The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-01
Routes to California.
|ANTAGES OF THE SANTA FE RoUTE-INsTRUcrfoN
TO MIGRANTS.


Ppting the most Inexpedlent measures aud I'M
cticable routes, tee! Is my duty as an old prai-
campalgner and Cali tOrnia trader, TO set them
At ANY person who has travelled 70 the Pacific
ware, and will bear me Out in stating, that the
from Independence, (Mo) via Council
al Basin, Is the shortest and most expeditions
sage 10 the Bay of San Francisco. There is no
ce between Independence and Santa Fe where
yoke OF working cattle or tive pair OF mules
not draw forty-ive hundred pounds on a com.
Pennsylvania burthen wagon indeed, l have
ven wagon the whole distance through, contain
htty-six hundred pounds, with ease and with
accidents The road Is generally In good con-
on Tor wagoning from the middle OF April to
nrst OF November, and any company OF men
antilles can cross the continent by starting as
as the LIST OF July but would advise those who
nd going TO the gold region tn start as early
THIS point as the 10th Of April. Companies OF so
fuld be ample protection for themselves, pro-
ing they do not seek to excite the hestilites of
Indians. They would find 1t to their interest
'se moderation towards the savages, as they
uld prove valuable auxiliaries In procuring buf.
meat for their whole voyage, and few pre-.
Is, such as bright cotton prints, beads, or blan-
IS; would suffice them for the provisions they
ild furnish. But by no means trade with them
liquors, as this course would lead to strife and
alton, and would tend to make the route dam
GUS to themselves and others. In all treatment
a the Indians, l have found mildness the best
cy, unless they meet you with a hostile Inten-
then severe punishment Is necessary. 1t
ds Just as much courage to meet an Indian foe
mat route, as an organized body Of white men.
ArapahOes and the PawDees are most to be
AIDED. The Camanche seldom meets you on
route In lSa8, met large body OF Pdwnees,
PIE was In command OF hunting party, three
IN advance OF the main company. little be-
"a Big Cow Creek, who were bent on HOSTILE
,; but beng but thirty in number ourselves, we
naged 10 keep them at bay, and finally set.
me difficulty without any loss. and secured
II friendship ard confidence, and good share
helr game. We found their favor better than
ar tight. However, few persons have been mo-
ed In crossing this country, which may be con-
cred as safe as the Vera Cruz route, and more
editlous, as thirty days is the time occu-
between Independence and Santa Fe, and
~ five days from Santa Fe to New Hslvetla
Pugh the Great BASIN.
has been said, and stated by many travellers,
this Great BASIN Is all sandy desert; that,
IVever, 10 mistake, tor there are pure streams
running water In large portion OF 1t, and what
Fam, and takes its rise in the western extremity
the Basin. II and Its branches traverse the
ole BASIN. and find an outlet on the southeast
|e, after running some seven hundred miles,
portion OF the country on Its banks Is well
Ioded, and affords excellent pasture for cattle.
|e Indians that inhabit 1t are OF the Umqua
Utah tribes, and a few OF several other tribes
Fderng on the outer edge, along the ridges of
|untains which encrcle 1t, and no danger may
Iapprehended from them, with proper caution.
Feed, they are less inclined to modest the whites
4 any other tribe, and are happy to- trade with
y one with whom they meet Mr.. Marshall and
] son Che gentleman who is said to have made
first discovery of gold in the Sacramento val
y and myset, went through this route with
her traders in the year 1913, and found this as
|od and practicable route as any. The
|ly difficulty was south OF Lake Pyramid,
here we encamped five days, unit! we could
Id place to cross, during which time we
Parated In parties OF one or two, and con-
|ucd our search all day, and encamped at night
|th RIO other bed than a buffalo robe, with no
ber shelter than the broad canopy OF heaven, and
18th no other protection than our rlflse. We slept
|iey, without any other disturbance than the
casional bark of the prairie wolf.
We found q place where, by doubling our teams,
could reach the first rise OF the mountain; from
ence we could proceed easily with our usual
ANS, and descend to the Sacramento valley:
Phen the whole camp was In motion, we could
'erage twenty miles day. Feed, wood, and
ater were plenty; and, In crossing these
curtains, 1t 10 necessary to have your animals
Od all around, with chains ON both hind wheels
lock. When necessary, parties on horseback
az ascend or descend the hills at various points,
king care not 10 leave or lose sight of the water
purses. Vegetation in many places Is good till
)u reach the SUBMITS OF the mountains, producing
enty of grass for stock.
| have no hesitation IN saying this is the safest
I'D mort expeditions route, while 1t affords the
aveIler delightful and healthy journey. Many
,valIds from consumption and other pulmonary
iseases have been entirely recovered. Ok teams,
many cases, are used, aud found equally useful
nd cheaper than mules or horses, though tor sreed
le latter would be preferable, and can be procured
n our western frontiers much cheaper than here,
even IN Texas.
The horse is more useful in hunting buffalo than
ne mule, as few mules can overtake q buffalo.
In hnn w a Pa
well to rein their horses from their game, after
avpg struck HIM his death-oiOw, tor they some
mes make desperate plunge at the horse in pur-
lit and for the rider to rsln his horse on in a
nralel line with the buffalo, would place him in
anger OF being gored by the expiring animal.
would further urge upon those who wish to
migrate to California, the proprety Of taking this
quite, es II IS the safest, and passes through the
lost beautiful and picturesque part OF the world
ne evergreen prairie, dotted here aud there with
yoOdand grOves-and none who have passed II,
ut would say 1t surpassed all other beauties OF
AZURE and, when they arrived at their point OF
estimation, will nave something to delight their
ainds while they live, with good knowledge OF
ne whole face of their own happy country have
lluded to Mr.. Marshall, IN my foregoing remarks;
e ia supposed and reported to be the man who
rst discovered the new Ell Dorado. He Is man
bout fifty years OF age, and accompanied me to
nat country, as wheelwrieht and blacksmith; and
would rely on his integrity and judgment In most
1atterS. lie ID an eXcclIent Hlecndnlc MS SOu
leo, accompanied me in 1854 young man then
bout eighteen years old. Several families, con-
Istpg OF males and females, children and adults,
vent by thls route to California and | do not re-
member OF any one CO tracing fit of sickness,
nd not single death occurred among the eight
undred souls, to Santa Fe, and three hundred to
and very few accidents OF any kind.
such was the security that we seldom sought
heller from the weather, other than our tents, and
eldom pitched them in clear Gather The DIS
ance can be greatly lessened by due west course
through the Great Basin, and may be accomplished
q eighty days, without unnecessary delay, and
With good leader, or commander, which is al
vays necessary on such journeys.
lam, &c. &C., r. w. McDoUaALL.
TnK EQUINOX AT THE SOUTH The Abbevlle
S. C.) Banner, OF the 2ilh uItimo, says:-Our
istrct was visited, on Saturday evening last, with
hail storm, that is unprecedented for severity in
his country. 1t was the heaviest, we und erstand,
bout Frazlersvllle, where fell larger In size than
nusket balls, doing much mischief. A gentleman
wing In that neighborhood informs US, that fifty
tx glasses were broken in his windows, and a
inc forest IN front Of his house was made llmbless
n few minutes; another states that thirty pane
4 glass were broken in his house, and sever raj pigs
illed by the hail, and that he saw numbers OF
irds under the trees dead from the same cause