.MTIzMQ.OTczMzU

of 50 men to make laws = they claim now 12000 Inhabitants in the valley = they say Emigrants by the south pass route have suffered severely = grass all fed off = cattle dying & that there are a thousand graves along the Platte of those who have died of cholera. We think of crossing the desert south of the Salt Lake = but they discourage us & say it is impossible & that we will all perish if we undertake that route that there are hidden Saleraties?, salt beds where our animals will break in & be lost & long stretches without grass or water = the northern route ^ 800? miles through is destitute of grass = there is a route south (1100 miles) = but we must wait 6 weeks for the fall rains = after a consultation (the company having dissolved = ) Dr White = Mr Force = Capt Tuttle = S Jackson = Mr Horn = Mr Sewell = Mr Philips = Capt Smith = Mr Goodrich = Mr Corning = Mr Howell = Close = Olney = Nichols = & myself making 15 men = came to the determination to take the desert route = we fortunately found at this juncture a "Mr Craig" a very estimable gentleman = who told us we had succeeded once in crossing the desert & thought he could do so again = we gave him $25 ,, find his provisions & carry 38 lbs of clothing for his services = Sunday august 19th in the afternoon went into the city = which covers a large extent of territory = the villiage lots are all large lots the houses many of Adobes = we found a place to camp in one of the city lots = & slept therein by the side of our mules 'till morning. in the morning 20th we saw one of our party & went to their encampment & completed our arrangements, bought some wheat had it ground = saving the coarse feed for our mules on the desert, bought a little sorrel mule of Geo Hale = had our mules shod I had now three mules (as the company had taken my horse Pau Pau? & sold it) & I had taken a pack mule in its place a black mare mule 4 years old = our previous guide Mr Kinney selected this animal for me & I found her a very hardy & serviceable animal I had also one of my old pack mules = an old brown ^ Santa Fe mule, & a very good animal = we take only 80 lbs to a mule & throw away all articles not absolutely necessary = we left the city this evening & camped ear some brackish pools of water = & about one oclock