ne time on this continent.
Most of the teams that go to-day head for St. Joseph, the prospect
being better on the road that way, and after they get there, for feed
for teams than on the Council Bluffs route. We are all in too much of a
hurry, for there is no probability of our being able to leave the
frontiers before the 10th of May, for want of feed, consequently we
shall have to tarry two weeks at some point, and we think it best lie
bye at several different points, than all at once.

_April_ 15th. Monday. Left Iowa City this morning, for Washington,
county seat of Washington co. Country mostly rolling prairie for the
first 15 miles; soil very good, and good road, being the military road
built by Government. Streams all bridged with the best bridges that I
have seen in Iowa. The balance of the road to Washington--having left
the military road--is very bad; no bridges; got sloughed in a creek,
occasioned by our hindmost evener breaking; after unloading we got our
wagon out with one span of horses. This creek was within about a mile
and a half of Washington. I think there is no better evidence of the
want of enterprise in the inhabitants, than to find such places
unbridged on main roads near villages. We went on with one span of
horses, but it being very dark we got sloughed again, and had to leave
our wagon and go on to the village, where we arrived cross and hungry
about eight o'clock, having made 28 miles, and had the hardest day's
work since we left home. However, we found an obliging landlord, which
made up somewhat for our trouble. The country for the last part is flat
prairie and very wet. I should think it worthless.

28 miles.

16. Unloaded our wagon and got it out of the mud again this morning &
started for Brighton, Washington co. 11 miles. Country rolling, the
best land on the east side of the Skunk river, that I had seen in Iowa,
being rolling openings. Crossed the Skunk river on a ferry. Arrived at
Brighton about 2 o'clock, P.M.; commenced snowing soon after, and we
had one of the hardest snow storms of the season. Continued snowing
until midnight. The town is full of California teams, some going to
Council Bluffs, and some to St. Joseph.

11 miles.

17th. Laid over at Brighton. Snow this morning about two inches deep;
the day pleasant but cool; the wind in the North West. Brighton is
quite a small village, has three or four stores, one steam saw mill,
besides a fair share of mechanics and other