Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-08-26
LATE FROM CALIFORNIA.

The st. Louis Missouri Reporter of the first inst
has the following late and interesting letter from Cal
ifornia, written, if we mistake not, by brother Of
Hon. James Sempe, U. S. Senator from Illinois aud
prospective Governor ofOregon. 1t gives the clear
est and fairest account of the advantages
and disadvantages OaIornla as country to settle
and live in that we have met with. We have drawn
attention to of its statements by putting them
in Italics. He gives plain and distinct account Of
that country, which will benefit those intending to
emigrate thither.-Iribune.
BEAR RIVER, CALIFORNIA, April 10, 1916.
Dear Sir: l sit down to redeem my promise to
write after my arrival in this country if the Callor
mia fever should rage as high when left, allin-
formation from here will be gladly received. shall
try to give impartial account of the country, and
its political situation, and embody as much nforma-
ton as cam First, then, the road from Independ-
TO the foot of the California mountains,
the Rocky and Calumet mountains, is aboat as good
road as that from st. Charles to Columbia, (Boons
Lick road,) and might with little work, be made a
good deal better There plenty of water and timbc,
for cooking; there no place where water may not
be had, at farthest every 25 miles. From the sink
OF Mary's river about 80 miles to fresh water, are
several hot springs and salt springs. From where
we strike Truckys river to its head (Truckys lake.
at the foot of the California mountain, the road is
rough and rocky, but perfectly safe. From the lake
to the top of the mountain, about miles, the ascent
is very steep and rocky but the last emgrants got
their wagons without breaking, by packing the
load up the mountains The descent on this side is
about 100 miles to the plain, 80 of that distance being
very rough and billy. But there is proposition
mong the foreigners who expect their friends from
the States, TO go and work on the road if SO, we
shall make quite passable road at all events. Out
ofthe 225O miles from Independence there is but a.
bout 100 OF bad road Our party had trouble from
the Indians and the emigration had none, except the
occasional loss of some of their stock and one man
killed, and that by rushing on the Indians in fight,
for shooting the cattle. AS there is but one tavern
or grocery store on the road, fort Ha) would ad-
wise persons coming to this country to provide them
selves with plenty of provisions, flour, rice, cheese,
butter, lard and bacon
The face Of the country.-I can only describe the
great valley OF the Sac ramento, from personal obser
walton, and whatever may say of the remainder is
from information. The valley is about: 800 miles
long, from l to 200 miles wide crossed by several
pretty large rivers, many of them navigable to
the foot of the mountan and from that up, the wa
ter tumbes from rock to rock, aording neither nav
gation nor valleys for cultivation. On all the rv-
ers from the mountain to the mouth there are large
bottoms from one-haf to six miles wIde mostly allu-
vium and of the most fertile character covered with
grass and the richest vegetation, with skirt OF trees
near the stream, mostly oak. buckeye, box, Ell
der and willow. The oaks grow very large, to z
feet in diameter, but the trunks very short, sch
dom more than 10 feet, aud then it branches IN
to large limbs, good for fire-wood, when seasoned,
but poor timber for farming and building purposes
We make no fences, but use the ditch which stands
well, as there is no rain from April TO December to
wash them.
The plains, which form about three-fourths OF the
valley, are ,choIiy unsusceptibte Of cuitrattom from
the fact that they are not only poor and barren, but
the dry tccather in Simmer ,coud not permit crop