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Show APPENDIX I. 507 No. of Mail. MileB. I Start. Arrival. Date 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. Along the Valley of the Platte, road muddy after rain, fuel scarce, grass abundant, camp traces every where. Ranch at Cotton-wood Station, at this season the western limit of buffalo Up the Valley of the Platte. No wood; buffalo chips for fuel. Good camping-ground; grass on small branch of the Platte. To Junction-House Ranch, and thence to station at Fremont Springs Road passes O'Fallon's Bluffs. '' Half-way House," a store and ranch, distant 120 miles from Fort Kearney, 400 from St. Joseph, 40 from the Lower Crossing, and 68 from the Upper Crossing of the South Fork (Platte River). The station is called Alkali Lake Road along river; no timber; grass, buffalo chips, and musquetoes. Station at Diamond Springs near Lower Crossing Road along river. Last 4 miles very heavy sand avoided by Lower Crossing. Poor accommodation at Upper Ford or Crossing on the eastern bank, where the mail passes the stream en route to Great Salt Lake City, and the road branches to Denver City and Pike's Peak Ford Platte 600 yards wide, 2-50 feet deep, bed gravelly and solid, easy ford in dry season. Cross divide between North and South Forks, along the bank of Lodge-Pole Creek. Land arid; wild sage for fuel. Lodge-Pole Station Up Lodge-Pole Creek over a spur of table-land; then, striking over the prairie, finishes the high divide between the Forks. Approximate altitude 3500 feet. On the right is Ash Hollow, where there is plenty of wood and a small spring, The station is Mud Springs, a poor ranch Route lies over a rolling divide between the Forks, crossing Omaha, Lawrence, and other creeks, where water and grass are procurable. Cedar is still found in hill-gullies. About half a mile north of Chimney Rock is a ranch where the cattle are changed Road along the south bank of North Ford of Platte River. Wild sage the only fuel in the valley: small spring on top of first hill. Rugged labyrinth of paths abreast of Scott's Bluffs, which lie 5 miles S. of river, in N. lat. 41° 48' 26", and W. long. 103° 45' 02". Water found in first ravine of Scott's Bluffs 200 yards below the road, cedars on heights. To station Road along the river; crosses Little Kiowa Creek, a tributary to Horse Creek, which flows into the Platte. Ford Horse Creek, a clear shallow stream with a sandy bottom. • No wood below the hills.. Route over sandy and heavy river bottom and roll ing ground, leaving the Platte on the right: cotton- wood and willows on the banks. Ranch at Laramie City kept by M. Badeau, a Canadian. who sells spirits, Indian goods, and outfit After 9 miles of rough road cross Laramie Fork and enter Fort Laramie, N. lat. 42° 12' 38", and W. long. 104° 31'26". Altitude 4519 feet. Military post, with post-office, sutler's stores, and 27 30 25 25 25 35 25 25 P.M. 9 AM. 6 15 NOON. 12 P.M G P.M. 11 AM. 6 30 P.M. 3 AM 8 24 16 26 A.M. 1 45 A.M. 11 P.M. P.M. 10 15 A.M. 3 15 P.M. 12 45 P.M. 5 45 Aug. 11 Aug. 11 Aug. 11 Aug. 11 Aug. 12 Aug. 12 Aug. 12 P.M. 12 30 Aug. 13 P.M. 1 30 P.M. 6 30 A.M. 6 P.M. 5 30 P.M. 8 30 P.M. 10 20 Aug. 13 Aug. 13 Aug. 14 |
