The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-02-17
Fort Smith (Ark.) Route for California,

The Little Rock California Association organized
on the 3lst ult, by the selection of the following
officers: James McVicar, Captain; Henry Keats,
First Lieutenant James Murphey, Second Lieu
tenant ; A. M. Woodruff, Orderly Sergeant, and
George B. King, Commissary. They declare that
the great object of the Association is to trace out
the nearest practicable route from Fort Smith to
the mouth of the Sacramento river, and to explore
and make settlements in the valley, and on Cali
forna bay. Being mainly a trip of exploration,
the obligations binding them under the Association
will not be binding more than week after reaching
the American settlement in California, unless by
voluntary renewal of these or similar obligations,
which they may thereat enter into, and which shall
not be incompatible or inconsistent with the rules
and regulations civil and military, in force upon
their arrival in that country.
The route proposed for the company is: To pro-
coed from Fort Smith to Chapman's trading house,
four miles above the North fork of the Canadian
river, crossing the South fork two three hundred
yards above the mouth of the North fork; from
thence to Edwards trading house. Little river
from thence directly between the North and South
forks of the Canadian river, affordng, at nearly all
seasons of the year, excellent grazing for stock.
The streams rise in the neighborhood of Santa F6,
and often run so close together that they both can
be seen from the same point, and is an unerrng and
natural guide to the emgraus their route, being
on the dividing ridge, which is as level as could be
well desired. and abOunds with springs the entire
distance From thence the company will proceed
on the route travelled by Gen. Kearny, TO the Sac
ramento, or San Joaquin, as may prove most advisa
BILE, which will be determined from the character
of the face of the country, and such information as
may be obtained of reliable nature, and the
knowledge of such guides as may be procured at
the company's expense.
The articles of agreement provide ns follows:
Every member of the association binds HIM
self to provide the following articles, and be with
them, at Fort Smith, on the last day OF March,
1919 to wit: 100 lbs bacon; l25 lbs. flour; 25 lbs
coffee; SALT pepper, ETC., in proportion. Other ar
tices of provision may be taken if desired, but the
above specified ones must not be neglected He
shall also provide lbs. powder and II lbs shot;
one rife or shot gun; pistols and knife Owing 10
the scarcity of provisions in California, and from
the nature of the expedition-and moreover, that
we may be better prepared for the privatlons IN the
land of gold-the committee deem it advisable to
adopt wagons, instead Of pack-mules. Every men,
Der shall, therefore, provide himself contribute
his quota toward providing, a good, substantial
wagon, with four good mules; and this wagon
shall not carry over 1900 lbs. Every mess con-
sistng of not than six, shall have good tent
axe, saw, drawing knife two or three chisels, a1-
CUR mattock, spade or shovel. These instruments
will be found very convenient on the route and of
essential service when the emgrants arrive 10 Cal
ifornia 1t shall be the duty of the Commssary to
see that every member of the association provides
himself with the above mentioned articles. and to
report such member or members as fail TO do so to
the captain whereupon, his or their names snail
be stricken from the roll and dismissed from the
company.
1t was resolved by the association, that IL asso-
citation appoint a geologist, TO make inquiry con-
corning the countryside neares' Fr.cticable roufe
for the party to proceed upon, report the same
to yti,e company before their departure, and as
thew progress,-the same TO be exempt from duty.
WheFeupon the chair appointed W. W. Stevenson