Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-11-17
Fer tho Express.
:Fonr HALL, Rocky Mountains, I
A.,-,..S 1n.L 7ONc

August 10Th, ls47. ~.
Mr.. Editor. I again wish to address my
friends through your paper, as have one
more opportunity of sending n letter back,
and perhaps the last for long time. We
have the pleasure of camping to night in
company with Com Stockton and his COM
panv, now on his way to the States. When
! wrote to you last, white in the Rocky
Mountains, was bound for Oregon; but, on
arriving at Fo,t Hail, we obtained :nforma-
Sion that satisfied US; that under present
circumstances we had better take the Cali.
fornin road and go to California. One rea-
son is, the emigration is so very extensive
to Oregon that the grass from Fort Hall,
down the Snake, is mostly gone, and very
rough road for 400 miles, without feed for
'our stock, is risky journey. The first 40
miles which we had to travel, before we
took the California road, satisfied me and
my company, for the grass was totally eat off,
and a rough road. We are now one hum
dred miles on the road to California, and we
have found good grass and water. thus far,
and EXPECT the eauie to the end Of cur iout-
new; thnt is frotn information we get from the
Commodore's mea or guides that are ac-
quainted with the road. have no fault 10
find with Oregon, but expect to be suited
with California. We expect to get through
poone- ;snd safer this way. particularly rs to
our stock. This road is far better than the
Snakc River road. This is good road
with good grass and water, which is our
A,ain dependence to get through with our
stock: for if our cattle fail we are ut once in
bad situation. All quite we'll with us,
now, and in good spirits; our teams ore
in good order, and we are gaining from II
70 twenty a day on our journey. There has
been much sickness on the road, this sea-
son, and many deaths-perhnps not more
than would have been out of the same mum
her, had they remained at their former homes.
It would astonish you to see the great num-
Der that are on this long western road that
started to gain their health, and many with
out any medicine whatever, with the full
expectation Of getting we'll by travelling,
nave been disappointed. would say let
every person or family that start on this
road, take some ouch medicine with them
as they have been in the habit of using. AS
this is the last expect you will hear from
ne. before those bound to EN- CRATE to- Ore
Eon or California will be getting ready for
their journey, will say to such rs are maxi
ing such calcuations to first lay in your
provisions for fire months. then reasonable
clothing and camp cquippage, and medicine
for yourselves, and stock-tar for your was-
nns, &C., and light, strong wagon, heavy
tier, with two good lock chains. as some
times you will naed to lock both hind wheels;
rig a good team of not less than four yoke Of
good cattle, no, less than four nor more than
six year old, round built, smart cattle good
dry cows answer good purpose; two able
bodied men to each wagon. Fifteen hun
tlred is full load 10 start with, better be
twelve. Do not load in a thing you don't
need on the roud; let everything be Us ight
as possible-carry as much in sacks as pos
rblc-the less boxes the better. Do not be
afraid of not having load enough for long
before you get this far, you will be wiling
to leave all unnecessary loading. Recolect
$500 miles is not performed in one month.
lou must travel day after day 70: more than
four months. and from morning till noon,
and noon till night, without stopping to
1set; although there is some rough roads and
bad hills. The road from the nj ssouri riv-
er. this far. is IA good road, for it is seldom,
you find any place where there has been al
hour spent to fix the road-but it is not a
strait road by any means. expect you have
seen hot days about this time, but we have
had but few warm days since We reached
the mountains-nnt too warm to travel
the nights quite cool-comfortable with ar
uvercoat. ! must close.
y. 4. OLMSTED.
To al; my friends.
Blue Mountains, midnight. August 10, lS47