New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-08-20
Eruru The Springfield M Journal.
Interesting from California.


with Letter from dis son, WILLIAM l. ToDD- vino
went out with the emigration TO California, II the
Spy;ng OF ls45. dated on the I7th OF April, from
which we make the following extracts
/ Re states that the company to which he De
lonr.t reached Fort Hall without interruption
=. Fort Hall. and On the road there, Mr. Todd and
others heard 50 many reports OF the superior ad-
van,eres Of California over Oregon, that some OF
the conpan- including himself. changed their
destination to that countrv Nor had he regretted
this change although he vas not II love With Cal
;for,ia He saws. We left Fort Hall On the 9Th
OF August II company with ten wagons. and on
:; Mars river we we're joined By fifteen more
We went on smoothly until we reached the Cali
for1ia mountains which were about 300 miles
from our destination. There we met with tribu-
lation IL the extreme You form ldes can
give you am Just description Of che evils which oase:
From the tine left me lake Ga the North side
Of the mountains Until arrived E: TIE lake the Top
II was continued jumping from one rock= Cliff 70
another We would nsre . rol. over tins Big rock
then over that then there was bridging branch
then had 70 lii wagons or !sn force W 70 me
top ledge OF rocks nat Il impossible FOR a. 70
reduce bridge ro! our wagons over and IN several
places had 10 run our wagons oroadside OF ledge
take cattle and throw wagons round with
hancspikes and heare ;ern ~ 70 the ;oP :'neEe our
cattle had Ueen previously ;sEsn ihfee Gays we're
passed J.: this vcxatOus way and - The end OF maj
trc xe found ourselves miles from the lake on the
North side ii the mountain end you never saw set Of
fellows ro.a happy than hen reached :ac summit
When ucilr cs- yvere YER! glad 70 take blanket
or buffalo robe and lag down on the oiiesi SIDE OF
rock and sorry 10 DC disturbed from our sweet
fepose when called in the morning 70 ouI LABOR
Here our hour gave out and could get any Tor
lOyeIor money We had 20 live about ten duy= poor
bee, until the packers who had gone OF N ad
O: Capt Suer FOR provisions Where We zot7oe
four Tor 20 c"Ht= per 10. cash.
On 80 ton O.! the fountain found beautiful. lake
but quite mail and lev miles farther We came 10 me
prairie about three miles long AMI threeiourth= OF
mile broad full OF spr!ngs OF excellent water ana al the
lower end inc branch which forms ;he head OF Juba
river ana the way we'd danced Jubh there was caution
all future ernigrens The difficulty OF getting down
the mountain not great a. IN ascending It. though
il was a work of labor and looked the first glance
Impossible be- performed by horsemen much more by
teams and wagons.
the Lake on the North side OF the mountain told Us a
terward that he had idea We could get through with
our wagons In some places found II necessary 10
lock all four OF the wheels dong down hill and then
our wagons very nTaT turning over mind part be-
fore 20 the cattle At last on the 2Oth OF October
our hardships ended by our arrival al Fort >uter
where concluded TO spend the winter IN the noun
tain that myself and wagon companions I'VE IN NUM-
Der, and Mr.. and Mr.. Roulette.
We made our way 10 the place at which am now
writing Il beautiful valley, about ten miles long
aud wide, situated between mountains, which are
about 1000 feet high. from the bed OF Cache Greek
which runs through the valley In the mountains there
are deer and abundance and about 10 miles from
here there plenty OF elk The valley Is about %
miles from the bay Of It Francisco about 20 from Fort
Su;cr and p from ihe Pacific Ocean. Bodega Is the
nearest port
As yet have seen bu, very little OF the country and
must confess that regard 10 the part have seen
am IS much pleased as expected should be- 20
far have seen the country generally is very noun
famous with here and there valleys suitable ior cuItid
ton Those lew valleys generally taken up by Tie
Mexcans and should there be some not taken up, il
would be impossible for foreigners TO get hold OF them
the recent laws OF Mexico iorbiddng any officers OF
this Government 10 grant land to foreigners In fact
the laws framed 10 prevent foreigners from coming
10 the country unless they have passports have never
been asked for my passports but il mac should nave
been inclined 20 do as DR. Ball did on sii!ar requsl
ton show my rite.
cNpcc, in weeks TO visit the Southern portion
OF this country perhaps as far down rs the Lower rue
hla $50 miles wish 10 visit san Louis San Joseph
Monterey Yerba Benna (St FrGncisco) and IN tie u!l
design to 70 up tho the North side OF the Bay
lar az the for the purpose OF examining that
portion OF California.
81 should be more pleased with this country II the
seasons We're more favorable From the lst OF May 10
thel OF October its one continued drouti and from
the lst OF October the lst OF May rains on snd on
al the time. The only way by which crops can with
tocrablc certainty be secured l. by irrigation or the
overflow of the ground by some SatercouTse There are
many places where this never be done and couse
quently the land never be cultivated The best
locations all taken up
II there are any persons in Saugamon who speak of
CROSSING tho Rocky Mountains 10 this country tell them
You can enjoy al the comforts OF lcive under good
government and have peace and plenty around you-a
country whose soil surpassed by any in the world
having good seasons and yielding tmcly crops Here
every thing is the other cXucme-the government i
tyrann!cal the weather unreasonable poor crops ana
the nccessarics Of life be had except al the most
extorrouatc prices and frequently not then In the
winter i, is impossible Tor horse to 90 about
the soil being loose that the first rains make perfect
mortar oft and your horse frequently sinks down
much tina; you are compelled to jump OF in the mud
knee deep 10 help him out.
do not however believe there more
beautiful climate than we have in this country During
the whole winter we have delightful weather except
whent rains We do notneed ire eycep; for cooking
have seen during the whole wintercc thicker than
window glass.--alrhough in sight OF snow the
whole year round Most all day long, could be seen
in winter with oil walking in the neishborhood
OF our cabn-cxcopt when were OF hunting tor a
term OF or days
The Mcxicais talk every spring and Fall here OF
driving the foreigners OF the country They must
do it this yenr they do It. There viii be
revolution before long and probsbly this country will
be rsannexed to the United States Il here VIII take
hand IN ii WILLIAM L. TODD
FIRE II FAYETTEVILLE ARS-The Van Buren,
-y1s -. !, al. =,