Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-04-01
Oregon.

Oregon.
We are indebted to Gen. Joseph Lane for copy o
''The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon" From thi
little work extract the following as may be Of in
terest to some of readers, who making prepara
tons to emgrate to that territory The author of th
work is Capt r. NJ Walker, civil engineer, of Mil
waukie Oregon, and his advice the result of his owl
personal experience:
SOME GENERAL REMARKS
This Guide makes ST. Joseph the starting point from
which TO leave the settlements. At the time,
think Old Fort Kearneys ninety-five miles Gbere St
Joseph, the best point for several reasons from which
to leave the river. The distance from St. Joseph tc
Nep Fort Kearney the plans is three hundred and
five miles, from the Old Fort il only hundred and
ten miles, making the distance from ST. Joseph by way
Of the Old Fort, 10 New Fort Kearney, the as
from St. Joseph direct. There is advantage in keep
ing up the Old Fort before crossing the Missouri river
You travel the ninety live miles through inhabited
country which enables you proc,re grain for your
animals and provisions for yourselves this much further
your journey. The road, too, is much better than
either of the others from the river to New Fort Kearney
There are streams of any size except Cottonwood
and Salt Creek, and they are bridged
There is no dicultyn passing this route cth0ut
guide as il is beautiful prairie country, and you strike
the Great Platte Valley in eighty miles from the Mis-
souri, and it ntersecs the st. Joseph trail in hun
red and ninety y-eight miles, at point twelve miles
below New Fort Kearney. Not having my of the
Old Fort road by me- have written those taken
the ST. Joseph TRAIL which consider the next best point
from which to leave the Missouri river. IT, arriving
at ST. Joseph, the emgrant finds the weather favorable
there will be difficulty passing this route: but
If much rain has fallen, would advise them to go to the
Old Fort before CROSSING there three streams
the St. Joseph which, rainy season. deci-
dedy the most difficult Of any streams between
the Missouri and Pacific ocean. These the Wolf,
Nimehaw, and Big Bloc rivers, all within hundred
and thirty miles of st. Joseph.
Emgrants intending TO cross the plains should get as
RI as Inst aS he he
gins to spring. those intending 10 travel with horse and
mule teams start, and taking extra wagon that
viii bear up thirty ory bushels of grain, feed their
stock and by the time the grain is gone the grazing will
be sufficient Emigrants should have strong and light
wagons with rubber locks and lock chains, both attach
ed. One grand committed by emigrants is the
loading OF their wagons heavily, and the consequence
is that their stock is oentimes out before two
thirds OF the journey is performed Nothing should be
taken but what is positively and absolutely necessary
Your provisions, bedding, enough clothes to last you
through. few tools that may be needed IN making
repairs extra horse and mule and OK, shoes and nails
dishes o. tin, and cooking utensils Two tin o
three gallons each to every wagon and two India rub
ber walter bags carry water for your stock across des
ertss holding fifteen gallons each. Wood kegs get dry
and fall to pieces, and BESIDES they add TO weight
Leave all trunks bedsteads, sofaS bureaus, &C., &C..
for your friends at home, plenty to be had in Oregon
at very reasonable rates. 1t is much better to save
your animals strength to haul yourselves and provis
ions along safely, than to bele(t without any teams six
hundred miles from any place.
Provisions for hundred and twenty days for each
person eighty pounds of -four forty pounds OF good
crackers twenty pounds Of corn meal thirty pounds OF
hams, fifteen pounds OF bacon five pounds OF dried beef
thirty five pounds of sugar, three pounds OF crushed
sugar pounds of Coffee pounds Of tea, twelve
pounds of BEANS six pounds of rice, twelve pounds o
cheese, fifteen pounds ofdried fruit five pounds Of SALT
three pounds of soap gallon OF pickles. quarter of
gallon fourth proof brandy o Soda one pound
Of cream tartar, mustard. pepper, matches, Sc.
Your provisions should be well secured against any
possibility Of getting Flour, meal meat and fruit
in good sacks balance in cans. Wagon covers of good
materia and well painted. Oil coth blanket for horses
and mules threequarter inch manila rope for ariats
hemp rope is not good, soon isears out
Ii Is not always that YOU picket your animals
therefore have side hobbies they against
the Indians Oftentimes after you have camped and
your animals pcketed the Indians viii ride up pell-me
for the purpose OF causing stampede among your stock
with the hope that they will get loose and out of
sight giving them the opportunity of taking them away
Have good C0Od picket pins strong rope and make the
arat fast to the animals fore-loot and it will usually
keep them. If there any great danger put the hob
bles Travel together, keep close watch and guard
your stock well night vnd have but very little to say
Indians Don't be ractious, but take things cooly
be mild, but firm with them, as long as they behave
themselves They often make great flourish fright
en- but don't be alarmed and fire upon them In the
day time unless they really making hostile move
hen make cork Of it. Good double barrel guns and
uck shot does mighty well, and Colts revolvers-Al
lens are not worth charge of powder-common rifles
are useless things The government rifle is very eff
cient arm and If government should condescend
to order troops the road this year, yor
will perhaps make the journey without any trouble fa
as Indians concerned They great towards,
awfdy afraid of fire arms and will not attack you unless
they get an advantage. Hoping that every man, wo.
man. and child who leaves the Missouri and makes tht
overland journey Oregon may arrive in safety, trouble
you no further
MILWAUKEE, o. T., January, 1852. W.
NoTE.-The Secretary Of War has recently promised
Gen JOSEPH LANE, the delegate from Oregon Terrific
ry, send troops this route toprotect the emi
grants to Oregon this