Transcript

Merchant Trains.

A train of some forty wagons, propelled by one hundred and thirty yoke of oxen, arrived on Thursday last, about the same time that Capt. [Warren] Walling's company came in, belonging to Mr. Solomon Young of Jackson, Mo., and freighted with merchandize for Mr. Ranzhoff.

The wagons were coupled together in pairs, one behind the other, each pair having on board about sixty hundred pounds and drawn by six pairs of oxen-the usual number attached to those large cumbrous heavy wagons that have been much used in freighting merchandize and Government stores across the plains.

Mr. Young is of the opinion that the coupling of two wagons together in that manner is the most economical way of freighting to this Territory, as the same amount of freight can be hauled more easily on two light wagons than one of those heavy concerns, heretofore used for freighting purposes, and by hitching them together the expense of teamsters is lessened one half. Light wagons are unquestionably better than heavy ones for such service, but we are not so sure that there can be any thing saved, all things considered, by the coupling operation.

Mr. Young's cattle look remarkably well and, as we are informed, he did not loose a single ox by accident or otherwise during the trip.