Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-08-29

is INTERESTING FROM yCALIFORNIA.nodjtW
y, sPRIs6FIELD (fLLIsoIs) JOURNAL.
DR. Tom, Of this city has furnished us with letter from
his son. WrLLAm Z. ToDD, who with the emgra-
ton California spring Of 1885, dated on The nth of
April, from which we make The following extracts. id
The company TO which he belonged reached Fort Hall,
without interruption. At Fort Hail. and the road there's
Mr. Todd and others heard many reports Of the superior
advantages of California Oregon that Of his
pany, including himself changed their destination that
country Nor had he regretted this change although he
not in love with California. He says. ss ns
"We loft Fort Hall on the 9th of August in company
with wagons and the ST. Marys river we were join
ed by fifteen We smoothly until reached
the California mountains, which about 300mes from
destination. sasflyes 9aa ~ lsn44axs isHfufl Erg
g There met with 'Iibuadon' in the extreme You
form idea, give you any just description Of
the evils which beset us From the time left the lake
the north side Of the mountains until arrived the lake
on the top, continued jumping from rocky cliff
another. We would have roll this big rock then
over thahen there bridging branchthsn had TO
lt wagons by main force up to the top Of ledge Of
rocks that impossible for reduce-brdgc roll
wagons over, and in several places had TO
wagons boadsde oil ledge, take off CATTLE and throw
wagons round with handspkes and heave them up the
top, where cattle had been previously taken. Three days
passed in this vexaous way and the end of that
time found ourselves miles from the lake the north
de Of the mountain, and you Of fellows
happy than when reached the summit II z 3st5 Fi9
When night came were very glad take blanket or
buffalo robe and lie down the sohest side of rock"
and were sorry be disturbed from repose when
called in the morning labor Here flour
out and could not get for love or money, We
had to live about ten days poor bee, until met the
packers who had gone in advance to Captain Suffers,
PROVISIONS where got -four for twenty per
h. cash. .ls ai ea1ii9es aai ST. 9gttgsf
son the top Of tine mountain we found . beautiful lake,
but quite small and few miles farther came to fine
PRAIRIE about three miles long by three fourhs Of mile
broad full Of springs of excellent water and at o lower end
OF it fine branch which forms the head Of Juba river, and
the way danced tJuba there caution 70 oil future
emgrants, The difficulty Of getting down the mountain
great ascending it though it work Of labo
and looked the first glance impossible TO be performed by
horscmen much more by teams and wagons. ~'ey.f
Solomon Subette, of ST. Louis who passed ut the
lake on the north side Of the mountain told afterwards that
he had idea could get through with wagons In
places found necessary to lock all four Of the wheels
coming down hill and then wagons came very near turn
ing over hind part BEFORE to the cattle. AT last the
10th Of October hardshps ended BY our arrival at
Fort Suerwhere concluded TO spend the winter IN The
mountains; that is, myself and wagon companions, five IN
NUMBER and Mr.. and Mrs. Roulette
We made our way the place at which wri-
ting. II beautiful valley about miles long and two
wd situated between mountains, which about 200 iee
high from the bed Of Cache creek, which through the
valley. In the mountains there deer and bear in abun
Dance and about fifteen miles from here there plenty OF
elk The valley is about sixty miles from the bay OF ST.
Francisco about forty from Fort Suffer- and twenty-five from
the Pacific Ocean. Bodega is the nearest port ~ etH
ssAs yet have but very little of the country, and
confess that in regard to the part have seen, am not
much pleased expeced that should be-. So far as
have secn the country generally very mountainous, with
here and there valleys suitable for cultivation Those few
valleys generally taken up BY tho Mexcans and should
there be not taken OPP would b impossible Tor oreign-
r. We. - :, ~ '.ss = %s1s1 s0.eS"s
10 iact framed yesent forGsnes f'om coming
the country unless they have passports have never been
asked for my passport but If had, should have been in
cned to do as Dr. Bail did similar requisisiOn show
nay rife. $3.50 Naf.lssaf sffsihfi s .4s4l glgnr,
should be more pleased with this country If the
favorable From the LIST Of May to the LIST Of DC
tober continued drouth and from the LIST Of October
to the LIST Of May rains off and all the time. The only
way by which crops with toeabe certainty be secured
by irrigation the overflow Of the ground by water
There many places where this be done,
and consequently the land be cultivated The best
locations all taken up.
ftherc any in Sangamon who speak of cross
ing the Rocky Mountains to this country tell them my adj
vice is to stay a home There you well of You
enjoy all comforts Of eve under good Government,
have peace and plenty around youa country whose soil
surpassed any the world having good seasons and
yielding timely crops Here every thing the other
IRENE the Government tyranncal the weather
able poor crops aud the neceses OF life not to be had
cept the cxtoronae prices and frequently not then
In the winter il is impossible for horse to about
The soil being 80 loose that the first make perfect
it. and your horse frequently sinks down so much that you
compelled jump off in the mud knee deep TO help him
out. M
al do not however believe there more beaut
full climate than have this country During the whole
winter delightful weather, except when rams We
need fire except for bookings have seen during
the whole winter ice thicker window glass; although
sight the whole year round Most all day long
we could be winter with coats OIL walking IN the
neghborhood Of cabin except when we were oil hunting
for a term of four or six days ~
The Mexicans talk every spring and fail here OF driving
the foreigners Of the country They must do It this year.
or they never can do IT, There will be revolution before
long and probably country will he annexed to the United
States n here, will take band in Il
e 81. aWILLIAM l.. TODD"