The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-06-23

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was that portion ofthe California trail and
United States military road from Fort
Leavenworth west to other Forts) which
works its sinuous way through the region
generally settled By thrifty farmers, ly-
ing directly west of Lcavenworth And
the worst hill for teams | have seen in
Kan-as is traversed BY this road within
five miles of Leavenwor;h, between the
Fort and the rich but miry valley Of Salt
Creek on the west. This road, unless it
can be restored, will soon have to be a.
baudoned, and thence Leavenworth must
suffer.
AS We neared the California trail, the
white coverings Of The m any emigrant and
tran>port wagons dotted the landscape,
giving the trail the appearance of river
running through great meadows, with
many ships sailing on its bosom. Most
of the independent wagouers we're still
encamped by the wayside, unable or un-
willing to brave the deep mud; their cat
tie feeding on the broad prairie; the en-
igrants cooking or sitting beside the wag-
on; women sometimes washing, and all
trying to dry their clothing, drenched and
soaked by the pouring rain of the past
night One great wagon.train was still in
corral with its cattle feeding and men
lounging about the others might better
have been, as it was clearly impossible
TO make their lean, wild looking oxen
(mainly Of the long horned stripe, which
indicates Texas as their native land, and
which had probably first felt the yoke
within the past week. draw them up the
slightest ascent through that deep, slip
perry mire. A great deal of yelling, beat
ing, swearing, was being expended to lit
tie purpose, as [ presume each train cor
raled for the ensuing night within a mile
OF the poilt it left in the morning. These
contractors wagons are very large and
strong, each carrying a couple of good
extra axles lashed under its body to be
used in case an old one gave way under
heavy jerk; the drivers are as rough,
wild looking a. their teams, though not
so awkward at their busine, but to keep
six yoke of such oxen in line 10 the road
and all pulling on the load, is beyond bu-
man skill. 1t is sore trial to patience,
that 6r,t start Of these trains on ther long
iourney-to Utsb, Fort Hall Green Riv.
er, and some of these to New Mexico,
though this is not the Santa Fe trail. The
loads are generally fifty hundred weight;
the Wagons must weigh at least fifteen
hundred each; aud, though this would
seem moderate for twelve oxen, it must
be remembered that they are at this sea.
son poor and at first unbroken, and tn
the road is 10 spots very bad one. A
train consists of ten to twenty wagons;
each train has its relia bic and experien-
ced master or director; and, when team
is stalled. another is unhitched from its
own wagon and sent to the aid of the one
in trouble. The rate of progress is of
course snail-like; these trains will do we'll
if they make twenty miles the first week
considering the weather. But then the
feed Of the teams (ike the lodgings OF the
men) costs nothing, as they live on the
broad prairie, and though they will be Of
ten fearfully hungry or dry in traversipg
CRASHES tracks on their route, they are
said generally to gain in flesh (for which
there is ample room) during journey o'
three or four months. OF course they
improve in docIlity and effectiveness, be-
ing at Grst so wild that, in order to be
yoked, they have to be driven into the
corral, (formed, as may have explained
by the wagons closely ranged in hollow
square, the tongue of each being run un
der its next neig ghbor, fer defence sgains
Indians or other prowlors) Very few
wagons or cattle ever come back; The
freighting is all one way, and both wag
ons and cattle are usually sold at or near
their point of destination for whatever
they will fetch-to be taken to Caifor
MIA or disposed of as they best may.
We drove into Leavcnworth City a.
bout a. M, and found that the dele
gates from this county had generally Civ
ell up the idea of reaching Osawata ME
judging that the Convention would have
to be adjourned or postponed on account
of the swollen streams being impossible
/ Stranger Creek barred all egress by way
of Lawrence, which We had intended tc
make our resting place for the night; 9
creek 9 miles south of Leavcnworth bad
turned back the stage running in that di
rection; in fact DO stage made its way on
of Leavenworth that day in any direction
which was not forced to return baffled By
the high water So at 3p. m. We shipped
our horses and wagons on board the steam
boat ID. A. January, and dropped dowr
1 the Missouri some SO miles, past tht
| bleaching bones of several dead cite,
/ (not including QuiDdaro, which insists
that it is still alive) to Wyandot. in th,
lower corner of Kansas, with Kansas City
Missouri. three miles off, in plain sigh
across the mouth of the Kansas or Kav
River. Wyandot, though hemmed in anc
impede3, like Quindaro, by an lndiar
reserve back of it, is alive, aud is becom
ing, what it ought fully TO be. the outle
and inlet between Southern Kansas anc
the Missouri River. 1t has q beautiful
location, and decided natural advantages
over Kansas CITY. which with other Bor