The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-01-19
Nobies' Route to California.
SHAKoPEE, January 1, 1854.

NODteS' Route to California;.
SHAKoPEE, January l, 1854.
Editor Minnesota Pioneer -
In perusing your paper Of Dec. LIST, find an arti-
Gle in answer the Minnesota Democrat, relative to
AN emyrant road from St. Paul to California and Or
egon, ia which you To differ with the editor and
myself As to the point at which the Missouri should
be crossed. So Tar the from St. Paul to the
Missouri is concerned my personal knowledge Of the
country is limited, and from the best information l
have been able to obtain from those acquainted with
the country south Of the Minnesota, am inclined to
think your views are correct. Beyond the Missouri,
however, think your recommendation of a route d.
rect to the Great Bend of the Sweetwater is objec-
tionable, as believe Fort Laramie should be made
point, as Il affords many facilities for obtaining
supplies, &c., which Is important To the emigrant-
This is the only objection to the route YOU propose,
as am myself aware that it is much the shortest
In my letter to the editor of the Democrat, pub
lished some time since, gave my views in relation
to the practicabity Of cnigrant route from Saint
Paul to California and Oregon, and the many advan.
iages that route possesses all others, in distance
IN health, in supplies Of WOOL water and grass and
III the favorable location Of the country over which
the route would pass; and from my knowledge OF the
country, ! am convinced that my views are correct
and that the emigrant either to California or Oregon
VIII, BY the proposed route through Minnesota save
mech in time and expense, and what is Of much i'm.
Po,ance, in the ability Of the cattle make the trip
through without becoming worn out by fatigue pri-
walton, and over-exertion.
You are aware that the routes generally Travelled
by the different tur traders, made in an early
day to pass from post to another, without regard
10 any line OF route from one country TO another, and
hence W. Ind trails leading in every possible drec-
ton, as far west Fort Hall and the Snake Indian
country. and thence to the Pacific. The emisra
followed those old trails, where thew could be
made to answer, until mere thorough know ledge Of
the country led 10 improvements. For instance
Capt Bonneville was The first 10 open a road from
the Missouri river to Fort Hall, and travelled about
twelve hundred miles. The distance now Travelled
is not over thousand miles, and by the proposed
route will not exceed nine hundred miles. From
Fort Hall to California, or the summit Of the Sierra
Nevadas, the distance travelled is about seven
hundred and fifty miles. But by leaving Fort Hall
fifty miles to the north, and travelling about one hun.
dred and scventy-hve miles by entirely new route
nifty miles more can he saved, while the road is much
better, with an abundance Of grass and good water.
Suct are the facts, and II is with view to making
these facts known, that have addressed YOU ON the
subject. BY examination Of the map, the position
have assumed will be clear TO every unbiased
mind, viz-that the route | propose to California
and Oregon through Minnesota and passing by Fort
Laramie, can he travelled with much less fatigue TO
the cattle, in much less time, and with much less
prisa,ion. than by any route travelled.
Yours, &C., WM. II. MOBILES
| We find that the only objection made by Mr.
Mobiles TO the route We proposed is, that he desires
to make Fort Laramie point in the route. AL
though this would probably add some forty or fifty
miles to the distance would have the advantage of
good road already made, which has been travelled
for years, from the crossing of the Missouri at or
near old Fort Aux Cedre, to Fort Laramie. This
would insure good wagon road from ST. Paul to
Fort Laramie, over country well watcrcd, healthy,
and with abundance Of grass aud fuel. We do not
profess to know anything Of the route proposed bv
MIR. Mobiles beyond the Great Bend Of the Sweet.
water, but we give the following from the Shasta
Courier, of the l7th Sept, 1853. 1t is in reference
TO the report OF a committee who accomna MED Mr..
Mobiles from Shasta to the Humboldt river for the
purpose Of examining his route through the noun.
tans. The Courier says -
'.On Thursday morning last, after an absence OF
near six weeks, the party that accompanied Mr. No.
bes across the mountains, returned our town. =
We cannot i've as full report Of The movements
Of the prospecting party as could desre-not Lay-
ing sufficient room.
The distance from this place to the Point where
the road n,ersecs the Humboldt river is thong hi to
be not more than three hundred miles. II can be
easily accomplished in eight DAYS with pack train
50 tar could be determined in the absence of pror
er Instruments for taking latitude and longitude The
route docs not vary ten miles from a direct line.
On part Of the whole road the hills Difficult,
Of ascent, travelling in either direction The road
leading from this place into the Sacramento Valley.
over which Concord coaches pass dav is said 10 b.
more rugged than any section Of the proposed road
In travelling cast from this place alter the Sac,a-
mento Valley is left the ascent is gradual and easy
all the way to the summit of the mounta ins-a dis
lance of about ninety miles After one DAVIS raye!
from the summit down the eastern slope, which is
sale to be gradual and easy descent, the plain of
the Great Salt Lake Basin is reached at a place
called Honey Lake Valley. From this place to the
Humboldt river, eighty miles above its sink the dis
lance is about hundred and sixty miles. This
section of the route is almost perfect level and is
across that strip Of the country on the east of the
mountains known the Desert. The passage of
this Desert by immigrants, with animals worn down
by months Of travel, has cansed their chief suffering
and loss. BY the proposed road, it is said that this
great obstacle in the path Of the immigrant viii be
almost entirely obviaed. The greatest distance any
where between Humboldt river and Honey Lake
Valley where it would be necessary to travel with.
out water. is not more than twenty-five miles. At
all the watering places this section OF the road,
grass is found, and in places it is very abun-
! dant ard Of an excellent quality.
| Honey Lake Valley 10 several miles in extent. and
is watered by three creeks and innunerable springs
1t is now covered with luxuriant growth of grass
Its lands all exceedingly rich, and are well stu
ated for cultivation. Several me mbers of the compa-
toon w AZ phdScs anu IHenu returning
within a few days for the purpose of improving them.
This valley will serve excellent place for the
wearied immigrant TO stop with his stock and recoy-
his strength, after his long and tedious travel from
the Missouri river. The grazing is sufficient for
many thousa nds Of stock for the whole year.
in the passage over the mountains, no place was
found destitute either in water or grass.
No stream found in the whole road that could
not be easily iorded.
In many places the route, indications Of the ex-
istence Of gold observed On the eastern slope
vast amount of quartz was discovered The party,
however, were not prepared with the necessary I'M
pementr, and had not time and consequently IN.
able to make any definite report to the mineral re-
sources Of the country over which they passed Ills
confidently anticipated, however, that rich deposits
OF gold will be discovered the route"
RAILROAD DIFFICULTY AT ERIE.--For some
time past. difficulty Of serious nature has existed
af Er,a e