Transcript

The Point of Outfit for our Spring Emigration.

Atchison is a new town situated on the western bend of the Missouri river, in Kansas Territory, about 500 miles from St. Louis. It is surrounded by immense grazing grounds, contains abundance of good water, and is considered a healthy situation; and we have decided after mature deliberation to make this the general outfitting point for our Spring Emigration.

Our Agent writes from Atchinson [Atchison] under date of March 20th, and says: "We have located four claims about four miles from this place, where we can have a general camping ground. These claims embrace about three hundred and fifty acres of timberland, all black hickory, with some two hundred acres of beautiful prairie for farming. It is at the head of Deer creek, on high prairie land, where there is always a find breeze, and is certainly a healthy location if one can be found within four miles of the Missouri river. The road from the Steamboat landing, except the first half mile, is upon high rolling prairie with a gradual ascent."

Atchison is about midway between Weston and St. Joseph, contains from five hundred to one thousand inhabitants, is said to be as well supplied with rock, coal, and timber as any region of the country. These and other substantial reasons have led us to give Atchison the preference to any other point with which we are acquainted, as an outfitting post for our emigration.

On Monday, March 12th, we shipped one hundred and seventy-five Danish Saints on the 'Clara,' in charge of P. O. Hanson with instructions to land at Atchison, but contrary to orders given were landed at Weston, thirty miles short of their destination, and will be compelled consequently to reship to the point of outfit.

Elder Richard Ballantyne's company arrived on the morning of the 27th. About two hundred and fifty of which we shall reship as soon as possible to Atchison.

We shall continue to ship emigrants to the above point as fast as they arrive in this city, both those who are prepared to go through to the Valley and those who have only means enough to pay their passage to the place of outfit. Those who are unable to go through this season, and have sufficient means to take them to the upper country, are counseled to locate themselves in Leavenworth, Weston, Atchison, St. Joseph or any other favorable opening in that section of country where labor is in great demand and commands a fair remuneration. Those of our brethren who are scattered through the States will do well to bend their course in that direction as soon as circumstances will permit.

It is particularly desirable that every Latter-day Saint leaving St. Louis or any other organized branch for the upper country, should report himself to us as soon as possible, that we may organize branches in every town and district where circumstances my render it necessary.