The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-06-12
journal ofsn Overland Trip to Californi,
BY A. c. MORSE, ESQ.

II 10th. Left Fort Des Moines 7 o'clock, A. M
tits pretty location at the junction of the Rae.
coon Fork and Des Moines Rivers, numbers a
bout 800 persons, 9 or 10 stores, 2 or 3 printing
Offices, 6 Law Offices, and about the same mum
Der of Doctor Shops The buildings are mostly
Hog, although there is a prospect of large mum
Der of frames being completed soon-and from
the appearance of things at this time, it is at nj
distant period destined to be a place of great i'm
portance. The Des Moines River is at this sea
son of the year navigable for small class boats
but there being two dams below at this time, il
is impossible for boats to run up to the town. II
is probable they will soon be removed and when
done, will be of great benefit to the place Quite
a heavy settlement extends about 80 miles up
the river, and from this point to the mouth. Be.
fore reaching the place, you pass through the
valley of the Des Moines about miles, contain
: ing some of the prettiest farms | have seen in
the West; the soil is rich and fertile, timber is
equally good-mostly walnut, sycamore and
oak The whole country around is filled with
California emigrants- the town is filled to over
howing-country entirely destitute of grain; We
Try little corn to be had at any price, and what
has been sold has brought ST. so per bushel.-
Settlers who have just reached the place, are in
great danger of suffering the present year-ma-
ny have come into the country with large fami.
get grain at any price, and but few of them have
money to buy with. find large number here
who design going to Salt Lake to spend the win
ter, and make an early start for California the
following spring. was informed by the ferry
man, that he was crossing from 40 to go wagons
|per day, and had been for some time past, and
the cry from every quarter is ''still they come.
Mr. L. P Sherman, Editor of the Gazette,
informed me to-day, that 1900 teams had passed
Through Iowa City, up to the 11th
After leaving Fort Des Moines, we struck out
into the 20 mile prairie, wind from the N. E.,
almost blowing hurricane-the coolest day we
have had since leaving. Finding it too cold to
ride, wrapped my blanket around me, and
struck out into the prairie ahead of our teams;-
after walking about Is miles, | felt little ia
tigued, and picking out soft place on the ground,
took sound nap by the time our company came
up.
Wetraveled to-day IS miles, reached Brown s
ford at o'clock, P. M. -
17th Awoke this morning, and found the
ground covered with snow, and very cold; no
more prospect of grass than we had in December.
Left Browns ford at o'clock, A. M; travelled
16 miles to Cedar Point; arrived clock, P. NJ
found the roads to-day quite bad; one of our
company quite unwell, but nothing serious; was
informed that 70 teams had passed here on yes-
terday. --------------'- ."
18th. Cold, unpleasant day. Left Cedar Point
it being the borders of civilization, and struck out
into aprairie about ITO miles across at o'clock,
A. M. travelled to-day % miles to Middle River,
which we reached at o'clock, P. NJ; roads i'm
proving on towards the bluffs; found Is teams
encamped at this place, large portion from Linn
county, and the northeastern part of Wisconsin;
saw two persons to-day direct from the Bluffs,
who report grain to be advancing in price, owing
to the large number of teams that are arriving.
1t is stated by several that are direct from the
Bluffs, that over 1900 teams are there, waiting
for grass.
10th. Cold, unpleasant day. Left our en-
campment on Middle River, clock, A. NJ;
passed 9 teams; about o'clock encamped on
the east fork Of Nodawa River-travelled TO- day
80 miles to Hickory Grove, were compelled to
make a forced drive, or camp on the prairie
without wood water-reached our camping
ground just at sun-set-found about so teams
encamped at this point mostly from Wisconsin;
passed this week dead horses, that had died
on the lroad.
| Goth. Left Hickory Grove o'clock, A. M,
weather more pleasant to- day; roads quite good;
passed II teams at Nishnabotany River, out of
grain, and no prospect of getting any;-travel-
led part of the day in company with 80 teams
from Wisconsin-passed the old Indian village
at o'clock; heard that one emigrant by the
name of See had just died, and that another poor
fellow was not expected to lve;-travelled to-
day % miles, and encamped at clock, p. M,
in the prairie, miles west of Nishnabotany Riv-
er;-quite rainy and dsagreeable;- Just wood
enough could be found to boil our coffee;-com-
pany all quite fatigued, and not little dscour-
aged at the many difficulties to be encountered.
A@SA' y A.
M; windy and unpleasant day; passed Is or IL
teams entirely out Of grain, and none to be had;
travelled to-day IS miles, to Silver Greek,
roads quite good; found about 40 teams at this
place out of grain, and large portion out of mo-
ney, who had turned their cattle into the woods
to get what could be found until grass made its
|appearance;-heard to-day that corn was hard
to get at the Bluffs at So. =
22d. Left Silver Creek o'clock, A. ~; ira
yelled to-day "a miles, roads very good; wealth.
er more pleasant; reached Council Bluffs at
o clock P. M.
23d. Kanesville being filled to OVERLOOKING
with emlgrants, we were compelled to find quar-
tiers miles below, at Council Point, this morn
ing, at which place we design remaining until
Monday the goth. -"
23d. Sold our yoke of cattle and heavy wag.
on to-day, and purchased 2 more horses to pack
with We now design taking with us our light
wagon and horses, together with 3,extra hors-
es and pack saddles. Purchased to-day thirty