The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-03-15

i For The Gazette.
OVERLAND ROUTE To CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. EDITORIALS the nearest and mos,
practicable route to this frontier country Of
our Republic, is the theme Of conversation
among those who are going there to better
their condition, aud as have had some cx.
pel:sncc in Western trave! and having
been frequently asked for my opinion upon
this subject. | have thought proper, to
speak Of tho course should pursue, f
we're going. In tho frs, place, I should
procure all the supplies tina, I convenient.
~ could in this neighborhood, and star,
them west At once, TO some point on tho
Missouri. to-wit; Council Bluffs, lndepcn-
dcnce. or St. JOseph's, and either 80 nv.
self or send one Of the Company by ST.
Louis TO the destined point on the Nilsson.
ri To procure such additional articles a. We
needed, and wait the arrival Of tho over.
land party. A to nv course after leaving
the Missouri river, should observe the
recommendations Of Col. Gilpin. of Nilsson.
ri, whom lbc!icve TO be the hes, authority
upon this subjcct-and | have seen nud
cxamincd maryland Cor tina, purpose will
give his words:
"The only road practicable for wagons q,
present known froin tho States to the IA.
chic, il the Quo through the South Pass.
beyond which il branches near the Sal,
Lake; the right hand Fork descends BY
Snake river TO the Columbia; the LETT han,.
;ravcrscs directly west, through tho Gren
Basin Of High California, crosses the Scr.
m Nevada by tho sources Of Salmon Trou,
river. and the Rio dc los Americanos, de.
scending the latter 10 the Sacramento, and
down il TO San Francisco Bay. These
ronds, which four ycs-s nso we're uncertain,
difficult, and dangerous, arc now become
permanently established. cnsy, and safe
The large and prosperous settlement, Of
the iormons aithe Sal, Lake a.fards a GER.
trail point 10 rest and recruit. Families
travelling with horned cattle accomplish
the trip in one hundred and twenty days,
nnd, II Judicicus in the management of ihei,
animals, at no expense bu, the small Gus,
OF provisions aud groceries, so crce.len,
are the roads, the climate, and the pas
lures. These roads arc dircc. and s,raiph.
only excepting the detection into the South
Pass. The distances, roughly estimated
being $50 miles 70 San Francisco and
1850 to Astoria
| III could procure a gc-d saddle horse
before leaving, ! would take him, by oil
mems, as he can be enured to tho hard
ships aud become accustomed 10 subsis,
on grass. by permitting him to travel
a'on. without any bur,hen with Scamp
for while and then pack him, with some
light burden, he will become ia a shor,
time, superior and command treble The
price Of other animals. The selection Of q
gun would DO Of some moment. should
procure ono Of large bore; carrying, say
4 or bale, and mt less than 40 to the h.
It should have tho iron Of the guard extend
along the brccch Of the gun, 30 as 10 afford
strength to the stock. have seen more
accidents to gun stocks, for want Of this
precaution than from any other cause
Percussion lock and on extra lock by all
means, as the wind blows too much on the
prairies for the flint and steel lock; but a
flint and steel should be ia every sho.
pouch.
have reduced tho above IDEAS 10 papc,
from belief they might be of interest e
some Of your readers, ~ they have beer
obsn'ned from actual knowledge and obser
walton. Tho route through the "Sou,h
Pass" 10 not SO easy and smooth % some
leading into Davenport, nor ~ ensy as
some might imagine from the reading Of
the many accounts that havo appeared in
print have been under the East side Of
the Sierra Nevada mountains and the route
that distance, believe | am acquainted
With, and am firmly Of the belief that
could again 60 over il, without pilot o.
guide, for he Who travels that road, will
surely recollecs il, for The iasigues and hard.
ships incident to the best of travel, will
make On impression, thst death only win
eradicate. know too veil how 10 sppre-
ciate the civilized life, without again being
allured to California, BY gli,tering gold
dust washed from her mountaio streams.
MAY prosperity sttend the sdveniurer ths,
seeks e and . ssfe return With IN sbun.
dance Of the glisserng ore to enrich him.