Butte record., 1853-12-03
BIZ IIE RECORD.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1853.
TIE r1v1s1ox OF THE COUNTY.

until 1t has been fairly tried We allude in
particular to the Mountains of our own coun-
ty, but do not doubt in the least, that those Of
other mountain counties are o5uail Ida
BILE. L when we ad. % til. natural dit-:-
culties If travel, heavy rai mai tho
steep mill s.ul~ for miles in heigth slippery
that man can sea cely stand upon theI1, ex-
ce9t with the utmost care, and filling the deep
rocky gorges and raw les of the mountains,
across which the road or trail must necissari-
ly passes, with a roaring foaming torrent,
that could sweep away man and horse, like
bubble on its surface, or what is still worse q
fall of snow, oftentimes ten feet III DEPTH COW
ering every trace Of trail or road among the
dense pine woods, with the SHOWS swept by
the whirling winds in huge drifts along the
mountain side, covering and concealing from
the traveller fearful chasms hundreds of feet
in depth, and along the brink Of which the
path leads, where one luckless step would
send the illfated traveller or pack animal boun-
ding from crag to crag, and from rock to rock
down the almost internina ble depth, until lost
to view beneath some mountain snow drift; or
in the mad torrent at the base, or until hid
amid the evergreen foliage OF the tall old pines.
whose tops have been trying for centuries to
reach the heigth Of the path upon the noun
tain side aud will try centuries more before
they attain it; or when We add an intense
cold, which benumbs the limbs and energies of
the traveller, until, far from the habitation OF
man, after struggling and toiling on through
the day, up the steep mountain side, and
down into the deep gorge, where there is heavy
shade, through the whole long day in midsum-
mer, wearied and worn, tired nature refuses
longer to struggle for its own safety and with
the deep growlings Of the terrific grizzly, and
the sharp crying bark of the gray wolf, SCUM
ding IN his ears, he lies down upon the frozen
snow, thanks heaven there is such feeling
IN the breast of man as the resignation of
despair, and the darkness of night, and the
darkness of DEATH together spread their black
pail over him.
We can begin to realize some of the dan
gers and difficulties attending communica-
tions with the remote portions of the county,
during several months in the year, when we
consider, that beyond the most dangerous
and difficult of these passes, and beyond the
range Of hills, where is usually experienced
the heaviest rains, and the greatest depth of
snow, there are large and fertile valleys, with
comparatively temperate winters, where hun
dreds Of families are now settling, and pre-
pairing beautiful farms, and comfortable and
happy homes that all Of them have been
reared in a land blessed with civil and reli-
gous institutions that, scattered at frequent
intervals through that vast country, are i'm
mense stores Of goods, of from four to six
months supply of the neeessaries and com
forts, and even many of the luxuries of life
and that an immense amount OF exchange is
thus daily carried on among the inhabitants,
that constituted as man is, disputes must
necessarially arise, which must be settled by
some tribunal, and the almost absolute impos-
sibility of reaching the tribunals organized
under the laws of the state. We almost cease
to wonder, that these men, who would once
have shuddered, and started in horror at the
mention of ''.N06 Latc,' until beyond the
pale Of the Civil Law, should now, under such
state of circumstances, for the protection of
their property their families and their own
lives, constitute temporary tribunals OF their
own, for the settlement of civil wrong and the
punishment of crime But we would not for
a moment palliate the crime of which this self
constituted tribunal would be guilty, in pun
shing the crime of others, but only lament
the existence of such a state of things, that
even the actors themselves, could discern in
their situation even shadow of vindication
for illegal conduct. 1t is mistaken idea,
that the farther we adv .nce into he mountains,
the mere severe are the winters; such is not
the case.
On the road leading to Nelson Greek, from
the county seat, by way of Forbestown, what
is known as the '.snow line'' is not found un-
til We nearly reach Grass valley, and from
thence bearing in a south east direction along
the high hills enclosing Onion Valley, and
among which We find the well known 'Pilot
Peak" This same range of hills from Grass
Valley, bears to the north west, across
couBtry not yet much known, and with but
few scattered miners along the streams at
their base, and intersect the road leading
from Bidwell to Spanish and American Val
leys from thirty to forty miles from Bidwell
This range varies from FIVE 10 twenty miles n