Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-07-05
[Correspondence Of The Journal.
Era Route for California.

Correspondence of the Journal.l
Era Route for California.
CuIxsEY Rock, N. T., June 10Th, 1861.
Mr.. MAHN Although not seated with pen
in hand in . city or town, or even within 200
miles Of a white mans dwelling, | am never
theless among civilized men, encamped on
the northern bank of the North Fork Of the
Platte, opposite that great natural curiosity,
Chimney Rock, and surrounded by the finest
natural scenery We hive yet met with on the |
route. The Rock itself, having been washing |
away for years, is at present not so much of
sight to the traveller as the neighboring |
bluffs or hills, which are certainly some Of
Natures most remarkable works. They are |
composed to a considerable extent of rock of
a clayey formation, and rise to the height |
of 100 to $50 feet, and are cut into almost
every conceivable shape, resembling ancient
ruins of castles or other strongholds, and the
first impression one naturally has upon the
subject, in many instances, is that they arc
the works cf man.
All that ever read or heard of the valley
ofthe Platte river falls short of the panoramic
picture disclosed to my vision, when upon
crossing Elkhorn river, twenty-five miles
from Omaha City, that beautiful region first
came into view. Away to the right were
the bluffs of the Missouri river, beyond
which an occasional glimpse could be had of
the valley and the rivers turbii waters;
while to the West the beautifully level and
fertile valley Of the Platte, here fifteen or
twenty miles in width upon the North side,
was only bounded by the horizon, with a
low range Of bluffs skirting it upon one side,
and rather sparse growth of cottonwood
trees upon the other, along the river. We
travelled in this valley, never less then two
or three miles in width, about 100 miles
above Fl. Kearney, and 800 from Omaha
City, and in al that distance the road ira
verses plain as level as Muscatine Island.
The valley is settled, though rather thinly,
to Fl. Kearney and, were it not for the ex-
treme scarcity of timber, this would be as
desirable farming region as any on the face
of the globe. As it is, when railroad shall
, be constructed up the Platte - which must
eventually be done, as millions ofmoney can
be saved by this route-it will undoubtedly
become densely populated, and be a great
grain aud stock-raising country.
At the junction Of the Loupe Fork with
the main river, we entered the Pawnee coun
try, some distance above, on which river
!, the Federal Government has made reserva
: ton of several thousand acres for their bene
fit. This, with their annuit;es, amounting
: to $40, 900, being $40 per head, enables tb'
tribe to exc out a tolerably comic rtable sub
sistence, considering that they are "poo
n Indians" The Pawnees are deadly enemies
t of all the Indians OF the plains, and o. theil
annual buffalo hunt, in the fall, are relent
lessly and merciessly hunted down by tn,
Sioux and Cheyennes, into whose country
e they are now compelled to encroach for the
game, tbs white man having ruined the
o hunting grounds by his approach. Ofcourse
n emigrants are subjected to no other danger
5 or trouble from the Pawnees than that @
their beg sing and stealing. In fair fight
they arc said to be superior in prowess to al
the Northern tribes, in battles with some o
q which they have obtained more than on,
n signal victory.
= The Sioux are the next tribe of Indian:
y On our route and occupy the region OF coun
, try lying between TT. Kearney and F. Lara
n mic. They have extensivehuntins grounds
and hence are better dressed and rather
better looking tribe. They manifest grea
friendship for the whites at present. but
4 were it not for the fear of punishment, woult
;. probably be as ferocious ana bloodthirsty al
they have been heretofore.
JUNE 15th.--Wc have been travelling, 70,
two days, in full view Of Laramie Peak
which, though over one hundred miles dis
t tan., looms up in the western sky to grea,
heighth, resembling at this distance, huge
| thunder-cloud. We have just passed over a
1 two-hundred, mile stretch entirely without
timber, where we were compelled to use 70,
fuel, as dernier resort, "buffalo chi ps'
(6ois de vac1e), which, when two or three
g years old, burn we'll
Since We left Omaha City. we have no,
: for day been out of sight Of enigrsnt trains
and, having now been on the plains ior about
one month, l give itas my deliberate opinion
that the emigration to California and Oregon
is as large this year rs ever before and ii
appears to be composed for the most par. OF
the better class Of farmers and mechanics,
who take with them considerable capital.
The forts in this region, as far as I can
learn, are strongly garrison,d, and emigrants
will not probably be molested by Indians.
The weather so far has been excellent, and
there has been no sickness in the trains with
whom we are travelling in company.
I may possibly have an opportunity to
drop you q line or two from the Pacific
slope, before reaching California, but for the
present l remain, Yours, truly,
r. ". S.
/ Vanity Fair.
PSYCHOLOGICAL CoN.-From what race are