The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-09
FROM NEW MEXICO 10 CALIFORNIA ENTIRE
SUCCESS OF THE CAMEL EXPEDIrION
CouorApo R,vrn, California, !,

ColorApo Rlvsn, California;
October Is, 1851
sIR have the honor report my arrival in Cafor-
mia after Journey of As days IL gives me pleasure To
inform YOU that have met with the most complete
In exploration for wagon road from New
Mexico to this State.
In hurried letter of this kind ii il possible that
should give you much of the detail of exploration
Leaving that for my daily journal 10 disclose, shall
deayor briefly to give you idea OF the character OF the
country well the advantages Of the road have eI
plorsd
Leaving Zuh the point from which the road should
properly start found the country easy and rolling,
and bearing good grass with water at convenient in
tcrvas until arrival at the banks Of the little Colo
mdo This l found line stream the bottom of which
is wide and fertile filled with excellent grass, and the
banks of the stream itself nged with heavy growth OF
cottonwood The whole region through which it runs Is
OF character to make it most valuable to the agrcul
turas and graxer After following this stream for
eral days, and fording 1t with wagons without din
Guilty we left it, and pursued our course westward to
San Francisco mountain The country to the foot of
that mountain, "a gradually ascending plain although
somewhat rocky, in places covered with the finest
granma grass with timber sufficient for fuel and water
in abundance.
From this pointtwenty miles from the base of the
mountain until commenced the descent OF its west
slope the country is undulating with frequent
tensye level pateaus well watered with springs and IL
by far the most beautiful region remember to have
in any portion of the world vast forest of ggan
tic pine nersected frequently by extensive open gades,
|
vnnahs filled with the richest grasses taversed
by party for many successive days.
From the western slope to the country dividing the
head of Big Williams fork from the Colorado river the
only change in the growth of the timbercear of the
largest size for the most part taking the place of pine
but the character of the soil remains unchanged and is
of the fertile nature bearing in all parts the richest
g1amma grass
From the divide of Bill Williams to the Colorado the
country assumes barren aspect, and becomes Il
desert ON the banks OF the river excepting in the bottom
lands for few miles in width either side Arrived
at the river, crossed the wagons and people without
difficulty At the point of crossing found it to be
about 200 yards wide smooth surface far as the
could reach up and down. unobsructed by bars rocks
flowing at the rate of three miles hour ID feet in
depth in channel apparently perfectly nayigabe FOL
steamers of largest size Questioning the Indians closely
derived from them satisfactory information that 1t bore
the character the entire distance from that place to
Fort Yuma, some two hundred miles below.
You have thus sir, in few words, short account Of
our journey the road sent to explore OF it's
advantages in detail have not time in this letter to
speak, except in general terms. enumerate them.
1t is the shortest from western frontier by 800
miles being nearly directly west 1t is the most level
wagons only double teaming in the entire dis
lance, and that at short h and surface hereto
fore unbroken by wheels travel Of any kind 1t is
well watered greatest distance without water any
time being twenty miles. 1t is well tmbered and in
many places the growth far beyond that of any part of
the world have 1t Is temperate in climate
passing for the most part elevated region 1t is
saubrious not of party requiring the slightest
medical attendance from the time of leaving to our
arrival 1t is well grassed my command never having
made bad grass camp during the entire distance. until
the Colorado. IL crosses the Great Desert (which
must be crossed by ny foad to California; at its
| est point 1t passes through country Astounding in
game, and but little infested with Indians. On the
tire road until arrival at the Mohaye villages did
not in all dozen Indians and those OF tmid
noensve character At the point Of the crossing of the
Colorado grain, vegetables and breadstuia may be OBJ
tanned in any quantity from the Indians who cultivate
l ~ "a. 1-kk. a. A.
Colorado. IT is passable alike in winter and summer
These the advantages which claim for the road which
we have discovered, marked, and explored from New
Mexico to this State.
try has been surveyed and mapped by the United States
surveyor Of this State which, apart from the fact that it
does within my instructions, leaves me but lit
tie to say in relation to it. shall mention then only
important factthat it leaves to the option of the
emigrant the choice of entering California either at the
city of Los Angeles by the regularly travelled road In
the most fertile part of the southern portion of the State
turning off from that river and by easy road fire.
quently travelled and coming into the head Of the great
Tuare Valley, and by good road through settlements
all the way extending Stockton Sacramento and the
| more northern parts of the State.
Our work. although aruous, has been rendered pleas
ant by the beautiful character OF the country through
which have passed. and the salubrious nature of its
climate and although the double duty Of exploring and
marking the road has fallen upon u.s. hive passed
through it without an accident Of any kind whatever
An important part in all OF operations has been
acted by the camels without the aid of this noble and
useful brute many harships which have been spared
would have fallen to lot and admiration for
them has increased day by day, hardship
ured patiently fully developed their entire adapta
ton and usefulness In the exploration Of the wilderness
At times have thought 1t impossible they could stand
the test to which they have been put but they to
have risen equal to every trial and to have off of
every exploration with much strength before start
ing Unsupported by the testimony of every man of my
party should be unwilling to state all that have
/ do fuII hat
pertinent should be halfway one, have subjected
them to trials which other animal could possibly have
endured and yet have arrived here, not only without
the loss of camel but they admitted by those who
saw them in Texas to be in good condition to-day
when left San Antonio
In all lateral explorations they have carried water
sometimes for than a week. for the mules used by
the themselves receiving a bucketful
of them they have traversed patiently with heavy
packs these explorations countries covered with sharp
volcanic rock and yet their feet to this hour have
evinced symptom of tenderness injury with
heavy packs they have crossed mountains assembled and
| descended preciptous places, where unaden mule
found it difficult piss with the assistance of the
it would be within bounds say that in these various
lateral explorations they have taversed nearly double
the distance passed over by mules and wagons.
Leaving home with all the prejudice invariably attach
ing to untred experiments and with many in camp
opposed to their USE and looking forward confidently
their failure, believe, at this time may speak for
every in party when say there is not of
them who would not prefer the most indifferent of our
cames to four of best mules and look for ward
hopefully to the time when they will be In general in
all parts Of our country.