The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-01-18

1ro. shs Paeiao CITY Herald,

- OAIAJA1A49 q AAVO 1AAG = zF 4
. 1roa she Pacific CITY Herald
The RoueeS - the Mines.
The head quarters Of mining operations b
J the Junction Of Cherry Creek with the Son
; Platte river, between the seth and 4Oth para
lels Of latitude.
Five or six different routes have been tra,
sled; and the press Of Kansas City, Lsaver
; worth, St. Joseph, Nebraska City. Omahs, Coul
ell Bluffs and other Missouri River towns,
making desperate efforts TO mislead emiErans
causing them infinite trouble, expense and 10,
Of time, for the purpose Of reaping the ad
vantage Of the trade and travel. As faithf,
chronicler, We deem it our duty 70 correct, Z
far e possible, the erroneous statements afloa
in regard to the geography Of the west.
The 6rst companies which reached the mine
from the States, travelled over what We ma
call the extreme Southern route, viz: BY WI
Of Fort Riley, Manhattan, the Santa Fe trail
and Arkansas River, to the Waufona settle
msLts, thence north to Pixies Peak and Cherr,
Creek. The distance by this route s about 75t
miles from the Missouri River, and the tim.
required 10 travel that distance vas between AZ
and As days. But this ID not all. The "Grea
American Desert" must be crossed, at 4 poin,
where ito width is over 200 miles, requiring
nine or ten days travel. III some places wateI
cannot be obtained for ten miles, and even
forty miles. In summer the heat il excessive
The Desert is covered with the bones OF i'll.
fated emigrants and the remnants Of their OUT
fits. Thousands upon thousands have persisted
IN attempting to cross the Desert. The Indian
tribes on this route are the most treacherous
and blood thirsty, viz: the Camanches, Apachss.
kiowas, Nayajos, Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, &c.
f ThnAQ nh IN a.. mf ~
likely to perish At the nands Of the avases.-
The streams to be crossed on this route are all
difficult. They are the Kansas river, Clark's
creek, Cottonwood creek, Turkey creek, Little
Arkansaa Big Arkansas. Pawnee Fork, Foan-
taise qui BouiIle, and Black Squirrel creek
The route is 80 seldom travelled, and the land
marks 80 few, there 10 great danger Of losing
the way. A great portion Of the way game 10
scarce. Vegetation being scarce, food for ami
mails must be carried great distance. In fact.
we can see nothing to induce any emigrant TO
the gold fields to choose that route, but very
many reasons for stunning it.
Inc next route is by way Of Fort Riley.
thence up Solomon's Fork. This route il some
what shorter than the one last named-the dis
tance from the Missouri being estimated at 600
miles. II has fever streams to cross, also.-
These are its only advantages over the Arkan-
vefv
seldom travelled, and consequently very little
known. The desert is wider by this route. and
there ia less water.
The third route is by way Of Fl. Riley, thence
up the Republican river to White Mans Fork.
thence up this fox to Rock Greek; up Rock
Geek to Spring Creek; up Spring Creek to ito
source. Here, leaving the water courses. there
ls 7O miles land travel ever desert plain and
sand hills, without wood, and water uncertain.
until you reach the South Platte, 90 miles bs
low Beaver creek. The distance BY this route.
from the Missouri river. is about 100 miles
This route was determined imprac,icable by
Lieut.. Bryant in 1856. The chief difficulties are
its tortuous course, great length, scarcity OF
grass. and the 10 miles desert travel
The fourth, and ONLY PRACTICABLE
ROUTE, is by way Of Fort Kearney, up the
south side of the Platte and South Platte rivers.
TO the mines. This is now generally conceded
By this route the Desert 10 avoided. water.
grass and wood are abun1ant the Indians are
peaceable; the road is direct and much travelled;
and the streams few and easily forded. Thus
lar there is no dispute From St. Joseph to
sioux City, the press and the people are agreed
thus far What then! The only remaining
question is, how shall We reach Fort Kearneyy
Fort kearney is situated on the South side or
The Platte river, 1856 miles from its junction
With the Missouri. The precise latitude OF the
Fort, according to the most reliable govern
nent survey is 40 deg. 50 min. and As Sec
The mouth OF Platte river at Pacific City, is in
attitude Al deg. min. and Is sec, or 81 miles
1orth OF the Fort. Nebraska City is a very
title south Of the Fort, but trains, starting
rom that point are compelled to travel north
- or 80 miles, aud strike the Platte river road
It the Salt creek ford, making difference Of
m in fa nf ~ o;E
omaha and Council Bluffs are 70 miles above |
he mouth of Platte River, and emigrsnts start
ng from those points must either travel south, |
md cross to the south side Of the Platte near |
ts mouth, OF, (what is much worse) run the |
isk OF losing their teams in attempting to cross |
1oupe Fork and the Platte, which latter stream
must be crossed at Fort Kesrney or before
eaching that point. The roads on the north
lde, IN the spring, are much more muddy and |
Iiftlcut to travel, than those on the south side |
4 the Platte, which are elevated aud solid.- |
me distance, also, is several miles greater from
Dmaha and Council Bluffs, than from Pacific
jity and Piattsmouth, being 20 miles farther
lorth and little east. The newspapers Of
hose places. in endeavoring to induce emf
rants TO travel the north side Of the Platte,
'ubiIsh table Of distances, which make the
DAD much shorter than it really is. ANY one.
uthentic maps, need not be deceived.
From st. Joseph, BY the military road, the dis
ance to F. Kearney IL 2SS miles, This makes
be distance of land travel lO3 miles greater
rom s.. Joseph than from Pacific City
'ort Leavenworth, is 35 or 40 miles far
her than St. Joseph from the Fort, con-
equently the land travel is greater. Kansas
lily is still farther of, and entirely our Of the
uestlon, IN travelling by this route.
From the best information we can obtain.
hereiOre, we are forced TO the conclusion that
be shortest and best route TO the mines is on
he south side Of the Platte and South Platte
lvers, following mainly the course OF those
lrsams. and the best starting point is at
'ACIFIC CITY.
Next week, We shall have something to say
the route to this place from the eastern
tiles; the cost Of travel, and the m odes Of con.
eyance.