The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-01-25
rFrom tie Pacific CITY Herald. :,

0y HI. Nuckoiia. y. u. T..
rFrom tie Pacific City Herald.l
The south PlaOte RoMtc TO the Mines
We have heretofore given many interesting
items in regard to the several routes to thu
mines, showing beyond reasonable doubt tha
sl.ogsther the shortest, easier and best route
is along the soMth side of the Plotte Rirer
starting at Pacific City, Portsmouth, or Orea
polia. We have exercised much caution i,
every statement made, that no person hereafte
can accuse US of exaggeration. We make tn,
distance from Pacific City to the mines I'm
hundred and siztyseven miles, and any one VIII,
viii take the trouble to examine authentic man
will see that 1t is considerably shorter than from
any other point, or by any other route.
1t Is now generally conceded that the rout,
via Fort Kearney is preferable to any other
The St. Louis Company, which took the Arksn
sas River route, in letter to the Missouri Re
publican, advise their friends to take the Sou,l
Platte Route. The St. Joseph and Leayenwortl
papers, published near the starting points of tn,
more southern routes, now advise their readers
to go BY way Of Fort Kearney. Several zen
tiemen from Omaha. Council Bluffs. Florence
and other towns north OF the Platte. have ex
pressed their determination to take the South
OF Platte route, starting west from this point
As, therefore, this will probably be the mair
route, any reliable information 10 regard to 4
will be eagerly sought after. To CRAFTY publ,
curiosity, we propose to give few details con
corning it.
Starting west from the Missouri River n
Plsttsmouth or Oreapolis, the emigrant proceed,
nearly due west, on q divide between the Platte
and Weeping Water. The country is thickl,
settled and the road good. Until Salt Creel
is reached, in distance Of thirty miles, the
emigrant is not cut Of sight Of improved farms
Cass County, Nebraska, through which the
road leads, is one of the RICHEST and mos, popu
lous Counties in the Territory. Several -four
ishing settlements are located on SILT Creek
Thus far, then, every thing needed for man O,
beast, can be obtained without difficulty
Salt Creek has good rock bottom, with bluff
banks, and is about forty yards wide. The
average depth of water is about IL inches
Near this ford the road from Nebraska Cit,
-unites with the road from Plattsmoush. There
is a strong probability that the stream will be
bridged this winter.
After crossing Salt Creek, there are two
roads, which do not intersect for distance al
sixty or seventy miles. The right hand road i
ten miles the shortest, has timber in places and
plenty of water, but is less travelled than the
other The left hand road follows divide be-.
tween Wakoo Creek and the west fork of Sal,
Creek, and the head-waters of the Blue. Plen
ty OF water may be found in springs on either
side OF the road, at short distances. but M
wood until you reach little stream called Elm
Creek, sixty miles from Salt Creek. and ninety
from the Missouri
Elm Creek is not over ten feet wide. and i.
bridged. Five miles beyond the crossing OF
this stream the road again forks. The RICH,
hand road bears to the river, where there is
plenty OF wood for camping purposes. Early
IN the spring, there are some muddy slouphs
on this road. The left hand road bears toward
the bluffs. There is no wood on this road. and
water liz but two places, until it intersec,s the
other road, at the river, thirty-slx miles from
Elm Creek. The first water is II miles from the
creek, and the next is ten miles beyond the first.
Two miles beyond where these two roads inter.
sect, and l27 miles from the Missouri River. the
emgraht passes the remains of an old Pawnee
Indian village.
From this Indian village to Fort Kearney.
there is but one road, and this road does not
leave the river at any point over two miles,
Wood can be obtained from islands in the river.
Fort kearney is 60 miles from this Pawnee Vii
lage, and 1877 miles from the Missouri at Pacific
City aud Plattsmouth. At the Fort, almost anv
thing needtul for the journey may be obtained.
This may be considered the first division of the
trip. Here, In all probability, all emgrant trains
Will stop to rest while. Those travelling the
North of Platte route, cross over to the south
side at Fort kearney, and those starting from
81 Joseph and Leavenworth strike our route
ten miles this side
From Fort kearney to Plum Creek distance
OF thirty i've miles, the road keeps near the
river all the way. There is good camping
place and timber seventeen miles from the fort
Plum creek is very small stream, containing
very little Water, and quite dry in the latter
part OF the season. There ia no difficulty in
crossing it at any time. At Plum Creek there
Is a mail station and store, where needed articles
can be obtained.
From Plum Creek to Cottonw pod Springs. a
distance OF forty-6ve miles, the road keeps near
he river all the way, and good camping places
nay be found anywhere. Cottonwood Springs
S mail station, aud derives its name from nu |
nerous large and beautiful springs of clear
water, which may be seen from the road Here.
md at Box Elder two miles beyond), there are
rading-posts, where goods of all descriptions |
nay be obtained.
From Cottonwood Springs to O'Fallon's Bluffs, |
here are roads all ever the bottom, leading
rom the bluffs to the river The main road II |
lear the bluffs. Whenever it is necessary to |
amp, take one OF the cross roads and 90 to
he river. Tie distance from CottSnw wood |
springs to O'Fallon's Bluffs is fopty miles At
he latter place is mail station, and one |
'ther trading house, where goods of all kinds |
an be obtained. This is the last settlement or |
rading post which will be passed until St |
rains Fort Is reached, in the vicinity of the |
mines. This is 500 miles west from the Mis-
ouri river, and here will probably be another
alt. We may here terminate the second divi.
ion OF the journey. This second division
rom Fort kearney to O'Fallon's Bluffs-is the
'affalo range. Immense herds of these ami
aais Will be seen daily by the emigrant between
hose points.
Five miles beyond O'Falon's Bluffs. tho last
mber is passed that will be seen this side OF
'eaver Creek. Forty miles beyond O'Fallon's
'iufts, Is the upper crossing Of the South Platte
lere yoa leave the old emgrant trail. Instead
crossing the river, follow Up the south pank.
he road follows the course OF the river with
ut slight variations. A few scattering trees
lay be seen for the first fifty miles, after which
,ere is no timber or wood of any kind. Plenty
"butfulo chips" may be found for cooking,
owever, and excellent grass and water for
amping at almost any point. The next point
sached is Beaver Creek-l05 miles from the
PIPER crossing Of the South Platte; las from
re last trading post, and 454 miles from the
issouri river. This is the most dreary and
onotonous part Of the journey, and may be
'rmed the third division. Antelope constitute
lie principal game seen in that range
Beaver Greek is . small stream, abeut ten
ct wide, and one foot deep, with willows along
re banks. Sixteen rallies beyond Beaver Creek
another small stream, called Bijou. Between
ese two streams is good hard road. Biou
reek separates near the crossing, and empties
to the South Platte by two or three channels.
lese channels are shallow, but have quicksand
'ttoms. By crossing Bijou. willows and cot,
nwood can be obtained for fuel. From this | /
INIT the road cuts across q bend in the river. /
sding over high table land, distance OF six
en- miles, which is sandy q part Of the way. i
ON these table-lsnds, the emgrant obtains /
first view Of the Mountains, which are dis. !
Mt about seventy-fi five miles. Long Peak Il
g highest mountain in view at that time. The !
ectacie. however, is magnificent. After leay-
: these table-lands you descend again to the i
Atte Bottoms. From this point, good camp. :
: places may be found every four Or Ave miIes 8
til st. Vrains, Fort 10 reached, in distance !
forty-6ve miles, ),
You are now In the vicinity Of the minca- i.
'tssd Of the cid trading post. you win here 4
q . miners Rancho, kept by G. n. Miles Il
4 Others. Here, too, you can learn all about y
} mines, and, il desirable, procure guide to n