History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

418 MISSIONS AND IMMIGRATION.
for the season's emigration was not less than £30,000.
A year or two later it was found necessary to increase
the minimum charge from £10 to £13, on account of
the greater cost of provisions, wagons, and cattle,
caused by the California emigration.
Of emigrant travel by sea and land we have interesting
records. Excepting perhaps some parts of
Soudan, there were, at this date, few places in the
world more difficult to reach than the valley of the
Great Salt Lake. After arriving at New Orleans, a
journey of more than three thousand miles awaited
the emigrants by way of St Louis and Council Bluffs,
from which latter point they must proceed in wagons
or on foot across the wilderness, travelling in this
primitive fashion for three weary months before reaching
their destination. Of all the thousands who set
forth on this toilsome pilgrimage, few failed to reach
the city of the saints, the loss of life, whether of man
or beast, being very much below that which was suffered
by parties bound for the gold-fields of Califor-
nia. While at sea, every provision was made for their
health and comfort, and after reaching Council Bluffs
none were allowed to start until their outfit was complete
and their party fully organized.
The Liverpool manager of one of the New Orleans
packet lines speaks in the highest terms of his intercourse
with the Mormons during the year 1850. He
states that they were generally intelligent and well
behaved, and many of them highly respectable. After
mentioning the vocations of the emigrants, he declares
that the precautions taken for the preservation
of order, decency, and cleanliness on board were admirable,
and well worthy of imitation; and that from
his observation of the slovenly and dirty habits of
other classes of emigrants, it would not only conduce
to their comfort and health, but would absolutely save
the lives of many if similar regulations were introduced.
61
51 Mackay, The Mormons, 270-3. 'The most scrupulous cleanliness waa
thought to be necessary; frequent fumigation anil sprinkling with lime; and