The Way West

The Journey
Mules, Oxens & Wagons
Many overlanders and prospectors rid
themselves of their wagons along the way
out west. Carried only supplies they needed
to get to the gold mines of California.
Changed the value of oxen and wagons
which became cheaper and the value of
mules and horses increeased.
Acts of Kindness
Due to the travel conditions at times
travellers would be on foot at the end of the
journey. Sometimes they would be picked
up along the way for a fee or sometimes it
would be free.
The overlanders on foot would make
arrangements to meet up with their goods
once they arrived in California or the end of
their trip.
The Gold Rush
Needed Supplies
Clothing
Food
Blankets
Personal belongings

Prices for Supplies
Four - $2/lb.
Hardtack/Bread $1/lb.
Slaughtered Oxen $65
Perils of the Trip
Some overlanders would resort to thievery
and violence to acquire needed supplies.
Some like children were left to their own
device to reach to the west after parents
had died.
Many who travelled west counted on
Christians who were moving out west to be
Christ like in regards to their fellow travellers
who were moving out west and had fallen
on hard times or experienced bad luck.
Acts of Compassion?
With the need to feed and water the
animals and themselves water was a
precious commodity. For a drink of water
could be worth from $1 to $500. Or the
water could be free if one was destitute.
As pioneers moved west and realized that
they packed too much , they often would
leave their excess on the trail, leaving a trail
of trash.
One Mans Trash is
Anothers Treasure
Items thrown away were:
Ham
Bacon
Axles
Clothing
Beans
Stoves
Extra Wagon Wheels
Blacksmith Anvils
Crow-bars
Augers
Gold-Rushers
Chisels
Axes
Ploughs
Spades
Abandoned Property
The Overlanders left many items along the
way to their movement out west.
Besides the previous items left, the
overlanders left animals who were left along
the trail and many died. It is estimated that
the amount of property left in the Carson
Desert totaled $1 million diapers.
Oregon- California Trail
Overlanders met with Indians along the trail
to conduct trade.
The relationship between overlanders and
Indians did include violent clashes but they
also cooperated with each other.
The overlanders using the Oregon Trail used
the Indian guides the most. Deals were
made to ford the Snake and Columbia
Rivers.
Indian Relationships
Mostly there was a good reliable relationship
between the overlanders and the Indians.
The Indians were guides and pilots along the
Oregon trail. The Indians built campfires,
encampment and brought water to the
overlanders.
Overall the Indians were honest brokers
when dealing with the overlanders. The
tribes involved were the Chinook, Sioux &
Shawnee.
Indian Relationships
The Indians were very astute trading partners
with the overlanders. They were also
compassionate towards those heading west.
The Plains Indians recognizing that their way of
life was being threatened during the 1840s
demanded tribute for safe travel through their
lands.
There were conflicts between the Indians and
the Overlanders but most of the interactions
between them was without conflict.
Credits
Pictures
Mules, Oxens, Wagons Courtesy of Library of
Congress