The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-03-27

River Valley is bentiful one We. the snow CO.
yers the mountains nearly all the year. Soon af
ter striking the valley, you cross four branches Of
the ryer IN about ten rods. They are deep and
swift From where YOU strike Bear River to So
da Sprngs, is about 70 miles, the most of the way
beng over a lovely valley; there are, however,
some high hills to 20 over The Soda Springs
are certainly curiosites | don't know how many
varieties there are Of them but drank Of FIVE or
six. Four different kinds stand in a square-not
4 feet apart. There are, also Sulphur Springs
- Near the river are the Steamboat Springs. If
the traveller has time, hs going about six miles
northeast of this he will the prettiest sulphur
lake in existence birthstone can e packed up in
any quantIe. on its borders. For long distance
the country shows signs Of volcanic eruptions.
Three miles from the Soda Sprnrs, the road forks.
The one to the right goes by Fort Hall, the left
by Myers cutoff The Fort Hall road is the
best 1t being the most level II is said to be one
mile further than the cut Off Either way is from
so to roo miles. Having lost nv memorandum,
kept at the time of crossing, nan unable to give
all the prominent points and the currect distances.
After leaving the cutoff two days drive viii car
~ you To the junction of the salt Lake road, uear
Castle Rocks. The distance from Salt Lake To
this junction is so mles-W We're to recommend
Salt Lake by all means. The cuts off are hum
bugs.-From the junction to the head ofthe Hum
bold; is abou, 100 miles, in tssseling which You
will pass up Goose Valley, rich and fertile val
ley, aud also Thousand Spring Valley. This last
valley has many springs, aud natural wells Of
poisonous water. The immigrant should be on
his guard, lest himsclfand teamget poisoned. In
this valley are some very hot springs The va
ter from one tasted II tasted as IA powerful
cmctc. A few rods further % was one Of the
most beautiful springs Of cold water ever -een--
For the next 400 miles the water Is bracklsh IL
ls seldom you eau get any gc5d.--from where
YOU strike the Humboldt to lts sink is about 800
miles. In travelling this distance, YOU iy-quentIy
have to leave the river Ii would always he well
to take supply OF water with YOU for . or ii
days YOU Will bc going down this ;iyGr, drinking
OF ~ poisonous aud enerva,ng water the com
pound sf all the filth generated alongit. by the
time you reach the sink you are different being
from what you were when you started Instead
Of being human, you are mad up Of horse and
mule soup aud other filth too nauseatiug to think
Of lfyou wish TO have cool water to drink, co.
ming down the river, iii! stone Jug with it at
night, and let it stand with the stopple out
There i some offset 10 this BAD drink that ls, II
YOU have first rate good luck you will not 5e cal.
led up more than two or three times IN the night
to get Your stock out c the mire.
From the sink to Carson river, Al miles Here
the grca. mass make a mistake. Instead Of lea
wing the sink in the evening they should leave II
early IN the morning. From 95 to IS miles the
road is good and the travelling not worse than
has been encountered. This should be gone over
during the day.--1he last l3 cr II miles j. hea'
W sand aud starting from the SINK at night leaves
the part'to ~ traverse in the hot sun. This eau
ses the loss OF so many trains when ifa contrary
coprse was pursued. they mlt.t be got 'trougl'
sam. Three miles before Gc.Tmg tD Car,pn nv
cr, To TIC eft Of the road, about three-fourths OF
a mile j. beautiful lake of salt water with fresh
springs around its margin, and also SUI phur
spring.
BY this time, the mind and body are so fatigu-
cd tia, scarcely any note Is taken Of time or dis
tances. 4 species Of insanity seems TO seize up
on every one which creates ar,cklcssness border
ing on despair The recollection Of the hardships
endured on this route, makes me shudder even
yet, and regret to :hink others are ioul.haidy
enough TO follow in our lootsteps.'
From where You strike the Carson river to Pla
ceryille, lllaugtown) is about twohundrcd miles
one hundred Of which is up the Carson Valley.
At times the road leaves the river, but returns Ia
II hHtU, MS valley Is one OF lilt flCntsN u dHuE
countries IN the world, and at the upper end gold
has been found in considerable quantities. y set
tlcmeut and city 1T be commenced there the Co
ming season. Going out Of Carson Valley, YOU
pass through n big canon Of the most grand and
imposing scenery imaginable. Here You com
mencc the ascent Of the Sierra Nevada mountains
After going over few smaller ridges, you come
to the Grand Divide. lfyou have not before seen
the Elephant" you will find him at home here
10 miles from the lake between the Divide, will
bring YOU To HanGtown.
Times are changed for the better here with
IN the last two years yet many trains will curse
the day they'cver set ont for this "i.dorado'
From the sink Of the Humboldt, new route
has been laid out, running west which Is said to
be better road, has far less desert, and being IF
ty miles shorter From the description given by
those who have Travelled it, am Of the opinion /;
Is better than going by Carson River
That this Is a great country, cannot be denjet
that it is one Of the best on the continent to live
n il To mistake although the trouble Of over land
route more than balances the advantages to I've
derived from the first two or three years,
have but to repeat the advice given in the
fore part Of my letter. II you come, come hv
water, but il YOU come by land get the outfit
have named; bring your families with you, in oi
ther case--and make this vour home for life. 1t
is folly to do otherwise. Youg', DC,
n. W. FULLER