The Arkansas banner., 1850-05-14
From the Fsr Smith Hsrald.I Letter from II. J. share, of the Fort smith sEaE Fnrusa

California Company.
 Good road from the Rte Grande- Water, Grass, and
 Misquitte Beans-B Bealiifai Vaileys- Delicious
 Fruits Plenty of Gold
 SAN FRAscIso, CAL, Feb. '. 1850.
 Friend Wheeier:--HaAng Seen informed that therehas been report in,rcuiafon, m Fort smith, tha, the company of eniEans, that ieft that place last spring suffered grGt deal Their route to California,-I. therefore. .hasen to contradict it, at least, far the companies that leit last spring are concerned. l should save written to you before ihls time, but when srrFed here, had no money and was forced, in the irst place to hunt work which was somewhat dldcut to 6na, as there was such crowd of persons. arriving daily, just in the same condition mysfE. Wages for common Iaborers was very high ben, being from seven 10 ten dollars per day. Atthss time It IS only three dollars per day, but if wa soon become higher, as thousands are now eayiH for the mines At pres ent flour is SIS per bau- fresh beef 25 cs pe, Ih pork 30 eehrs, deer S25each, wild geese, due Ks and other fowls are yeryligh. Grisly Bears. thai are brought 10 town vcrlh from Si50 to S3n0 a piece, and you cannot bal their flesh for less than s per b. -
 I will now give you some of inc outlines of our trr. You already know he difficulties we had in getting through the mud. reasiened by the iuces- ssnt rains ihal continued tq fall like deugr upon us when we first started. From the Rio Grande, { in respect to that seetioa ihe country, will nst state for the information the public, that we had a splendid road clear though. We left the Rio Grande the 3d of Augu4, and travelled across to The Gtla, over a country tsi was well watered, and found A suticiencv of gra% for our stock, passing through two small Mexica towns. Santa Cruz and i Tsnson. and also the Pim village, where We hfst struck ,he Gla river. Afer leaving the last men toned place. had 10 cras d bend ot the river, oi about 10 miles, which waslhe hardest time we had upon The whole route. Ii Nas very hot and dusty After coming To the Gha aain, we followed it down about 20 miles 10 the Coldado and in that dlsance We found short grazing for ar stock, in consequence Of winch, we travelled yer slow, until we arrived al the Colorado, experhu3o find. when we crossed tb.ts+ver, the Great Desei, but instead of desert | oi 100 miles, as we anticipated. without water o' grass. and deep sand, we pnly found six miles o deep sand. and only hflee miles tO the first well where we iound plenty of water for mules. and aiso mesquite beans for he mules; then we bad | thirty five miles to New River, where there ws' plenty ot wafer and grass or our stock. H.ie ~e layeG by three days for or teams to reeIuR am, then hlied onr wagons win hay for our teams. and then Lett and travelled l5 aiies 10 beautiful eiea resh water lake, and camFtd for the night; the hex morning we started and trsxeled 2 miles to a smal creek, and eamped, feet.ifg teams oa the hay we had m our wagons; aHi the next day we eam' to an Indian town, eslied ailasiito, distance O
 
 sand ana gravel. From thsre ta San Diego-we haf good road. plenty oi gras and water. The figh way, however. is 10 20 toLos Angeles, and irea thence to ths place. II is first rate road w.it th' exception Of half mile, witch is the toughest road tLsi ever saw. IL IS between Santa Barbara ant and San Louis Obtspo Fsse other part of the toaf ] 's excellent. and posses through of the mos beautiful Vaies ever beaed with my eyes, sa' runs good part of the way. along the coast, pass ing through Inc principal towns of the coaatry l Moaterey, Sao Jose inc sea of government. WI found plrniy Oi fruit afleT leaving san DisgO, saci AS grapes, peaches, pears. figs. pumgraaat~s an' melons ot all kinds-whea, barley and corn. IT abundance. There are 10 mills tor manuisciarln! ! flour, except the mos, simple and laborods kind - Most ot the wheat Is ground by hand and slilsd i which makes toerabiy black bread, but very whole some. As for wine. I have drank the best pnr grape jalce, tastsi in my lite al Los Angrios and also at the Missonthai we passed We fean' large orchards ot the dive tree, raised for making oll The lime tree gross wild, aud HId cherry A large as the Arkansas Nums
 1 The Fort smith boys as far as know, are gsB eTaily well in good spirts. and with hopes oi makn! pleaty of money. Tie goid Ii IS said, IS yer! 1 peaty-the average yield Is ounce a day la tla northern mines. Aooatthe first Of the montk a ma ! took out piece that w'igaa-d I9 lbs.
 have written you along letter, and expect wAi tire you ,o read Il through. The papers ye i send have never reached here. the cause have no ] asceFtaIned.
 sm truly years, in ?. l.. Ger. 1 If. J. SHARk.