Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/30

were stationed on the Carson for the same purpose.^[1]

Beginning with 1850 traders made their way into the Carson valley and the desert. Some bought up the tired and worn-out oxen of the emigrants, fattened them up along the Carson and drove them to California where they commanded a good price. In 1850 a tired ox would sell for from $1.00 to $8.00.^[2] A meal at one of the trading posts cost $5.00. A man might sell what remained of the oxen which had carried him from the Missouri and not secure enough for a good meal.

In 1852 there were several stations in the desert between the Humboldt and the Carson where water and liquor were sold. The latter ranged in price from seventyfive to twenty-five cents a drink, according to quality. Trading stations were located all along the Carson. Prices were considerably lower than in 1850, but still very high.^[3]

The journey across the continent was not entirely a life of trials and hardship. There were pleasant days with beautiful scenery and an exhilarating atmosphere. But the days spent on the trail were predominantly days of toil and tribulation. If there was not rain and mud there was dust and mosquitoes, or both. In the mountains they were chilled to the bone at night and had to march under a burning su^[4]n at noon. If the irritations were more or less petty they were continuous and harrowing.

With the settlement of the Far West and the establishment of army posts along the trail, there arose a necessity for communication between East and West and for the transportation of supplies. The result was the estab-