The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-11

OLD MORMON TRAIL u
The Best Route TO the Gold Mines {!

ts =, , From the Omaha Times. 20 "a aey \
OLD MORMON TRAIL u
The, Best Route TO the Gold Mines I!
READ THE ENIDENCEI! J.. 81.
1t being now a settled fact, which no one
will dispute that gold in large quantities
exists upon tho South Fork of the Platte,
and also settled that there will be heavy
emigration thithcr, as soon rs the, genial
warmth of next Spring shall smile upon us,
this subject is one thasaistercsts all. Past
experience, present reports, the geography
of the country, and thorough explorations
conducted in person by competent govern
ment engineers, acting in their official cnpac-
ity, demonstrate beyond either doubt or dis
pu,e, that TIE OLD MORMON TRAIL, up the
NORTH side of the Platte River, presents
superior advantages and attractions to the
Emigrant who has IN eye to comfort, safety
and distance, unbiased by prejudice, in
favor of any other (would beg rival route.
1t has been said that Enormous, like Buff
falo and Indians, always choose the shortest
and best rou esp TO those who are at all
acquainted with the admirable organization
and perfect order which prevails among thom
this adagc needs no support. Trusty ennis
sarics Omen who had been on the frontier
from their boyhood) were sent out by Brig
ham Young for the purpose of getting infor-
nation, which would enable him to choose
the best route from the Missouri to Salt
Lake and after every possible and lmpos-
sible route had been thoroughly explored
and measurcd-after routes, crooked and
straight had been explored from every point
on the Missouri River, from Kansas City to
Sioux City-aftcr he had been made thor
oughly acquainted with the face Of the coun-
try, the distances, and the advantages and
disadvantages incidental to all the routes
the shrowd and willy leader, who had more
ut stake than any other man who ever eros.
sch the western prairics, chose the NORTH
PLATTE ROUTE. The speed and safrsv
with which he and his followers traverscd is
show that he gave the subj that careful
consideration which its great Importance de-
handed and attest that in making the Sc
lection he exercised great sagacity and pru-
dcncc, which only thorough knowledge Of
the country would enable him to bring into
use.
The first emigrants to California crossed
the River at St. Joseph, Leavenworth, Kan
sas City, Independence, and several interme-
date points, but after the country had again
been thoroughly explored, prior to the great
emigration of 80, they crossed at Council
Bluffs, Composite Omaha and like the Nor
mons, traverscd the North Platte Route,
and it is still travelled in preference to any
other laid out before or since.
Good and responsible men, who are known
throughout the west MS men Of sterling in
tcgrity and worth--whosc honor is uncoln
promised, and whose reputation for veracity
is unqucstioncd have added their testimony,
based upon this fal's experience, to the
ma, NJ, ,oIv accumulated IN favor Of the
North Platte route.
1t is in fact the Natural Route, no better
can be found. 1t is less liable to Interrupt
ton from hostile bands Of Indians, affords
better grass, water, timber, and camping
places. Aside from the testimony above
cited, which ought to be sufficient for any
man whose mind is ready to be controlled by
truth, We have some moro which will oyor-
balance it all--ere annexed extract from the
report Of Lieut.. Warren, L. $. Topograph-
icnl Engineers, which we published last
week, bu, did not issue copies enough to
supply the demand:
"Of all the valleys Of rivers running into
the Missouri, that Of the Platte furnishes the
best route for any kind Of a road lending to
the interior, and the best point Of starting
is Omaha City. An appropriation Of Sjo,-
900 has been expended on bridges, &C., on
the eastern portion Of it, and the only i'm
portant improvement remaining to make IT
far superior to any route on the South side
of Platte is the establishment of Il good
crossing of Loupc Fork either by bridge or
ferry, both of which are difficult the first
on account of the width of the strcam-lQO
vardS-and the latter on account of shoals
and shifting sand bars. The ford is bad,
by reason Of quick sands. S25 700 would
probably max" a good crossing to this stream,
rs the place is within the limit Of the settle
mcnts. No road Improvement in the West
would lie Of greater value to the cmlgrant
or TO military operations; and this once done,
the route would not only be the shortest in
this latitude from the Missouri to the noun
tains, but would not throughout have any
serious obstacle all the way to the South
Pass. Any route that takes the South side
Of the Platte river has the South Fork to
cross, (Which is about as difficult stream rs
the Loupe Fork, where bridging it or estab
fishing ferry, is ut this time, impracticablc:
the road then, alous the North Fork has bad
places, at Ash Hollow and ScOtt's Bluffs !;
and has to cross the Laramie river and the
North Fork Of Platte by bridges, over which
the cmigrant has to pay toll. The route by
the North side Of Platte, crossing the Loure
Fork is therefore Of particular value, cspc-
cially for early travel in the spring, when
the streams arc generally high"
The above is no authority manufactured
for the occasion, for the purpose Of sustain
ing us in the position which We have taken
upon this question; but, from the published
report of Government Engineer of mark
cd ability and capacity, who was sent out
here by the Government, at the head of a
large company, for the express purpose of
exploring the country; and at time, too,
when the present state of affairs was not even
dreamed of. 1t was not made after visiting
ono end of the road, but after thorough
scientific survey of the route from one end
to the other, as we'll as of those presenting
rival attractions and claims. Coming then,
as this testimony does, from such high au-
thority, and based upon an actual survey
made ut time when there were no crcum-
stances surrounding it calculated to bias the
mind or warp the judgment, it is entitled to
more credCncc than the testimony Of any