, and very few birds, except small species
Of snipe. remember wild cat, killed by soMe
OF the company, that was mere skeleton, from
starvation, no doubt. But few fish were found In
the stream. Your friend, P. II. b.
LINNroN, 1874
Outfit for Emigrants : Value of Cattle in Oregon
Wagons The proper time for Emigrants to start
Mode of 1ravel-Bu6atoes, &c.
JAMES G. BENNETT, ESQ =
The proper outfit for emigrants is matter of
very great importance, upon it depends the ease
of the journey. AS little as we knew about the
matter, we were we'll enough prepared to get here,
all safe, and without much suffering on the road
would even be most willing to travel the same
road twice over again, had the means to purchase
cattle in the States; and Mrs B. (who performed as
much labor on the road any other woman,)
would most gladly undertake the trip again. There
is good deal of labor to perform on the road, but
the weather s so dry and the air pure and plea
SAINT, and your appetite so good, that the labor be-
comes easy. had more pleasure in eating on this
trip than ever dlo In the same time before, which
would have been greater had 1t not been tor the
eternal apprehension of difficulties ahead. Whe-
ther we were to leave our wagons, or whether we
were TO be out Of provisions was all uncertain, and
kept US in a state Of painful suspense This state
of uncertainty cannot exist again, as the way il
broken and concusively shown to be practicable
The sedge. which was great impediment to us,
we broke down completely, ,.and left behind us q
W IN
come after US will be better prepared, and they will
have no apprehension about a scarcity of provl-
sons. There is not the slightest danger of starva
ZION, and not the least danger OF suffering, if even
ordinary care is taken. Emigrants may now come,
knowing that the property they start with they
bring clear through; and when they reach here il
will be worth about twice, and oil it Gall their
carle) four times as much as twas when they let,
the States. There is no danger OF suffering for
water. as you will find it every evening, and al
ways good, except perhaps at one or two places
not more; and by filling four gallon keg every
morning, you have it convenient all day. Fuel on
the way is scarce at points, but we never suf-
fered for want Of fuel. You travel up or down
streams nearly all the way. upon which you will
where you find NO willows the sedge answers all
purposes. Nothing burns more brilliantly than the
sedge even the green seems TO burn almost a.
readily as the dry, and it catches as quick as dry
shavings, but it does not make as good coas
cook with as the willows. The wagons for
this TRIP should be two horse wagons, PLAIN yam
kee beds, the running gear made OF good ma
terials, and fine workmanship, with falling
tongues; and all in state of good repair. A few
extra iron bolts, linch-pins, skanes, paint bands
tor the axle, one cold chlsel, few pounds
of wrought nails, assorted, several papers OF cut
king holes in the hoop iron, few chisels, hand
saw, drawing knife, axes, and tools generally, i,
would be well to bring, especially augers, as they
light tools that man has, that do not weigh too
much, he ought to bring. Falling tongues are
greatly superior TO others, though both will do
You frequently pass across hollows, that have We
ry steep, but short banks, where falling tongues
preferable, and there are no trees on the way to
break them. The wagon sheets should be double,
and not painted, as that makes them break. The
wagon bows should be well made and strong, and
edge Of the wagon body bevelled outwards, 30
that the water running down the wagon sheet,
when it strikes the body, may run down on the
outside. And 1t is well 10 have the bottom of tn.
oed beveed in the same way, that the water may
not run inside the wagon. Having your wagons
well prepared, they are as secure, almost, as a
house Tents and wagon sheets are best mad
IT heavy brown cotton drilling, and will last well
all the way. They should be well fastened down
When you reach the mountains, if your wagons
are not we'll made of seasoned timber, the tires be-
come loose. THIS is very easily, repaired by TAX
ing the hoop iron, taking the nails out the tire, and
driving the hoop iron under the tire and between
It and the ielloes; the tire you punch, and make
holes through the hoop iron and drive in you.
ming the tire, which answers very well, is to drive
pine wedges crosswise under 1t, which holds it,
tight. your wagons are even ordinarily good
the tire will never become loose, and you will not
perhaps have to repair any on the whole trip. Any
wagon that will perform a journey from Kentuc
ky to Missouri, will stand the trip well. There
are many wagons in Oregon, brought through lasi
year, that are both old and very ordinary. L is
much easier to repair wagon on the way than
you would suppose. = Beware OF heavy wa.
gons, as they bre ak down your teams Tor no pur
pose, and you will not need them. Light wagons
will carry all you want, rs there Is nothing to break
them down, no logs, no stumps, no rock, until you
get more than half way, when your load Ia so much
reduced, that there is then no danger. You see no
stumps the road until you get to Burnt river, and
very few there, and no rock un.i you get into tn.
Black Hills, and only there for a shor'
distance, and not bad, and then you will
see none until you reach the Great Soda Spring,
II an individual should have several wagons, some
good and some ordinary, he might start with all
of them and his ordlaary wagons will go to the
mountains, where his load will be reduced that
his other wagons will do. II 10 not necessary to
bring along an extra axle-tree, as you will rarely
break one. A few pieces Of well seasoned hcko-
~, fO the wedges and the like, you ought to
bring.
teams. Letthe oxen be from three to five years
old, well set, and compactly built; Just such oxen
as are best for use at home. They should not be
too heavy, as their feet will not bear the trip go
well. But oxen six, seven and eight years old,
some OF them very large, stood the trip last year
very well, but not well in general as the young
er and lighter ones. Young cows make just at
good team as any. 1t is the travel and not the
pulling that tires your team until after you reach
Fort Hall. II you have cows for a team 1t requires
of them in bad roads, but they stand the trip
equally well, if not better, than oxen. We fully
tested the OK and mule teams, and we found III.
OK teams greatly superior. One OK will pull as
much as two mules, and, in mud, as much as four.
They are more easily managed, are not so subject
to be lost broken down on the way, cost less al
The start, and are worth about four tunes as much
mere. The OK is most noble animal, patient,
thrifty, durable, gene, and easily driven, and does
not run off. Those who come to this country will
be in love with their oxen by the time they reach
nere The OK will plunge through mud, swim over
streams, dive into thlckets, and climb mountains
20 get ut the grass, and he will eat almost any
he way; and il is next to impossible TO drown