The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-05-07
HOW TO GO WEST.

.hduJ lho1sauus VI PcOple VIII 20 w cSl
this season : twice or thrice as many, l
judge, as have gone in any one year in
the last decade. The completion of the
Union Pacific Railroad beyond Cheyenne,
within few miles of the summit of the
rocky range; the construction of the
railroad to Sioux City, where boats, built
expressly for navigating the Upper Mis-
souri,, connect, to complete the line to
Fort Benton, and the rapid progress Of
the Union Pacific, rendering Denver,
I Southern Colorado. New Mexico, and Ar
izona of comparatively easy access, will
make thousands visit the West, or take
their families, in search of new and more
! inviting homes, who have hitherto hesi-
tated because of hostile Indians, and pri-
yations and dangers of the Plains. Hav-
ing traversed the noun ain territories in
all seasons, venture few practical sug-
gestions, which may be Of value to those
who propose to cross the Plains this sea-
son.
Persons who wish to start early in the
spring for Northern Dakota or Montana
should 20 by rail to Chicago. and thence
to Sioux City, where they will find reg
ular line of steamers to take them TO Fort
Benton. Hitherto the river route has
| been most tedious and the most perilous
| of all the highways to the West; but
now, 1000 miles OF the wosrt river navi-
CATION is obSiated By the extension of the
railroad to Sioux City, and the boats of
the new lire, having been built express
ly for the Upper Missouri trade, will be
more safe, speedy, and comfortable. =
This route is not only entirely free from
the danger of Indian attacks, as the boats
are compelled to land frequently in the
hostile regions to cut and take on supplies
of wood; but it is just as safe, or rather
safer, on that score than any other route !;
is one half cheaper, and will not require
more than Is days longer to reach Vir-
ginia City or Helena than by overland
coach From Fort Benton, tri weekly
coaches run to Helena, and daily from
there to other important points in Mon
taDa.
Those who wish to visit Denver, Chey-
enne, Salt Lake, Idaho, Nevada, or Cali
fornia, should not start earlier than the
middle of May, as the roads are very bad,
and the waters high on the plains and in
the mountains until late 10 May or early
in June. They will go by rail to Chicago
Omaha, and Cheyenne, and from thence
by the daily line of coaches that reaches
+ into every part of the West and North
West. Salt Lake can be reached from
Cheyenne (the western terminus Of the
railroad) in five days and nights, and
Virginia City, Montana, in three days
more. 1t is nearly GOO miles from Chey
enne to Salt Lake, and 400 from there tC
; Virginia City The stage fare is abou
25 cents per mile, and meals cost Sl.5(
each. The fare on the Pacific RailroaC
is about 10 cents per mile. Those wh'
wish to reach Southern Colorado, New
Mexico, or Arizona, should go by rail t
ST. Louis, and there to the western ter
t minus of the Eastern Division of tht
: Union Pacific r X [about $50 miles east 0
2 Denver, where they can take coaches t
I every prominent point west and south
west. Daily coaches run from the tel
minus of both the Pacific Railroad +
' Denver City BY the Cheyenne route
Denver can be reached from New \ or
: 10 five days; by the Smoky Hill route, i
o six days During the coming summer
r Denver will be connected with the Pa
g cifc Railroad at Cheyenne by the coDple
e ton of the Denver Railroad.
Persons who desire to make leisurel
and pleasant trip to the mountain terr
tories, should start about the first of Jan'
90 by Cheyenne to Denver, from whie
point they can reach the leading minin
region Of Colorado in a day by coacl
Here they should go by coach to Sa
Lake. exchanging the suow aud desol
ton of the mountains for the fruits an
flowers of the MormoDs, and from thei
. they can go to Montana or Idaho b
y y stage, spend two months in observatlo
: or attending to business, and return
n boat from Fort Benton to Sioux Cit
where they arc connected with the Ea
L by railroads. Those who desire to Wis
n the Rocky Mountains only, should n