Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-10-01
NOTES AND COMMENTS EfX THE WAY
PLAcERvLLE, CAL, Aug. 8, 1852.

! PLACERvILLE, CAL, Aug. 9, 1852.
Mr.. EDITOR -
left Copper Ferry of Platte river June 18th
June 18th, came to Aikai Lake Saleratus her
in abundance. We collected some for cookin!
purposes, it has been transported to Salt LAX
from here for the same purpose. 1t answers tn
puspose very well, although, think it contain
some Chloride Of Sodium.
June Is. Next point of interest and curiosit.
to me was thee Ic Marsh," subternean vaul
containing ice in abundance. here we cooled oul
plrched lips with the congealated diamonds o.
Natures aqueous fountain, and passed on tC
" Devil's-Gate." which is perpendicular chan
mel through a rocky mountain some three Oh
four hundred feet in height. Through this chan
mel, whose walls are perpendicular and smooth
as though chseled by the hand of art, passes the
Sweet-water river with tremendous force and
velocity. From this point, until we crossed the
Sierra Nevada Mountains, v saw, almost daily
the everlasting snow-capped mountains on either
side.
saw but little vegetation on the entire route
What observed was mainly as follows !: Wlli
wheat, oats, barley, corn, flax, onions, sage al
so the cactus, several varieties. OF wood,
saw but little, and that little consisted mainly OF
the Cotton and Willow, until had passed over
the last range of the Sierra Nevada mountains
On this side, the above named range, Chat is IN
CALI there is abundance of splendid timber
which consists mainly of Pine, Cedar, with oc-
casonally little Oak and Spruce.
Now as to the hardships of the journey; and
they were neither hard or numerous this season
From the Fort the grass has been with the eX-
ception of Sweetwater valley and the Black hills
unusually good, the roads, also, were very good
and tho streams easy to ford And another cir.
cumstance which has contributed much to the
general good of the emgrants is, there dividing
off pretty equally upon all the different routes,
thus obtaining more and better grass for their
teams, and this is the great deSideratum on this
route.
The emigrants this season have been but lit
tie molested by the Indians, and that little moles-
taton was mainly from the PaWnees, where a
few white men were killed. From the above
named tribe (Which is the second from Missouri
riycr) through t. CaIl'r nia, there have been but
few Indians Sc II, tie reason is attributed to tie
fact. that report went in advance of the emf
,~ran,s. lhat there WAS much Cholera and $ma.,
Payarn,nr the sane. However, in the yiciglry
OF The Humboldt, while in its valley, we had ~
hence, paIpable, ofther near proximity TO us, by
t., frequent loss of stock during the night; and
occasionally, a man was Shot by their arrows ;
which, however, in no case, 10 my knowledge,
proved fatal.
Teams are able, generally, to cross the desert
and the Sierra Nevada, and are coming in look
ing tolcrabIy we'll.
Stock bears a good price here this season,
with the exception of small horses, mules, and
poor cattle which sell for about what they cost in
the States, Large horses pay about 100 per
cent on original cost beef cattle about the
same; cows yom ! to 800 per cent.
As to the MINING y, spocts here just now, they
are not very cd. It il, now the Org, or sum
mer season here and owing to the scarcity Of
water, miners, no. a.orc than one half of them
find profitable employ. That is, one half j. st
barely make living, while the other half arc
making three or four dollars per day. When the
rainy season commences, which will be in six or
eight weeks, the miners can all find profitable en-
pIoyment, this is the (that is the raioy season.
harvest time for California.
A common laborer can now obtain from S75
70 500 per month A mechanic from 500 to
100 per month.
As to the politics here they seem to run high.
On Monday morning, week ago this day, at
sunrise, hostile meeting took place at Oak
grove, between Hon. Edward Gilbert, Wing,
senior editor of Ala California, and Gen. J.
W. Dennis, Dem, State Senator from Trinity
county. The cause of this lamcntable affair, as
was informed by the Gen. himself, originated
in tie disappearing and abusive manner in which
the editor had spoken of the Relief Train which
had been sent ont TO Carson Valley (for the en-
igrants) by the Governor addressing his remarks
TO every one personally connected with the On
"iipiH was NtSiI' bNiiAi'o i' wv
immediate cause of the atfray was the publishing
of a card, by Gen Dennis, rejecting upon the
personal character of Hon. E. Gilbert, which
I induced the latter to give the challenge to the
former The weapons selected were Wesson:
rifles, and distance forty PAGES.
! After the first interchange of shots, neithe
! of which took effect, the weapons were reloaded
and the word given, when Mr.. Gilbert fell almos
/ instantly, having received the shot OF Gen Den
mis- in the left side, just above the hip bone ant
passed out directly opposite lie survived bu
four or FIVE minutes.
And now a word of advice to those wishing t
come 10 California California is full, although
it could hold many more; and all in the State
who own property, and are making good living
had better remain there, especially il they have
family, Those who have neither would d,
well to try their luck here This is my opin
ion.
As TO the invalids, especially those consmup
tive and those having long been afflicted witt
re1tcreal disease, il they have energy enough lef