Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-09-17
CALIPOR MIA.

of Hon James Stempe, U. s. Senator from ILL.,
nos, and prospective Governor Of Oregon. II
gives the cearesl aud fairest account Of the pecu
liar advantages and disadvantages Of California
country to settle and live in that we have met with
We have drawn attention 10 some Of its statements
BY putting them in Italics. lie gives plain and
distinct account Of that country, which will benefit
those intending TO emigrae thther. Tribune.
BEAR RIVER, CALIFORNIA, April 10, 1916.
Dear Sir; | sit down TO redeem my promise to
write after my arrival to this country, il the Cali
tornil fever should rage as high as when let.-
All Information from here will be gladly received
shall try to give an impartial account Of the coun'
try, and its political situation, aud embody as much
information as / can. First, then, the road from
independence TO the foot Of the California noun
tains across the Rocky and Calumet mountains, is
about as good a road that from ST. Charles TO
Columbia Blooms Lick road and might with
little work be made good deal better. There is
plenty of water aud timber for cooking there is no
place where water may not be had, at every 20
miles. From the sink of Marys river about 80
miles TO fresh water, are several hot springs and
salt springs. From where we strike Truckys riv-
er to its head (Trucly's lake, at the foot Of the
California mountain the road is rough aud rocky,
but perfectly safe. From the lake TO the top OF the
mountain, about five miles, the ascent very steep
and rocky, but the last emigrants got their wagons
over without breaking, by packing the load up the
mountains. The descent on this side is about 100
miles to the plains, so Of that distance being very
rough and billy But there is proposition among
the foreigners who expect their friends from the
States, 10 go and work on the road if so, we shall
make quite a pnssabe road at all events. Out Of
the 1850 miles from Independence, there is but a.
bout 100 Of bad road. Our party had no trouble
from the Indians, and the emigration had none, ex-
cept 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 tdpern or grocery store on the road, fort
HAIL. would advise persons coming 10 this coun-
try to provide themselves with plenty ofproysions,
-four rice, cheese, butter, lard and bacon.
The Fare of the Counfrv.-I can only describe
the great valley of the Sacramento, from personal
observation, and whatever may say of the remain
der is from information. The valley is about 300
miles long, from 10 900 miles wide, crossed by
several pretty large rivers, many Of them navigable
to the foot of the mountain and from that up, the
water umbles from rock to rock, afording neither
navigation valleys for cultivation. On all the
riversfrom the mountain to the mouth there are
large bottoms from onehaf to six miles wide, most
ly alluyum, and Of the most fertile character cover
ed with grass and the richest vegetation with a
skirt oftrees near the stream, mostly oak, some
buckeye, box, elder and willow. The oaks grow
very large to feet in diameter, but the trunks
are very short, seldom more than or 10 feet and
then 1t branches into large limbs good for hre-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 10 December to wash them.
The plains which from about three-fourths of the
valley chOliy unsHsceptbie of cultiration from
The fact that they not only poor and barren, but
fhe dry wedther in Summer loOuld not pcrmh a crop
to he raised They are covered now with small
flowers and some bunch grass which makes good
pasture until the rainy season sets in though it is
entirely dry by the LIST July. The population WiL
JOr6Uer be confined to the banks of the riUers.-
A gentleman present says that the plains between
here and the St. Wankine, are much more fertile,
and that very much of them may be watered and
proftably cultivated. He thinks the lower part OF
Upper California much superior to the valley, but
the difficulty of securing land and the bad character
OF the Indians, have induced many OF us to stop
here THIS country, taken together, is greatly in
feriOr'to the Western States, but those who get
situations on the rivers where they can easily IT.
Iigate the SOIL can do 200 per cent better than in
Mssourl-lrrgated lands here will produce from
4O TO oO bushels oil Wheat to the acre every year
There is no fly, nor rust, nor rot and the only
trouble is TO have'moslure enough TO make II head
well. Tobacco, Cotton, Flax, Potatoes, Beans
Peas, &c. grow hneiy, but not withom wdtertng.-
While on this subject, Will speak OF the labor tc
be performed farmer who is fitted with suf
ficient teams and farming utensils may employ a:
many Indians as he pleases, for nothing but theil
victuals and that very cheap and about two shirts
and pair OF pantaloons OF the coarsest kind He
may keep them while he wants them, which is onl,
at seed time and harvest. and then send them tt
lneir villages again Tor the remainder oil the year
fhey are about nail as good as the negroes IN Mis-
sour win good looking after. 80 'nat farmer
win capital oil 4oo or ooo hundred dollars, can