The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-03-03
FROM NEVADA TERRITORY.
WAsHor VALLEY, Feb. 9th, e.


Dear Editor Gate City:
Permit me to engage small portion of
your valuable sheet to answer the enqui-
ries Of few of my friends in your coun-
tryas regards the best outfit, route. teams,
DO, for crossing the plains.
From private letters from the States
learn that there is to be heavy tide of
emigration this coming season; if so,
few hints to the public may be of some
benefit. In the FIRST place shall speak |
OF provisions 1 ID -four per day each, |
half that amount of bacon, i've lbs coffee,
"a lbs tea each, 30 lbs crackers each, with
plenty of good cheese This should not be
neglected, as it serves for food and medi-
cine ! saw cheese sell last season for
two dollars per pound. Persons should
oy ail means start with enough sweet to
dosthom. Sugar is generally very scarce
on the plains. You will see no time that
you cannot sen,it for good price. There
are many other little things that alvays
find their way into an emigrant wagon
Now for the team. Your team does not
need to be hog fat to start with, but q .
safe calculation any team that will do q
few months farming in the States on grass,
will make the trip to this country, bat
not without corn, nor will the best team
IN your stable. Corn Ia the password Of
sucesss nom that country to this. You will
find II of no advantage to drive stock cat.
tie to this coautry, As they are about as
cheap here as there. but horses and mules
are bearing high price. American hor-
sss here sell from four hundred to one
thousand dollars per pair; mules some
higher. owing y quality. Good work or
en- are worth one hundred and City dollars
per yoke. Cows here are Low.
Nov. for the wagons. .Iaan cases they
should be light. but very stout. A wood
en- axletree. With broad skein, would be
the best. Then if they break down they
can. - nads'new. Many old. well bail,
and we'll tired wagons stand the trip bet.
ter thsp new ones. One Of the most com.
mon dif6oulties arises from the tire coming
loose and coming Of. The best prevent.
i've lpswon the plains was those that had
rivets through under the tire, with large
head on one hide ana In eye Of equivalen,
siseAo The other edo. Then, in case thew
get losss, By taki0g three pieces Of wood
they ON b drove between the tire and
the Fellow, between the risess. Every
wagon, big or little, should have. good
substantial break upon it. This saves
the team in going down slight pitches
where it is not steep enough to loAain
lock. They are also invaluable for rest.
ing teams on thu hills. ,
Il VA dscidsd .'last year that laying
over Y .rsst tho teams did more hurt than
it did good. Il is necessary to give the
women chance to wash once in I vhile,
but the team should never lay over =
day.
Capt. Frost states that the best way q
al to cross the plains is to pack. Tni,
might b done to advantage to many thu,
are not bringing thsir familiea
Above I'll things ths smigrant nu 1t h
we'll armed, thi ssAtcn, and keep ~. !
vigilsat guard by ddtas xan asbt night.
Half Of the stacks iast ySar o6siir ii 81
midday. nhsre. i nothing liz + coping
on thsxleft A. Al hours, from t1.ss dine
Won cr0na the M;.aon~; -. %