The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-01-27
California Emigration.
We have recently received le

we nave recently received letter
from various parts Of the country, ma
king enquiries in reference to The on,
fit, journey and routes TO California b,
land. 1t would be quite impossible 70
Us to devots sufficient time to answe
these letters. and therefore we have ap
piled 10 Mr.. Edwin Bryant, the autho
"f"WHAr | SAW IN CALIFORNIA, &c.,
la book by the way. which affords al
the information on the subject: Of III,
Journey by the land route, that can b,
given, and which every emigrant ant
traveller to tho Pacific, by land or sea
should possess, 10 answer these ques
tons for us:-
The questions in the letters received
are usually Of the following import:
IN-Me Rouh-W hich route BY
land is bes. for the emigrant?
The route via. Independence or 81.
Joseph, Mo-, to FOrto Laramie, South
Pass. Fort Hall, the Sink Of Mary's
River. &c., &c., the old route. lie,
no emigrant, carrying his family along
with him. jeviate from it, or Imagine to
himself that hs can find a better road.
This route j. the best that has yet been
discovered, and to the Bay ofSan Fran.
cisco and the Gold Region il is inuch
the shortest. The Indians, moreover.
this route, have. up to the present
time, been so friendly as to commit n"
acts Of hoslili,y on the emigrants. The
trail is plain and where there are no
physical distractions, and the emigrant
by taking this route, will certainly reach
his destination in good season and with.
nut disaster. From our information
we would most earnestly advise all
,migrants to take this trail. without de.
il they would avoid the fatal
which almost invariably have
attended those who have undertaken 10
new routes.
I'd Wagon and Team What kind
# wagon and team is preferablei
The lightest wagon that can, be con.
tructed VI sufficient strength 70 carry
l.50o pounds weight, is the vshicle
nos. desirable. No wagon should be
oaded over this weight. or If it il, it
sill be certain 10 stall in the muddy
and crossings on the prairie in
no first part Of the journey. This was.
N can be hauled by 8 or 4 yoke Of ox.
N or six mules. Oxen are usually en-.
by the emigranis for hauling
heir wagons. They travel about Is
niles per day, ,nd all things considered
10 perhaps equal 10 mules for this ser.
ice; although they rannot travel so
ast. They are, no wever, less -xpens-
We, and there is not 50 much danger of
heir straying and Of being stolen by
he Indians. So .3q,
Pack.mules can only be employed
y parties Of men. il would he very
|ificult I o transport a party Of women
nd children on pack,mules. with the
PROVISIONS, clothing and other baggage
10 their comfort. A party
I men, however, with pack.mules can
the journey in less time by one
ianth than i. can be done in wagons,
arriving with than, however, nothing
than Interpretations, clothing ami
ammunition. "a
For parties Of men going out, il would
2 welIto han! their wagons, provisions,
&C.. as lar as Fort Laramie, or Fort
Iall, BY mules, carrying with Them
and alorjasss, or larg.
,ddls,b bag, adaptrd 10 the pack saddles +,
nth ropes for packing, &c., when, ifli
icy say proPsF, they could dispose Of
'eir wagons ier lndian ponjss, and