The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-05-30
OREGON CAMP, April 27, 1916

OREGON CAMP, April 27, 1916.
DkAp K-:The emigrants are scattered all
about here on the prairie, wherever they happen
10 light on good spot for water, fuel, pasture &C.
Yesterday we had meeting of the emgrants
about mile from our camp, and formed q tempo
rary organization for the purpose of setting out
on our journey. The 9th of May is the day set
for starting. We start from the usual place about
10 miles from here, though many of the emgrants
will not join the main company before they get to
Kansas river, (some 100 miles) at which place we
90 into a new and more substantial organization.
This week will be all hustle among the cmgrants
as many are just arriving, and some who are here
are not quite ready, whilst others are ready and
anxious to be off; all will endeavor to get as near
the starting point as possible this week, at which
place there is TO be another meeting next Satur-
day By the rules passed yesterday, we have in
the company the following officers: One Cap
tain, one Lieut., three Judges, three inspectors
the inspectors to inspect the provisions, &C., of
all emigrants and prescribe the amount requisite
&C., and report--the officers to be elected month
ly. A committee also appointed to procure
Pilot 1t is difficult to get Pilot this spring.
The man who was expected to be the Pilot. who
piloted last year, and has been through frequent
ly, has not returned. The re are numbers Of per-
sons here who have been through to the noun
tans, and the route being plain and easily found
to there, we shall be obliged to make an agree
ment " it'll some one of them to take us through,
and he can take us to Fort Lorimie and there en-
ploy some trader trapper to assist him in taking
us through; suppose Maj Adams will be the
man. We had very interesting address yester-
day at the meeting by Mr.. Gilpin. who has been
to Oregon, and is gentleman of good informa'
ton, and very candid in his representation OF
things; he gave very flattering account of the
country in Oregon, of its advantages, its products
clims,e health, inhabitants, the prosperity of the
settlers Sc. &c. can form no estimate OF the
number of emigrants that will go over this year,
.s they are scattered all over the prairies, some
Just coming in, and large company has already
started from what is called "St. Josephs,n north
of the river perhaps 80 or so miles distant; they
get into our road several hundred miles from here
At this time could give no closer estimate o
the number than YOU. There are a goody mum,
Der of the right eort of inhabitants among the
smigrants this year; heard it remarked ysster'
day by merchant doing an extensive business il
town, that last year the emigrans who radet
with him were, with few exceptions, "hart
casss'-but this year it was u versa; all, will
a few exceptions, whom he had noticed this year
wers very respectable citizens. Il
A few words as to the best way of coming thu
far. Get to Cincinnati, from that by steam t.
independence, bring nothing but what is abso
luely necessary, such as clothing, &C.; the. light
you make your baggage the better; we car
use nothing on the way but tin plates, tin cups
knives and forks, spoons, coffee mill and boiler
fryingpan, Dutch oven and camp kettle. Thi
constitutes about all the "kitchen furniture >
bring your Wagons with you-brng no horse
ss you cannot trade or sell them here, unless 20
have good horse or two you wish to take through
Cattle are the principal thing, few mules ant
ponies which are plenty here. Buy your groce
ries and all that you can in St. Louis. Flour an
pork you buy here. You will perhaps by tina
time know as much about an outfit as l can tel
you in letter.