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Show 32 NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. And now having made up your equipment complete, of such articles as are really necessary, make up the balance of the desired weight of load with grain for your animals, and you are ready for the plains. COST OF THE OUTFIT. We have said that the overland route to California is the cheapest, and if any thing like ordinary good luck attends the emigrant, and he procures his outfit upon the suggestions and advice given in this guide, it is the cheapest, and therefore, to very many who, with small means, would emigrate to California, it is the best. Four good fellows ~niting for the purpos<t, here is your outfit, and its cost: Six ·good horses at $100 each, ......... $600 Four harnesses at $15 each, .•..... ~ . . 60 One light two-horse wagon, .. '! • • • • • • • • 7 5 Two light saddles,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 ' ' One tent, . . . . . . . . . • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Provisions, . . . . . ...•...... · ....••. ~ . · 7 5 Cooking utensils, tools, etc., ... _ . • • • . • 60 Total, ......... .............. $900 ' Now there are thousands who will emigrate to Cali-fornia from the Western States, who have nearly their entire outfit on hand, and therefore the cash outlay cannot reach any thing like the amount as given above. But suppose it should-as might be the case where men I • I NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. 33 from the more Eastern States, proceed to the frontier before procuring their outfit-how will the account stand on reaching California? If you have the ordinary good luck thf;tt usually attends the dilligent, prudent emigrant, and bring your animals all through in sound condition, even though poor in flesh, the account will stand on sale of outfit, if your animals are large, nearly as follows : Six horses, $125 each, ...... ~ ............ $7 50 Four harnesses, $15 each,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 One wagon, ....... ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 60 Two saddles, tent, tools and cooking utensils,. . 30 Total, ................... : . . . . . . $900 So you will have made just an even thing of it, or reached California with only the loss of your time, for which you are more than compensated in the beauty, sublimity and grandeur of the scenery, and the general interest of the overland route; while the chances are, that in three months time from date of your arrival, your horses, if you keep them, 'vill bring you from $150 to $200 each, instead of $125. Confirmatory of the above, we will give you our experience. We started from St. Joseph on our last trip over, with four horses only, that we bought at that place, for $7 5 each ; we took no extra animals ; had'nt the money to buy them with. Our fi:ti·nesses were secondhand and cost $ 12 50 each, ~r $50, and our wagon, with cover, and all fitted, $65 tnore; total, $415. There were five of us on starting, and four of the company |