e river. No wood all day; plenty of grass,
and buffalo-chips for cooking.

15-1/4. Platte River.--Road crosses O'Fallon's Bluffs, where there
is a good camping-place on the right of the road. Plenty
of wood, water, and grass on a small stream, which is part
of the Platte. Mail station here.

16-1/2. South Platte River.--Road runs along the Platte, with no
timber. Good grass and water at any point, with buffalo-chips
for fuel.

17. South Platte River.--No timber all day. Good water and grass
at all points, with buffalo-chips.

8. South Platte Crossing.--No wood all day. Good water and
grass, with buffalo-chips. The river is about 600 yards wide,
rapid, with quicksand bottom, but can be forded when not above
a medium stage. It is best to send a footman ahead to
ascertain the depth of water before crossing the wagons and
animals.

19. Ash Hollow, at North Platte River.--Road leaves the South Fork
of the Platte, and strikes over the high prairie for 16 miles,
when it descends the high bluffs bordering the valley of the
North Platte, and enters Ash Hollow, where there is a plenty
of wood and a small spring of water. Half a mile beyond this
the road reaches the river. Mail station and a small grocery
here.

16-3/4. North Platte.--Very sandy road; no wood; grass and water
plenty at all points; buffalo-chips sufficient for cooking.

17. North Platte.--Road sandy in places; no wood; good grass
and water; some buffalo-chips.

16-1/2. North Platte.--Road good; no wood; good grass and water;
cattle-chips in places.

18-3/4. North Platte.--No wood. Camp opposite "Chimney Rock,"
which is a very peculiar formation on the south of the road,
and resembles a chimney. Grass good. Road muddy after rains.

[Illustration: CHIMNEY ROCK.]

17-1/2. North Platte.--No wood; grass and water good.

16. "Horse Creek," branch of the North Platte.--In seven
miles the road passes through Scott's Bluffs, where there is
generally water in the first ravine about 200 yards below the
road. The road then descends the mountain, at the foot of
which is the Platte and a mail station. A little wood can be
obtained at Scott's Bluffs; there is none on Horse Creek.

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