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Show 10 be deterred by any stories told you on the frontier about danger, what or hers havE' done, you can do,--recollcct one thing however, is certain, that you will meet \vith difficulties and trials. The question is not: how quicldy can I get to California; there are other things to be regarded, the 1nost serious enquries are, as to the best, surest, and safest routes to be taken-what supplie~ you need to take along with you, and '"hat provision you need to make for your future ne~essities. There is information to be had on all these points, and no sensible man will set off on so important an expedition, leaving anything to uncertainty or chance. From the best observations made we are satisfied that no person should atternpt to leave the frontier with more than lbs 2,500 weight, or \vith a team of le&is than four yoke of cattle, or six mulee. Let your waggons be strong, but light, with good lock chains, and the tire well riveted through the,lellowes-if not thus fastened, you will have to wet your vv'heels every day, to prevent them from coming off'. You want your waggon covers well coated with paint, and a few~pounda to spare. You want good stout ropes, 60 feet long, with stakes about 30 ~nches long, having the heads shod with an iron band, with an eye for fas;tening your mules to, and probably your cattle. ·You cannot be too careful of your teams, to prevent their straying. Have also a spare chain or two,-if you intend to farm, you want the iron work of a plough,., a set of harrow teeth, axes, hoes, cradle, scythes, &c., including a small cast iron hand Corn Mill-be sure to have a good draw knife and frow together with a few other carpenter's tools. If you mean to "dig for gold," you want a short pick axe, strong in the eye, a spade, several tin and copper pans, a meal seive (have a gold washing machine if you can afford it) of brass or copper wire ; iron wire will rust-take spare ' 11 wire webb along with you-see yourselfth~t everything you want is procured ; do not trust to others. Be sure to have a well bound cas}{ 20 gallons in size, for supplying yourself with water, across dry plains. For provisions for each person : you want a barrel of flour, or 180 lbs ship biscuit that is kiln dried, 150 to 180 lbs ba· con, 25 lbs coffee, 40 lbs sugar, 251bs rice, 60 lbs beans or peas, a keg of clear cooked beef suet, as a substitue for butter, (butter will become rancid in a few days on the plains) a keg of lard, 30 or 40 l bs of dried peaches, or apples, also some molasses and vinegar. For arms, you want a good rifle, and a pair of long pistols, (some companies foolishly talk of taking small cannon along,) or a revolver, 5lbs of powder, "Laflin's" best, with 10 lhs of 1 ead, and a few pounds of shot. If you have ro~~ to spare fill up with additional provisions, as they " Till be carce after you get through ; four persons are e?ough for one team. The first subject of import&nce In the mind of the enquirer, is, as to the cost of the outfit, &c. From careful estimate we arrive at the following result, and think it about correct. We base the calculation upon the supposition that four rersons club toge~h~r to travel with the same waggon. And below 've subJOin a seco11d ~stimate for three persons using oxen only, as a teamthis is compiled by another individual. and for one year's . . prov1s1ons. |