Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-28

WNDMC else strictly tn advance.
IGIGN1S, s20O at the ysaz's eud.
Wagon Road to California.


expedition for the discovery of practicable route
Tor wagon road to California, and the success
attending the employment of eamels in the ex
petition, have already been briefly stated. We
ind in the Washington papers letter from
Lieut. Beale to the Secretary of War giving an
account OF his trip, which embraces some inter-
estlng particulars not before stated. The point
OF Lieut.. Beale's departure was Zuni, in Centra,
New Mexico, and the region through which he
passed from thence to theri er Colorado, in Cal
lfornla, was extremaly favorable for the pur-
pose 9fYagon road Only one considerable
strea& VS. to have been met with-the Little
Colorado--and that was forded with the wagons
at various points without difficulty. The soil
was found to be, most of the way, very fertile,
the country in some parts remarkably well wood
ed, abounding in springs; and one extensive
tract, reaching from point twenty miles east of
oan Francisco mountain "a gradually ascending
plaln) to the head of the Big Williams fork of
the Colorado, Lieut. Beale describes as by far
the most beautiful region he ever saw. He thus
sumo up the advantages of the route from Zuni
to the Colorado, which forms the eastern bound
ary of California
1t is the shortest from our western frontier
by 30O miles, being nearly directly west. 1t is
the most level-our wagons only double teaming
once in the entire distance, and that at short
| hill opd 81 ,rc, 4opo.
wheels Or travel of any kind. 1t is well watered
our greatest distance without water at a time
being twenty miles. Tt is we'll timbered, and
many places the growth is far beyond that of
any part of the world have ever seen. 1t is
temperate in climate-passing for the most part
over an elevated region. 1t is salubrious-not
one Of our party requiring the slightest medical
attendance from the time of our leaving to our
arrival, 1t is well grassed my command never
having madea bad grass camp during the entire
distance, until near the Colorado. It crosses the
Great Desert (Which must be crossed by any
road to California; at its narrowest point. 1t
passes through country abounding in game,
and but little infested with Indians. On the
entire road until our arrival at the Mohave Will
ages, we did not see in all over a dozen Indians,
and those ofa timid, nofensive character. AT
the point of the crossing of the Colorado, grain,
vegetables and breadstuhs may be obtained in
any quantity from the Indians, who cultivate ex-
tensivey, though rudely, the fertile bottom lands
OF the Colorado 1t is passable alike in winter
and summer"
This route also leaves to the option of the emf
grant the choice of entering California either at
the city of Los Angeles, in the southern part
OF the State, or turning off to the head of the
Tulare valley, and thence to Stockton Sacre
mento, and more northern part of the State,
and in each case with the advantage of excel
lent roads.
Lieut.. Beals his enthusiastic in draise of the
services of the camels, and of their entire adap-
tation and usefulness in the exploration of the
wilderness. They bore an important part in all
operations, and saved the expedition many hard
ships. Starting with the determination that
the experiment should be no halfway one, Lieut..
Beale subjected them to trials which no other
animals could possibly have endured, and vet
they arrived at Los Angeles in as good condition
as they were when they left San Antonio, Texas
Says Lieut.. Beale:
In all our lateral explorations they have
carried water, sometimes for more than week.
for the mules used by the themselves never
receiving even a bucketfu to one of them: thew
have traversed patiently, with heavy packs on
these explorations, countries covered with sharp
est volcanic rock, and yet their feet to this hour
have evinced no symptom of tenderness or in
jury with heavy packs they have crossed noun
tains, ascended and descended precipitious place
where an unladened mule found it difficult to
pass even with the assistance of the rider dis
mounted, and carefully picking its way. think
it would be within bounds to say that in these
various lateral explorations they have traversed
nearly double the distance passed over by our
mules and wagons.
Lieut.. Beale was extremely anxious on the
subject of their ability to swim, as he had read
that the camel could not swim. But on arrival
at the Colorado River, which could not be ford
ed, they were, with little difficulty, urged into
the rapidly flowing stream, which they swan
boldly and easily, and apparently with more
strength than horses or mules