296 "lowA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS"
lay before the public my imperfect plan in hopes that some one will thereby be induced to offer amendments until the plan of operations shall be perfected.
I have made every inquiry of those who have visited that region of country, and have read all perhaps, that has been written, of the character of the country, and have come to the conclusion that the distance from Burlington to Council Bluffs is 350 miles from the Bluffs west, on the north side of Big Platt river, by way of the Pawnee villages, to the foot of the Rocky Mountains at the old pass, where Captain Bonne- ville passed with his loaded wagons, is 500 miles, and no stream to cross except the Loupe fork of Platt. The pass to which I allude is in about latitude 41 deg. 30 min. north, from thence take a west course, or nearly so, to the Wallamet river; the distance is about 500 miles, making in all about 1300 or 1400 miles travel. By an inspection of the maps you will discover that the whole route will vary but little from a direct line.
My plan for outfit, etc., is as follows : With oxen and mules you will travel with a caravan of say 100 persons, 15 miles per day, which, if you lose no time, you will accomplish the journey in 100 days, but make reasonable allowance for accidents and delay, and say 150 days.
FOR THE OUTFIT AND ORGANIZATION
100 men should be armed and equipped with a good rifle gun of large bore, carrying not less than 60 bullets to the pound 4 pounds of powder, 12 of lead (flint locks are to be preferred,) caps and flints in proportion and good knife and a small tomahawk. Those who go with a view to hunting and trapping ought to have along half a dozen traps suitable for catching beaver and otter. Percushion guns should have with them a spare tube in case of accident of one bursting ; also, canteens. As to provisions necessary for the journey, say 150 pounds of side bacon, 1 barrel of flour, a half bushel of beans, 10 pounds of rice, 20 pounds of coffee, 20 pounds of sugar, one year's stock of coarse and durable
