The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-03-24
From the Nebraska City Daily Press.
To EfniyraAls to the West.

| 1t has been the custom of interested par
| ties, to make all kinds of Misrepresentation
and tell outright lies in order to turn emf
grants from the East to the extreme North
ern routes. and from the great Central line,
through Nebraska City. We wish to make
some simple statements, which can be fully
substantlated, that must set the matter at
rest in the minds Of all reasonable men.
Towns on the river above us, have rep
resented that their routes to the West are
so favoraby regarded that freighters to
Colorado. Idaho and Utah, are operating
from their respective places, and over their
routes.
That the Mormon em;gra ton has for ten
years past made point North of the Platte
starting point. That they had facilities
for KNOWN. and fullyunderstood al! the va
rious routes from the Missouri River to
Utah
That emigrants TO the Pacific States
found the North Platte route the best, and
reported universally in its favor.
Now, we wish to state, that there has been
more freight imported from Nebraska CT
ty to Colorado and Utah and the Western
forts, since 1853, than all other Missouri RI
yer tow MS between Atchison, Kansas, and
the head waters of the Missouri river.
The Mormon emigration which has for
some years travelled up the North side of the
Platte river, will hereafter make Nebraska
City starting point for travel and freight
ing operations. The several routes from the
river have been carefully examined. and the
Great Central from Nebr ska City chosen as
the hest point from which they can send out
emigrants and transport freight
From five to eight thousand Mormons and
all their freights, equipments, &C., will leave
this place during the present summer.
The overland emigration which has any
knowledge of the several routes. passes
through this place. the road being the best
on the continent, for the same number OF
miles.
The advantages of this route are plainly
set forth in these facts, that freighters, Nor
mors and em;grants are now concentrating
here for business transactions with the Great
West. BY travelling on the Great Central
Route, number of extremely difficult river
crossings are avoided, and heavy expenses
attending. Flat, swampy roads are avoided,
which emigrants must pass over. who travel
up the North side of the river We do not
wish to over estimate our advantages, but
refer all to the facts stated; which can be
sutstantiated to the last letter, should any
one doubt their truth. When they find ma
ture against them, some towns in their des
peratlon have sent out runners whose bust
ness it is to tell monstrous falSehoods to
draw the many emigrants into the swampy
Northern routes, among which they have
lately circulated report that the river at
Nebraska City is blockaded by military
force, and emigrants not permitted to cross
That jayhawkers infest this section which
renders property extremely unsafe. To all
these statements we simply assert that they
are false. The river crossing is not, nor has
it been blockaded. We have company of
the Iowa 7th Cavalry stationed here, but it
will be their business to protect and not rob
the enigrants who cross here. We refer all
who are in doubt Of the truth Of this to Car.
TAIN Mitchell of this post or to Major O'Brien
of the 7th Iowa Cavalry. We desire simple
justice. and make these statements as pro-
lection against unscrupulous hounds who
are paid for peddling wholesale lies to emf
grants. y.
Washington, March 2O,-It is now
l. - Il. Il