The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-12
SACRAMENTO CITY, August %, 1919.

ARRIVAL Of the Overland EIpeditton-LDs on
the Prairies-S i6uings on the Route Crossing
the Sierra Nerada, &c., &c.
arrived here the 2lst, thirty-one days from
Salt Lake, with but comparatively little difficulty
when placed in the balance with that to be over
come by those emigrants with wagons. AS re-
CARDS those behind, numbering some twenty
thousand, time only tell whether or not they
get through with, or even without, their wagons
On the desert, distance of seventy miles, com
mencing abou, twenty-five miles above the sink of
the Humboldt River, and extending on one route
to Trackie's River, on the other to Salmon Trout
River, there were lying dead between six and
seven hundred head of stock, and only Ave
hundred wagons had entered it, and over seventy
OF these were abandoned and left deserted on the
read Those who DO get through with their
wagons are compelled to take their team through
10 the rlver, there recruit or three days and
return Tor them. Families can lie here that leagth
OF time without much suffering, if water is packed
To them IN season, on the backs OF some fresh
animals; For the last hundred miles on Humboldt
River, there is Ii tile else than willows support
stock, so that they are compelled to enter the
desert with their stock nearly exhausted with the
absolute certainty stsreng them in the face Of
/ their teams soon giving out This difficulty no
longer exists large tract of grass On God sead
and sal vauon to the emigrants) has been dls-
covered about twenty miles above the siak, and
some eight miles east of the road. Here they all
go before attempting 10 cross the desert, and
recruit their animals, cut and make hay, which
they take with them TO cross the barrens. When
FIRST The news came back of the discovery of thus
grass the dark iorebodings which shrouded the
couD'enances of al, were dispeliea and cheerful
ness once more held the sway. II Is In fact the
emgrants salvation.
One more difficulty TO overcome and they are
here. IL is 10 CROSS the Sierra Nevada mountains
and if the northern or old route, via Johnson's
Rancho, Is as rich IN distractions as the SOUTH or
new route, (and learn that it ls,) there must be
great destruction Of property, II not suffering and
loss OF hfe. About one-iourh Of the wagons
which bad entered the mountains when crossed.
were lett biol en- 10 pieces upon the rocks. II
| they DO not cling too long to their wagons they
may ct all get safely over. If the trains get
the SHOWS, viii be 10 leave their wagons, pack
| provisions upon their oxen, and make the best of
| their way TO The nearest settlement.
was IN The mountains three DAYS; the second
Of which. August 18th, was freezing cold, the
night previous there having been series of ire
nendous thunder showers, which terminated IN
hai and snow. II the snow does not come for
six wetks, all :iay safely arrive in California,
This town, Sacramento City, Is situated at the
confluence of the Sacramento and American
riveIs, two miles below Suffers Fort of only three
months growth, and yet contains population of
three fhousand five hundred houses mostly Of mus
lin, about sixty only OF wood.
AS 10 prices: All mining tools are high, as are
cleo all articles upon which labor has been per-
formed here, Picks, 50; pans, s. cradles for
washing gold, three feet long, worth about two
dollers 10 the States, sell here for $40 -four from
SS to SO per hundred pork, $50 per bundred
coffee, SIS; board S2l per week, or 81 so per
meal, with The privilege OF sleeping under the
nearest Tee unoccupled; AT the mines, GO miles
distant, prices nre doubled, and OF some things
tebled Brandy, 81 per boltl-.
AT the mInes, they are making an average
ounce Of gold per day. One man who arrived here
this month, made in two weeks twenty-five thou
sand dolarf, and has gone TO san Francisco 10
take rasssge TO the States.
Labor is in proportion to the produce of the
mines, ranging from eight to eighteen dollars per
The latest news from the States is contained in
the N,io i@k Herald, June 30th which were sold
In The streets yesterday at 20 cents apiece, and
! am going, in a day or two, to the mountains, on
prospecting tour, and on my way shall again visit
the principal mines, when ! shall again report TO
you. :. Il. +. q.
RANCHO DEL CHENo, Aug. %, 1919
Mus from he Inioi@-A California Farm
Cruiand EmigGfiom-An 1JYsal to General
Riley, &C., &c &c.
Since last wrote you, from Mazatlan, | have
experienced no email portion Of the vicissi,udes
and trials that befal, more or less, every one who
may attempt to visit California by an overland
route. And as the one travelled by me is seldom
taken by Americans, and never described, to my
knowledge, Will, at some future time, give you
an account Of 1t. For the present, events aud cir
cumstances Of more interesting character COM
mand my pen.
] am now stopping at the hosptable residence
(above namely Of Col. Isaac Williams, situated 30
miles east Of Los Angeles, and about 30
from the Colorado, on the whole Of which distance
Col. Williams is the only American residing on the
road. The colonel has splendid property, com
pnsng o30O0 acres Of the best land IN the universe.
Almost everything IL, or can be, raised here that
you cen name, and IN such pfCfusion, and M so lat
lie expense, that lorbear particulars, tor fear of
Damaging my reputation. The climate, too, ~ the
mott delightful that can be imagined In the morn
ing the weather " warin, but towards moon de
hghiiu breeze tpris g ~, aud tor the rest OF
tie day there prevails a most exhllirating aimOs-
phefe. The colonel has, M his fields, about ~ 900
bead OF hOIEtd cattle, LOCO horses, several bua-
ou q mules and sheep without Limitation. But tor
The events at the war, this number would have
been much increased The Mexcans visited his
Isn,he. with force Of COO men, and after having
been fought for some twelve hours, his amnuni-
ton having become exhausted, the colonel was
obhgt TO surrender. Ills property was then seized,
his house pundeTed of everything il contained and
set tire to HIS pastures were then robbed ct thou
sands of his most valuable animals. From this
euack. Col W. Loot upwards of $4,000 worth Of
TfcTerty.
Cd Fremont, on bis way through this valley last
sprirg, Was 90 much attracted by the estate OF Col
W, that he offered 5000 for 1t, which was ac-
copied. But the hfst payment not having been
mace al the time u was agreed on, the arrange
meut has fallen through.
This rancho rs on the great thoroughfsre, over
which al must pass who take the overland route
ircm Texas. Santa Fc, or Mexico, to California.
(1here is by.road which does not pass this place,
l,sdng To the Putbla, but II ~ little travelled, aud
ALEC rosd TO san Diego, but this is 100 miles out
Of the way for travellers 10 the north) The con-
sequence IL such an infux and eflux Of suffering
humanity a. mortal man never witnessed out OF
California II Is the opinion of candid observers,
that al cast 20 GOO persons have passed here with
~ The last twelve months and the number that
pass daily H. now much ncrea ssd. Indeed, have
heard ~ estimated that there are ever 10000 per-
cons now on the road, between the Colorado and
The RIO Grsnde. And then, again, the number Of
NeAlceDs that are returning has got TO be very nu
I ncfOus.
IL may interest many of your cry readers 10
know that the knickerbocker company. command