I thought you might like to see this one too. Phyllis ----- Original Message ----- From: Red Anthony <redpata@hypertech.net> To: <TNGIBSON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 8:33 AM Subject: [TNGIBSON] Wagons West !!! > February 2, 1849 > > Arkansas Intelligencer > > Van Buren, Crawford County,AR > > TO CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS > > A large number of letters have been recieved by our citizens from persons in > > Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Mississippi, and our own state, > > asking information, a majority of whom seek very much of the same > > information-- These facts have induced us to prepare the copy of the Letter > > from H.W. Bell, Esq. of this city, one of the gentlemen engaged in organizing > > a company to start from this place, to a gentleman in KY, whose letter was in > > the shape of inquiries, embracing the kind of information sought in more than > > half of the letters recieved here on this subject. Mr. Bell is one of the > > commettee appointed for a reference, and those interested would do well to > > address him. > > We will strike off some extra copies of this number, which our citizens can > > procure and send to their correspondents. > > Van Buren, Ark., Feb. 2. 1849 > > Sir- Yours of the 27th Dec., requesting information of the route from this > > point to California, etc, was handed me by the Postmaster; and I take > > pleasure in replying to your several inquiries as follows: > > 1. A Company will start from Van Buren to California, on or about the 1st > > April, making Santa Fe a point on the route, or taking a route south of that > > place, should it be deemed preferable. > > 2. The advantages of this, over the Independence route, are that it is nearer > > by about 200 miles; grass is up sooner, enabling emigrants to start a month > > earlier from this place than form Independence; the roads are as good, if not > > better, and no water courses of importance to cross, after leaving Arkansas > > river at this place. > > 3.Everything necessary for emigration can be procured at this place, with the > > exception of wagons. Oxen can be purchased at from $20 to $35 per yoke; flour > > at say $2.50 per 100 lbs. It would, perhaps be advisable for you to purchase > > your wagons and teams in Kentucky, and come here by land, provided with only > > what can be hauled conveniently, such as cooking utensils, and etc. Mule > > teams are far preferable to either oxen or horses. > > 4. The amount of money to be contributed as a company fund will be trifling, > > say two or three dollars. > > 5. Corn can be procured from the friendly Indians, for about 200 miles west > > of this point; it is however, of small importance, as the grass wil be > > sufficient. After going 200 miles the road is through a wilderness near 500 > > miles to Santa Fe. or 600 to the Rio Grande, opposite the Rio Gila. > > 6. The road from Memphis to Little Rock is very fine, if the season is dry, > > -- otherwise it is almost impassable for wagons. From Little Rock to this > > place,-- always good. There is a good road at all times, by going through the > > southern part of Illinois and Missouri. Your best way would be to bring your > > wagons without teams as far as Van Buren by water, and purchase the latter > > here. Should you come by way of Memphis your best plan would be to leave the > > Military road at Mrs. Black's and go through to the Cadron, leaving Little > > Rock to the south, by which you will save 30 miles. But unless there is a > > probability of a dry season in March, which is not very probable, you should > > by all means take the Missouri route to this place, Cross the Ohio at > > Golconda; the Mississippi at Green's ferry, and come by the way of > > Springfield Mo and Fayetteville, Ark. This will be but little farther, and is > > one of the best natural roads in the world. > > I will send you a number of the "Van Buren Intelligencer" which will give you > > what other information is necessary on the subject. I will advise you to be > > here, as early before the 1st April as convenient. > > Very Respectfully, > > H.W. Bell > > > > > > > > > > >