Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-07-21
NEWS FROM THE WASHINGTON COUNTY |

reStlD8 nlanncr. hOOuS SOO miles from lnuepen-
dence and the Same distance from Fayetteville, in
the great Plains, Immediately where the trail of
Evans company crossed the Santa Fe trace, was
discovered by returning voyageur, rude monu
ment, at the base of which was found the letter
neatly folded up and secured in olcoth, and which
was brought into St. Louis:
FROM THE CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTs.
letters from the arkansas Companies-Arkansas
Monument-Route to be followed, &c.
To THE FIRST PERSON GOING Missouri
This letter will explain itself. | leave it at the
foot of the 90 Arkansas Monument hoping that
while you curiously inspect the stranger who has
planted himself in the forks Of the road, you will
find these lines, and have the kindness to take
them with you; and if you go to St. Louis, hand
them personally to Col. Chambers; if not, lodge it
| in the first postofice in Missouri. II. y.
To THE EDIroRs OF THE REPUBLICAN:
BY giving place in your journal to the following
items should this scroll fall into your hands, they
will be read with much interest by many of your
subscribers in Arkansas. Capt. Evsns' company
of 40 wagons and l3O persons, mostly from Wash
| ington county, Arkansas, set out for California
the Goth of April, lS49, and took route never
before travelled. The company crossed the Neo-
sho at the Grand Saline, Cherokee nation, and
proceeded up between the two Verdigris, almost
|
from independence 10 Santa Pe the estimated dis
tance being about 800 miles. No wagon had ever
travelled this route before, and it was considered
impracticable by some; but better wagon road
than we have made. will venture to say, cannot
be found west of tho Mississippi river. The travel
was on the divide between The Verdigris and what
some call the West Fork, which we found TO be
exclusively of high, dry, rolling prairie slopes,
offering no obstacles whatever to any number OF
wagons. The course leads over the headwaters
| of the two streams named, and Neosho or Grand
river, which afford abundant water, timber and
grass, at intervals of five and fifteen miles. Even
| at this early season MAY 18th, lS49,) we have
| had plenty of excellent grass, and our stock
| improving every day. AT the place struck
the Santa Fe road, we found grave where some
hapless traveller reposes in the bosom of this
beautiful carpeted la d'ocean here we obtained q
large stone and planted it in tho fork Of the road
and one Of our cunning workmen cut these letters
upon it: "To Fayetteville, Ark, 300 miles-Capt.
Evans CAL Comfy, May II, lS49," TO apprise
the prairie traveller of q new road.
From the best information, we struck the Santa
Fe road some % miles east of Little Arkansas.
On our route we saw some deer, many anteIopes,
but no buffaoe, but from many indications we
know there are muttudes Of them in this region
at certain seasons. We had thought of continuing
our route and course, and strike the Oregon road
at the forks of the Platte, but find the grass will
not justify it, consequently we 60 directly TO Ben's
Fort, and thence take the nearest and best route
for Eidorado. The company are in fine spirits
and in good health-not one sick al this time.
Nothing else could be expected Of men who cook
their food with bufialoe chips, snuff the pure bland
breezes of the boundless plains and braced I'D
with " lively hope" that all the widest dreams
eer wove in fancy's loom of 50 ngols Of gold and
bags of dollars" will be realized beyond the Cor.
dieras. Yours, Il. DAVIS.
THE CALIFORNIA RAIL RoAD.-The citizens of
Johnson county are alive to the importance of be.
ing strongly represented in the Memphis Conven-
tion, and we join with the Clarksville Union in
the belief of the absolute necessity for all the
counties on the true line of this contemplated road
10 send up large and able delegations to Memphis
in October next.
From the ClarksrIle Union.
We understand that the Government has order.
ed reconnaissance, by Captain Howard STAINS.
berry, of the Typographical Engineers, assisted
by Lieuts. Simpson and Hagner, from our western
frontier TO the Bay of San Francisco. This is as
it should be, for we have long been of the opinion
that 1t was the most practicable route; and reports
from the California mgrants that have left this
spring confirm US in our belief They were able
to leave Van Buren and Fort Smith some six or
eight weeks in advance of those who rendezvoused
at independence, and at this time are some two or
Sc
Some one or two Of ,he ST. Louis papers, who are
not blinded by prejudice, acknowledge the fact
that the Arkansas route is preferable any other
The contemplated rail road from the Mississippi
to the Pacific is bound to take this route. Men,
phis 'ciH be the starting pont it will run through
or near our city, from thence to Van Buren,, and
cross the Arkansas river at Webber's Falls, the
only place on The river where a suitable bridge
can be built. In view of these facts, il is abso.
lutely necessary for us, as well as Crawford and
the adjoining counties, to send up large and able
delegation to the Memphis Convention in October
next, and who will point out the many advantages
of this route all others. All we ask is for
the Engineers to examine This route, and we are
satisfied as 10 the result.
While standing the pavement in front of
business house some time ago, conversing on the
topics of the day, our attention was attracted by
green 'un" who was driving his " 60 cart" along
the main thoroughfare of our young city. Just as
he drove past us, he suddenly became inspired
with laudabe Iesire to emulate his character as
traveller. He cracked his whip, and, with
knowing wink dt the crowd, cxclaims in stento-
hor