New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-17
The California Trail-Overland Migration.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.

sr. JOSEPH, (Mo) Tuesday, April e.
The Californans still continue to pour into this
place in constant stream. The cry is "stl they
come" To attempt an enumeration of all the va
rious companies now here would exceed the limits
of letter. Their name is "legion." A few days
since crossed the Missouri to visit them at their
encampments found it impossible to make out
a list of the companies. twas Sunday, and the
scene would beggsr all description. Some were
cooking and Westinghouse were cleaning up
cooking utensils and ilrearms-while others were
breaking in refractory mules and cattle. Most of
them seemed eager for q start, although thought
a few looked as though they had seen enough of
the " elephant" and wished themselves most
heartily out Of the scrape, From the river bank
out to the bluff, distance Of some FIVE miles their
camps are strung all along. Owing to q constant
succession of cold rains the grass is backward
AS yet there is not suificiency of grass on the
prairies to sustain cattle. Consequently they have
to be fed upon corn. This has raised the price of
all grains enormously. Many of the emgrants are
not able to buy It at present rates. Not a few of
the teams look thin aud impoverished little
fitted to sustain the long trip before them. A few
persons are becoming discouraged and are backing
out Perhaps theirs is the wiser plan.
Some few cases Of sickness AID death have oc.
Cufltu. Ancsc nave gwen rise 70 reports oil ChOl-
era among the emigrants. What little sickness
has prevailed is attributable, believe to exposure
and drinking the muddy waters of the Missouri
most of il partaking OF the nature of diarrhea Az
far as / have observed and am informed, they ap-
pear generally 10 be in good health That some
few deaths should occur among many thousand
men, is not to be wondered at. hwould be strange
were it otherwise.
The larger portion Of the emigration 90 this wear
with American horses. How the experiment will
succeed is doubtful The pampered and corn fed
horse will not thrive upon prairie grass. There is
nothing like the mule for the Plains
The gambling houses and groceries this lat
ter term in the West includes all places where
liquor 10 TO be had-are now in full operation at
this place. Monte and "fsro' roulette" and
"poker.' are at present the order Of the day
These dens Of iniquty are open night and day. Not
few of the emigrants have lost their entire outfits
at the gaming table. 1t would seem that the vices
which prevail to such an extent in California, man-
ifest themselves among them even before they
leave the border.
Several of the passenger and freight lines have
already backed out. AS general thing, the emf
grants 10 prefer going through with their own
teams. as the surest and most expeditions mode OF
getting TO "El Dorado" In this / think they
show their shrewdness. Last year the Wanted
Pioneer Lines turned out to be no pioneer
Lines at al and passengers were left in the lurch.
The first passenger wagon train that reached Cali
fornia last season was that Of Capt Miles NJ Good
year. Poor Miles After Drawing the hardships
and dangers Of the mountains for fourteen years he
reached the shores Of the Pacific only to become
the victim of disease. He sleeps his last sleep in
the valley Of the Yuba Many poor fellow. now
full OF hope, will share his fate.
As near as 1t can be computed there are now
1000 wagons between this point and Grand Inland.
Most Of them carry with them corn sufficient to
feed their cattle 90 for three weeks. Over 5000
persons have already rendezvoused at this point
alone One Of our papers sets it down at 5000
There are now at Council Bluffs over 1000. and at
Independence between 1000 and 5000. to say
nothing of the various other points Of departure on
the frontier Of lesser note. Where they oil coma