The Nevada journal., 1852-03-20
NEW ROAD To CARSON VALLEY.


We take the following from the cor
respondence of he Ell Dorado News,
of March c. 1t is worthy of conside-
ration:
Having believed for the last two
years, that there was a nearer and far
better route for public road from
Sacramento to Carson Valley, via Pla-
cerville, than the one usually travelled,
l determined t., make the necessary
search. Accordingly, on Wednesday,
the 25th February, I started with a
small party of men, on foot, carrying
our provisions, blankets, and fire. arms,
for Carson Valley, which place reach
ed at point known as the Mormon
Station, on Friday the 9th, at 2 o.
clock. The course taken by us was
as follows: We crossed the South Fork
of the American river seven miles a.
bove Johnson's Ranch, and ascended
to the top of the dividing ridge be-
tween the South Fork and branch
Of the same called Silver Fork, and
travelled on this ridge for about twen-
ty miles; this is a beautiful mountain
ridge, requiring no. labor further than
cutting a few bushes and the removal
of a few logs, to make a good road;
from thence we descended to the val
ley and followed up the river for fif-
teen or twenty miles All this portion
of the road is admirable supplied with
grass and water in abundance. Here
is an excellent pass in the first noun
tain, being only about two miles to the
summit, and The grade so gradual that
| verify believe that three yoke Of OK
en- will take wagon, with thirty hum
died pounds on it to the summit, with
out difficulty, ut the present time. 1t
is then about one mile, by gradual
descent. to the margin of Lake Val
ley. Here is several lakes, the largest
of which is about fifteen miles in width
and thirty-f five long. On the south
side of this lake is thousands of acres
Of excellent grass, and a road can be
had on level ground for twenty miles.
We then ascend a mountain through ~
very wide canon, two miles long, to
the top of .he mountain, where we
have fine view of Carson Valley, at
distance of s or Q miles. This part
of the route is through fine pass, the
mountains are piled up on either side
to tremendous height, forming one
of the most beautiful scenes in the
Sierra Nevada.
The practicability Of this route is
set forth in the following letter, adj
dressed to the Hon. B. r. Keene:
Carson Valley, Feb. 20.
Sir: w" the undersigned, citizens
of Carson Valley, have this day exam
ined and heard from our friends who
have, with Mr.. johnson, lately dis
covered new pass through the Sier-
ra Nevada, and are perfectly aston
ished at the facilities afforded by this
routh, scarcely inferior to the celebra-
ted South Pass in the Rocky Noun
tains. We are surprised that such
practicable route had remained undis-
covered so long. 1t is at least 40
miles nearer than the old road, and
well supplied with water and grass
from Carson Valley to the settlements
on the west side of the Sierra Nevada.
We hope you will do all in your pow
er to assist us in getting road thro'
here, as we must obtain our supplies
either from Missouri via Salt Lake,
or from Sacramento. 1t would be
much to our advantage to have them
from California, if we can get good
road Respectfully yours,
J. 2. BARNARD
And ten others.
So we'll arc we satisfied that this
route can be travelled all months in
the year, that We will bind ourselves
to carry the u. S. Mail from Sacra-
mento to the mail station in Carson
Valley, five Of the worst months in
the year, for 500 per month-$5O
for taking the mail from Sacramento
TO Carson Valley, and $50 for taking
it back, and we will only require five
days to make the trip to or from Sac
ramento to Carson Valley.
| JOHN REESE,
J. G. JOHNSON.