The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-01-10

FROM THE CALIFORNIA EMlGRANTss.s
Quite ! number Of lettors. from Those
wbo went overland from this county 40
California, wsre received in this plsec last
week. A Iestsrl iaap MI fhoa,as 70 Nj.
Crossin, OF Davenport, dated >, Sacramento
City, the 18th Of Sept, states that his par
u arrived there on the 9th Of that month:
Mr.. Hires, OF Princeton precinct, Scott
county, preceded him several days. Chez
yer g. Fry Of this county and Dr.. Bracket,
Of Rock leland, had arrived previously
John Fisher, formerly q This place, who
vas reported to have been shot, was At
work on the American Fork.
Mr.. Thomas speaks Of the hsrdships OF
the route, Of the quantity, Of gold in Csl'tor-
nia,.wsges, provisions, ETC, in tho zane
strain q Mr.. sLamber. 10 the following ex-
tract, which we are permitted to make from
his letter, dated 1t Sacramento City. Oct.
ID, l640:--
awe have ali Of Ne, who started from Daven-
Bort, got through safe, with our two wagons
DR.. Brown, Daniel Hawley and r. Scrogg'ns
with one team; and Dsvid Rogers, s. Stockton
and myself with the.o;her. We six have mess
ed together and travelled together, from Daven-
port to Sacramento City, 1t Suffers Fort. We
have travelled over all kinds Of roads, and noun
tsins Of the toughest kind; the dust Of the roads
in many places over our boot tops. But, thank
God, We have all arrived safely on the Sacra-
mento.
We have not lost an OF or broke wagon since
we left home, or any Of Us had serious sickness
on the route. But there are thousands who have
died and been laid beneath the clods Of the pra-
ries, away from their wives and children, from
father, mother, brothers, sisters, ell the heart
holds dear. And there are thousands who left
the States who have lost their teams some died
and some stolen by the Indans-and q great
many have been obliged to pack through on
their own backs. What is to become OF those
that are behind us, who are said to number
eight thousand teams, some Of them four or FIVE
weeks behind.. God only knows what will be
their fate. There is not feed on all the roads
over the mountains for one-half Of the cattle
God save the families Of women and children
that are yet behind. Although the government
has apr ropriated one hundred thousand dollaye,
and sent over cattle and provisions to assist the
back emigrants, yet many must perish.
We should have got through three weeks
sooner only we took new trail from the Mary,
or Humboldt river, and crossed the mountains
up near the Oregon line, which made our road
two or three hundred miles further than the old
road but We were obliged to take the new road
on account Of scarcity Of food for our cattle in
the old road. By this time there is no feed on
the new road. There is plenty of gold here; it
will not all be got in fifty years. 1t mas been
very sickly in the mines this summer, bur is said
to be now more healthy.
Icannot tell what shall do a, this time. Car
penter's wages in the city are from Is to 20 dol
lars per day, and any kind Of labor, from to 10
dollars per day. Pork sells for 40 dollars per
Dbl and -four Is dollars per bbl.; sugar and cot.
fee Is cents per h.; cheese dollar per h.; but
Ter the same; potatoes so cents per ID; onions
one dollar per h.; fresh beef Is cents per b.;
dry goods are cheap.
1t is now months, within seven days, since l
left home. There is the best opportunity here
now to make money that ever saw or heard Of.
Some make fifty thousand dollars in a few
months, and some make nothing.
We have been very busy this day getting
ready to 60 up TO the mines. We start tonight
at Y o'clock. We are going on the south branch
Of the American Fork, about SO miles from Sac
ramento City. There are four Of us in company,
David Rogers, Robert Scrcggins, Daniel Haw-
ley and myself. We are taking up load Of
provisions with our team. shall write again
soon. G. w. LAMBERT.