History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

HAND-CART EMIGRATION. 423
who were anxious to be gathered unto Zion, but could
not command even this sum, and measures were now
considered whereby the expense could be reduced.
After much discussion, it was decided that parties
should cross the plains with hand-carts, in which they
were to carry their baggage, wagons being provided
only for tents, extra provisions, and those who were
unable to walk. Instructions to this effect were issued
from Brigham Young, September 30, 1855, and in a
general epistle of the twelve, dated October 29th, a
circular being published in Liverpool about four
months later by the presidency of the British Isles, in
which the rate of passage was fixed at £9 sterling per
capita. 59 "The Lord, through his prophet, says of the
poor, 'Let them come on foot, with hand-carts or
wheelbarrows; let them gird up their loins, and walk
through, and nothing shall hinder them.'"
Iowa City was selected as the point of outfit, and
there the hand-carts were built. They were of somewhat
primitive fashion, the shafts being about five feet
long and of hickory or oak, with cross-pieces, one of
them serving for handle, forming the bed of the cart,
under the centre of which was a wooden axle-tree, the
wheels being also of wood, with a light iron band, and
the entire weight of the vehicle about sixty pounds. 89
Better carts were provided in subsequent years.
When the hand-cart emigrants, about thirteen hundred
in number, set forth from Liverpool, they were
assured that everything would be provided for them
on their arrival at Iowa City; but on reaching that
point many of them were delayed for weeks until the
carts were built. Three companies started early in
the season and made the journey without mishap. 01
The next company, under Captain James G. Willie,
59The letter, epistle, and circular will be found in the Millennial Star,
xvii. 812-15, xviii. 49-5a, 121-3.
60
Steuhouse's Rocky Mountain Saints, 314. The construction of the cart
will be seen in a cut facing this page.
61 The first arrived Sept. 2Gth, and were met by the first presidency and a
large number of the citizens, with an escort of cavalry and the bands of the
Nauvoo legion. Deseret News, Oct. 6, 1856.