The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-01-11

Nh. DuxHAx-Sir: have noticed an edi-
teral or two in the Dsily HawkEye recon-
mendinE emigrants TO the Platte River Gold
Mines, TO cross the Missouri river at Platts-
mouth, and from thence to keep up the south
side Of Platte river.
think you must be unacquainted with the
geography Of the country west OF the Missouri
river, or you would not advise emigrants to take
that route. Strange as it may seem, yet it is
none tho less true, that the road from Pasts-
mouth to Fort Kearney lat which point all the
roads must censre) is fifty miles longer than from
Council Bluffs to the same point. The actual
distance from Plattsmouth TO Fort Kearnsy 10
2s5 miles, from Nebraska City $50 miles, from
81. Joseph ass miles, from Leavenworth City
800 miles, while from Council Bluffs it is but lS4
miles actual measurement. The roads from
st. Joseph and Leaven worih City to Fort kear-
ney run over upland prairie, and arc necessar'-
Inv verv crooked and hilly. The road from
Pls,tsmou.h strikes the Valley Of Platte about
f7s miles due ives, of this place, after running
distance Of l25 miles ridges and divides
between streams. The road from Nebraska
City strikes the Valley at the same point, ana
is fifteen miles longer than the route IRON fiasts-
mouth. The valley on the south side OF Platte
in too narrow to admit OF road III It below
the poiut at which these roads approach IT,
From Council Blufls the road takes bee line
ve,tward. stretching from the valley - miles
! vest Of the Missouri river, and irem thence on
} to Fort Kearney; and on to the gold mines It u
one continue level plain. A military roae
: was laid out two years ago from this point te
+ Fort Ksarney BY order Of governments. and
D measured accurately and found to be ls4 m'ie
long. This fall the Western Stage Co., prior e
4 putting on line Of stages, selected the neares
= and best route and had itchsined, and made
q two. milss less (lS2) than the government sur
!. vev. An the streams on the north side to For
!. Kearney ARE well bridged. except the Lou
n Ferk. which is crossed by means Of ferries .
i. several points. Platte river 10 always fordabl
i. At Fort Ksarnsy, except in time Of great fresh
) 1t. and il never impas liable more than three Q
. four DAYS. But emigrants need never wait ther
= on account of high water, IS the road up th
north side is fully % good as on the south, on
ana the Rrass always better. Fronsthe Fort
tho forks Of Platte il il llt miles, and the ers'
- sing good at every point. So that should emil
/ grants ind the river too full to cross as the 70
10 thew would not fail to end 1t low enough oefe'
; reaching tbs Forks. The writer cf this ar''c
" vent TO California 10 lS60,-crossed tue h''
~ sour river At ST. Joseph, and speaks from scso
knowledge when he says there was NO time VI
q lsOrins. While he was in the Valley ct Plas'
!. ahaa ehe river was not fordabls at any point
III It'd but aAsural that the business men ~ .
~ lsevps On the Missouri river should oss their
NJ aospss ID making their point the crossing q
ar. ont Gtting yssdszsOss.
q. ~ IN out-6.sing point Council Blaha bss
rival above g. Jsssph. Everything IN the =
of sas.6ssiss gseds and provisions that can
aG leos % o.. Losis can - had hsrs, Ossn i abs
= dant st Is csnts per bashsl. 4 large amss
pfa sg PORK h being pat y ~ ear asrchants. Fis
y iii - plainly, though : litsls bishss than
J = IoG Jessph. rhsrs = gfsss dsA ef eonps
! u ldoa n ~ dsy1ssAs lhsaiasa8 - shas g.
~ can 81 bsseat q aasnsh savahss assvs
sasasFsl J aa'saaas -