Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-17
EVENING STAR.
cold Bull,on" and the Pacific Railroad.

recently delivered at Kansas, Missouri,
on the subject of the Pacific Railroad, by
Col. Benton. 1t is peculiarly character
istic of the man:
CITIzENs-I come to speak to you on
subject which concerns you all-which is
above party and above politics-and in
which have no other interest than the
rest of you; speak of the road to the
Pacific Ocean, and especially that route
for which it is marked out by the hand
of Nature, and which has been described
by Fremont and Leroux. came to speak
of that route, and to see small party
start to explore it. There sit the heads
of the party (pointing to Superintendent
Beale and Mr.. Harris Heap young in
wears, but old in experience, and well
tried in all the hardships and dangers of
distant and adventurous travel. The Su
perintendent has made above dozen
voyages by land or water to California
has been the comrade of Fremont, Carson
and other mountain men-has seen all
the mountains and plains, rivers and de-
serts, cold and heat, savages and wild
beasts, can show between the Mississippi
and the Pacific, and triumphed over all.
But that is only the beginning. He has
navigated every sea, and traversed every
land-South America as well as North
America Europe, Asia and Africa; and
never encountered difficulty or danger
that he had not resource and courage
to meet and surmount. And yet he is
only of an age (2S) when the career Of
heroic life is still ahead. He is grand
son of Commodore Truxton, and worthy
of his descent. Mr.. Heap, still younger,
also has been in California. and seen
Europe, Asia and Africa, and has done
travelling in every form in which it could
be, from his mothers fold-you know
what that is signs of recognition up
by mules and donkeys to canels and
dromedaries, and is very sorry that he
has not dromedary here now to skim it
at the rate of hundred and fifty miles
day over the prairies, carrying his mas
ter's food and finding his own. He is
the nephew of Commodore Porter, and
worthy to be so.
They take small party and all for SER
vice-three Delaware Indians, trained un-
der Fremont, a French roya er, some Mex
leans, and Leroux for a guide. They ex-
pect two more friends-Mr Elisha Riggs,
of the honse of Corcoran & Riggs, and
Mr.. A. Rodgers, son of the Commodore
both from Washington city, and g areN to
d. there, but abandoning the ease of the
city for the pleasures of an exploring trip
to the Pacific. 1t is a small party, but
great in the requisite qualifications, and
goes u11encumbered with superhuities-
no wheels-two or three mules apiece :;
and pinoli, pemican and beef dodgers for
their principal support. [ have copy Of
the inventory of their provision purchases
liable furniture and cooking utensils
included land it contrasts awfully with
some outfits that | have read Of The
whole cost is S86 80: and here is the de-
tail of particulars, the cost Of each article
annexed.
l bushel pounded parched corn, (pinoli,l
81 95; lOlbs. pemican, (pulverized dried
meat So 2 cans beef dodgers, s. 80 :
5 lbs. chocolate, 81 25; pilot bread,
Sc 70; Sc lbs ground coffee, $40 OS 5
lbs. tea, IS 25: sugar, $50 lbs. S14 70;
10 lbs. salt, lie: ground pepper, Sc:
Chile pepper, Soc; soap, 81; 25 lbs.
pork, So IS; 6 boxes sardines, s. so:
tobacco, 90 lbs. SO: camp kettle, ST e.
l tea kettle, &c; l gridiron, SOC: tin
bucket, 7Oc.; s tin plates, &c: 8 tin
cups, 81: 2 axes and helves, So IS; |
Ratchet, 50; - travelling bags, $11 81:
gunny sacks, so. Grand total, $50 50.
This is the list Of the supplies, all told,
inclusive, of kitchen and table furniture,
and exclusive of lodging: for which
blanket apiece, the earth and the sky,
are to provide. No tents. Some rifles
to keep off the Indians, and bring down
game, are to supply the want of guards
and the deficiency of the larder; and some
flannel and leather habiliments will dis
pense with the services CT a lauadress:
the extra supply of soap being chiefly
for the use of the chief Of the cooking de
partment-an Office greatly subject to the
imputation of being sinecu e. And
this is the outfit for fifty days wilderness
jaunt of young men who at home 's1cear
fine linen and fare sunptuouslp ererp
day." 1t is certainly suggestive of many
conclusions, as that they are not Gov
ernment party, do not equip at public ex-