The national wagon road guide, from St. Joseph and Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River, via South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, to California

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••• Vlll INTRODUCTORY • general terms. It is to the truthful answer of such interrogatories that these pages are in part devoted. But of the national wagon road and overland route; we are con· vinced that Californians will hereafter, much more than formerly, make their return trips to the States by way of the phtins. The journey . overfand ,t o those who have never made it, as w. ell as to great numbers who have~ present~ inducements and attractions unequalled by any other route. No one who has not actually made the journey ofthe plains can ap­preciate the advantages and convenience to be derived from a knowl­edO'e of the exact distance necessary to be accomplished every day, to be 0 certain of securing a good camping place; as it avoids the necessity of being compelled to camp oftentimes where there is neither grass or water. By reversing the distances as given in this guide from place to place, it can as well be used by•the Californian on his way to the States as from there here; but as much the larger number migrate towards California, the routes as described herein are made to commence at the Missouri River. In addition to our own careful personal observation of the entire overland route, we are enabled to give the '~)}C of location of the western section of the national wagon road, as located this year, 1857, by John l{irk, Esq., U. S. Commissioner, to whom and to Mr. F. A. Bishop, Engineer of the Comnlission, we are under great obligation for this and other valuable information, relative to the country to the east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains including the valleys of Honey Lake, the Truckee, Washoe, and the Carson; thus giving to the work a character of reliability possessed by no o~r overla-tl guide. And as it is of the utmost importance to the traveler over this, the western and wor~t portion of the whole overland route, to be made acquainted with every feature it possesses, this work, from its com .. pleteness and reliability, cannot but be duly appreciated by Californi .. ans intending to make the journey eastwardly, or who ·have friends at the East, about to migrate by this route, to whom they can send it. Auth·ors frequently omit to give the more real reason for the publi­cation of their works We avoid that error by decluring our third motive-and perhaps it ought to have been put first-in getting up this work to be, to make money by its sale. To do this, at the low price at which it is offereQ., will require an extensive sale. We could hardly expect this unless the work should prove reliable; therefore, to give it this essential feature, and to. make it not only the most reliable, but the most complete and valuable work of its kind, no labor has been spared. .As such, therefore, it is respectfully submitted to the public. OVERLAND ROUTE. Well, we will tell you all about it ; from.two points on the Missouri River, along both sides of the Platte River, along the Sweet Water, via the South Pass of the Rocky 1\fountains and Hun1boldt River, to Califor­nia ; with all its bran~hes and cut-off.:3, ferries and ford­ing places, distances, camping grounds, meadows, marshes, deserts, mountains, valleys, river s, soda or alkali lagoons, lakes, and springs. But before we commence our minute detail of dist­ances, from place to place, we shall give you our opin­ion of the advantages and practicability of the overland route, and devote a few pages to what we believe to be good, practical advice and directions to the emigrant, in reference to an outfit for the journey. Then a brief account of the birds, animals, insects,