Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-11-15
Correspondence of the Alta California;


As everything concerning the immigrants must be inter
osting your readers will say little on the subject
No would believe that the number of people pouring
into California great il actually is unless he tra
vclled the emgrant road Our calculation the first
four days after left Webervie; that day counted the
wagons, and the number passed one hundred and
sixty five. Nearly all were driven by oxen One hundred
and fifty wagons per day for months would make nine
thousand wagons this route Yesterday counted ule
number of women and il thrtywo. We passed liy
that number every day since We lett Ncoervie counting
twenty-five women per day. for months, the number
would be fifteen hundred. We passed, at the lowest cacu-
laon hundred per dly Four hundred per day. for
two months would make twenty four thousand Add to
these the number who travel by ohor routes. Nearly
all OF those passed sturdy looking Western work
ing Most OF them wero afoot having lost Their AM,
mails on the ese-and scattered along with and
detected c0unenances dusty, and III many cases tattcred
habments with pots pans bags blankets and rifles strap
ped their shnues-hcy looked more like Struggling
volunteers, forced march, than independent cltzhns
bound for the land of gold. The women were generally
Young good looking and well dressed Many OF them were
plump, fresh looking farmers daughters, and several OF
the handsonest welcomed with bouquets of beauilihi
California flowers gathered in The valleys on the other
side of the Snowy Mountains Some Of The women
handled the whips and rens-some were wen menn,ea
lorscbacksuuc rode i'll the wagons and others strord
on funt Many of the in distress, and icw ask
ed s for bread Their msfortuncs were chiefly owing To
the loss of animals on the desert for the want Of food and
wafer told that the road through the desert Is literal
y strewed with dead horses and oxcn and that 900 wagons
were left on The desert The road from Wcbervc 10 This
place is sirewsd with broken wagons wheels, harness.
trunks dead oxen &r, &c. The loss OF property on tho
route has bsen immense. Everything except provisions il
-rewed along the road At every camping ground the 9ss
lion is"Dont you want TO buy his-"A splendid fiie
"A s.perfnc coat-"A fine pair Of boos-"A good feather
beI Any of hesa articles b" bought in the Valley ioI
S. Flour and other articles OF provision have been sold al
81 80 So per h. There traders now all along e route
10 the desert and prices falling Flour down to &c.
md abundant. 80,
Carson Valley is Is miles wlde and is covered WIN
lnxuriant growth of grass Snow remains still on the
mountains each side stream OF lee water runs through
our camp and mile distant there is stream OF water bolt
ng hot In the morning The steam from it is like volume
If smoke Wild ducks and prairie hens are abundant
have several acquaintances here from the Southern
mines They found gold, but not in sufficient Quantities 10
induce them to remain. Rich discoveries will be made on
this side mountains but whether will be the lucky
nnes remains Tomorrow start for the lrnc-
Ky River Yours truly, n. Hlhoo.''