Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-02-17


p other points &c. &c.-Humbuggers and imp"-
dent assurance the order of the day.
The etter of Col. Gpin, containing :" facts -
and exhibiting the g indisputable and peculiar ad-
vantages'' of Independence over all other points,
from which to start, whether up a northern route
via the Missouri, to Oregon. or up the A rka nsns
to Santa Fe, or by the Rio Gila southern route
to California, has become the theme Of criticism
of every poyageur trapper and trader in these re-
gions-even the boys satirize every "up-hlll
transaction. by calling it Gilpin's Route"
Col. Gipin lays down the only practicable
route for wagons. to the Pacific. at present known,
as through the South Pass, by the SAT- Lake and
through the Great Basin, Salmon Trout river.
He makes great parade over the fact that military
expeditions for the West, departed from Indepen-
dence. How little the allusion to that fact helps
his case. 1t is well known that Gen'l Kearney
with his invading army did not take lhe route laid
down by Col. Gill pin when he invaded California.
Kearney's route was by the Arkansas, Santa Fe,
Rio Grande, Rio Gila.
Besides, it is well known that Gilpin's Route -
the northern way. is famous for the number of
lives lost and the destruction of stock by the nvete-
rate cold, in those high and sterile regions. The
newspapers were teeming SO long as that emigra-
ton continued, with accounts of humanity perish
| ing in the wilderness. A Southern route was
| sought for, where medium latitude, a milder
climate, and richer pasturage, would offer. 1t
has heen found, and offers advantages over that
from independence, " "indispulable 4" and "pecu-
| iar,' where man and beast 90 through with
out the slightest suffering from cold, or want Of
wood, water grass, and this is from the Arkan-
sas by the Canadian. Santa Fe and Rio Gila.
The distance is shorter by several hundred miles
and being in more southern latitude, the grass
springs earlier and the praires are green with a
verdant carpet, one month sooner in this region
and parties leaving Van Buren, can start in AprH
whereas those leaving independence cannot ven
ture out upon the naked and bleak praries, before
| May Parties leaving here in April can be in
California by the lst August, and whereas those
leaving Independence, having several hundred
miles further TO ira vel, and being compelled to
| leave month later, cannot get there earlier than
the middle of September. .....
| COL Gilpn asserts that his route, is the only
practicable one known. To him, it may be so.
but because he does not know, it is no reason that
others do not know of another and q more prac-
tcable route. His assertion is made in the face
OF the known facts that DR.. ConneIlev, in 1899.
with $50 wagons, went from Van Buren to Chi
| huahun, via the Canadian, and at later period
! that DR.. Gregg. the author Of the :. Commerce of
| the Praires,' went with caravan of wagons
from Van Buren, to Santa Fe, also by the Canadian
| route. Last year. Lieut.. Buford, with party
of U. S. Dragons, went from Fort Smith to
Santa Fe, by the Canadian. and pronounced it the
shortest and most practicable route.
The route to Santa Fe from Van Burer is
proren to be practicable ,cagon route and also
the shortest and best. Now for the rest of the
route: 1t will be by reference to Major
Emory s Reconnaissance. that Col. Cook, u. S. A..
in 1916, with command of Mormon Infantry
and large number Of wagons, left Santa Fe,
and proceeded by the Gila, to San Diego, in Cali
fornIa. and he pronounced it an admirable wagon
route. Thus the pronunciamento of "fac,s" made
by Gilpin, bursts like bubble in the nr.
If we had no better authority to prove that The
sou ,hern route, by Van Buren,, Canadian and
San,a Re, is the best, we could rely upon Colonel
Gilpin's own letter. For even in despite of him.
the truth sticks out. Hear him in the following
paragraph:
g. have stated 100 days as the length of the
journey; bat parties Of young men, having packs
and good animals ana gui'les, may easily reach
the Sacramento in As or so days; nor need such
confine themselves to the wagon road, but may
take the route of the Arkansas, or by Santa Fe.'
Thus he admits that 'the route Of he Arkansas.
or by Santa Fe,' is the best. if the emigrants
want to take short cut. He admits This is the
shortest route, and COL Cook and Lieut.. Bu ford.
of the U. S. army, and doctors Conneley and
Gregg have proven it TO be practicable for uago,s.
1t IS clear to every intelligent reader that VAN
BUREN has, in graphcal point of view, a
decided advantage over Independence. Then what
are its resources for the Quitting Of parties leav
ing this point. .
Provisions in the greatest abundance, pork
bacon, beef, (jerked on hoof,) corn flour,
crackers and pilot bread, groceries of every kind
utensils of every kind, clothing Of every descrip-
tion, and a.knds of materials, are to be procured
m nnyy -,,a.,