Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-06-30
The California Road-NOrh Side the best--AcCOuntSI
from diSintereSed SQurcfS

NER. ESQ.,, Editor of the Holly Springs (Miss.)
Gazette, in which he gives an unbiased account
of the roads to the Great Plains" Mr.. f. is a /
citizen Of Mississippi, interested in neither Fort
Smith nor Van Buren,, and writes home to his
friends and fellow citizens faithful account of
his experience, the roads, &c., for their benefit.
More reliance can be placed in his statements thanS
of those while acting under instructions; or those}
who have property to be enhanced invaue by es-
certain point as rendezvous.
Mr.. Falconer was induced, by the representa-
tions of those who we're interested, to start FRONT
Fort Smith, the road cut out by the go-I
Ivernment troops, on the south side of the Cana
|dian. Hear what he says: " After close chaseI
for the last two weeks, have reached this point
|Uittle River), which is near 200 miles west ofl
Fort Smith. Most of the road, thus far, has been|
the acorSt it ever has been my fortune to travel
over" He says it was nothing TO see twelve
wagons mired down in less than half mile. AT
Little River he says the road is something better );
ibis company having abandoned the road cut out byI
government, Capt Dents road) and took the old
road on the NORTH side, where they found it sol
much better, that they have outtrareled those they
eft on the new road on the south side.
Mr.. F. states that the company only travelled
Thirty miles in ,ro aeeks, the new road yet we
hear interested persons, who claim to be intelligent
and sincere, and who have never travelled on the
|old road, declare in the most solemn and serous
manner as though it were a settled question, that
the new road on the south side of the Canadian isl
the best. And this they do too, without produc-
linn Of
eter from military officer, say ing that the road
which he was ordered to 60 upon, after he had got
Through all The bad road, was I" an excellent road 81
The shameless effrontery of such assertions ex
pose the interested objects they have in Wow, pro-
|duce investigation into those statements, and will
finally settle the public mind upon the road which,
has the greatest merit.
What reliance is to be placed in Capt. Marcy's!
statement that the road on the south side of the
river is better than that on the north side when he
mover travelled the latter? We think modesty
and good sense should have prompted him to with
hold his positive assertion under such circum.|
stances. We will not dispute Capt. Ms right to|
sgive his opinion but will weaken the force of
ibis statements, made as the whole letter evidently
appears, under feeling altogether on one side ofl
the question, by mentioning the fact that he never
travelled the road which he condemns, excepting
small portion of ii west Of Little River, which he
rode over without his command. We appeal tol
Ethe pubc-how much reliance can be placed in
IA statement made under such circumstances
Mr.. Falconer tried both sides of the river-both|
'H"ds-nnw md old: and after the trinl free nd
above all Instructions he pronounces the ne,y road
The Gin III 10
1and the old road on the north side great dea \
better, on which he out-travelled those who rel
mained On the south side. Which statement will
Igo further with an intelligent public
1t seems by the last paragraph Of Capt. Marcy's!
letter that the main object of his expedition was TO!
n'aieuihe doubtful question Of the practicabnty of
road on the south side of the Canadian,
ND his success in getting through at all, appcars
10 be the grooming triumph o;r his expedition.
LITTLE RIVER, SEMINOLE NArroN,1
April 25th, lS49.
Dear Gazette: After close chase on track ofj
Ithe Elephant for the last two weeks, we have!
reached this point, which is near two hundred
miles West of Fort Smith. Most Of the road thus!
far, has been the worst it has ever been nv for.
tune to travel over. 1t nothing unusual to see
ten or a dozen wagons mired down in less than
half mile and portion of tie road was so boggyl
that 1t was necessary TO unhitch the mules froml
our wagons and drag them through by mainl
strength The road is now something better, ourl
company having abandoned the road cut out byl
government, and taken an old trace leading 10 the
|great plains, which now but few days aheadi
[of us. In trip from Fort Smith to this point
lon the 18th we had a considerable snow storm !!
out tent being covered with large fakes. The
mountains looked splendid on Sunday the 18th i
clothed in their garniture of white. Several heavy
frosts fell, during the three four days succeed
|'ng the snow storm, which made it uncomfortable
|cold in camp for several days.
In leaving Fort Smith our company, which ,henI
numbered l6O mon, started on the road lately cul|
out by Uncle Sam, but after travelling that for
two weeks and getting but thirty miles from the
Fort, ninety of us cut through the mud to the old
road, where we found it so much better, that we
have out-traveled the rest of our company, andI
are fearful they will not overtake as again. Wei
design remaining at our camp for them until Mon
day next, and if they do not fall in with us by ,ha,
time, wo have resolved on going through without
waiting for additional strength. We travel under
strict military discipline, keeping guard of Isl
out every night. We have lost none Of our teams:
although numbers of others have been less fortu.
|nate. ....
Our company at present consists of ninety mon.