The Shasta courier., 1853-09-10
THE SHASTA COURIER.
Pacific Railroad.


EDS. SHASTA COURIER TO those OF our ciii-
zens who feel an interest in the great work OF
the age. viz. the construction of Railroad from
the valley of the Mississippi to the Pacific ocean,,
even the smallest moroccan of reliable informa-
ton relative 10 the geography of the country IN
the vicinity of the proposed line, is acceptable
1t ia in view of this fact, and for the benefit OF
such, that propose to give plain and accu-
rate detcripion of the pass through the Sierra
Nevada mountains known as /" Mobiles Route.
This route leaves the main emmigrant trail
at point in the Humboldt some eighty miles
above the Sink and pursuing nearly west
ern direction, reaches the Sacramento River ht-
teen miles southeast of Shasta City. The hrst
lo5 miles of the route, after leaving the Hum
boldt river, lies through nearly level country
some forty miles of which is direct. The char
acter of the soil generally along this section OF
the route is dry and gravelly, but 1t affords alr
pastnrage, and there is sufEcency OF water
The last twenty miles of the above distance ira
verses beautiful aud fertile valley, watered by
a mountain stream of considerable size At
enters the Pass of the Sierra Nevada by an as
cent so easy and over suface so smooth that
the traveller who, for the first time finds him.
self upon this trail cannot realise that he is as
cending mountain. distance of twenty-five
miles brings us to the summit, which, in this in
stance, means nothing more or less than level
country covered with magnificent forests of
Pine Fir, and Cedar, dotted over with numer
Gus small lakes and fertilized by delightful
springs and rivulets. ). ..ome of the southern
branches of Pitt river have their sources in this
vicinity. A distance of 30 miles over this char
acter of country brings us to the western slope
of the mountain, few miles north of g Law
sons Butte" the highest point in this section of
the Sierra Nevada range. The descent of the
mountain along the western slope is over a.
smooth surface, end so uniform and easy that we
arrive at the foot of the slope, a distance of
twenty five miles, and enters,upop a.lovely val
ly, almost before we can realize that the descent
has been fairly begun The country now con-
stinues level, and in many places fertile, till we
arrive at the Sacramento river, distance of
some sixty miles.
There is no timber along that portion of the
trail east OF the Pass, till arrive at the foot
of the mountain; but from that point westward
along the route for distance of one hundred
aid twenty miles, the whole country is forest,
and will afford any quantity of Pine, Fir, and
itself, there is not hill on the entire route as
much as fifty feet high. In many places good
building stone might be easily procured and
with the exception of one or two short sections
of the route near the Humboldt, water is plenty
and of excellent quality.
The Indians have not yet committed any
greater depredations along this route than few
petty thefts. Indeed there are but few of them
in that portion of the country through which
the route passes
The entire distance from the Humboldt to the
Sacramento over this route, is probably not far
there has been no other labor bestowed upon it
than was baley sufficient to clear it of logs, an
ordinary team of four mules can draw 1000 lbs
over it either way without difficulty.
Such is Mobiles route.
Should those interested in fastening the
/" manifest destiny" of our railroad and tele-
graph systems deem the existence of this easy
and available pass, situated in about 41dg. north
latitude, of Importance. they may rely with con-
fdence upon the above description as being
true in every substantial particular.
G. W. McMuRrRY.
Shasta City, Sep. s, 1858.
P. s. The above description of Mobiles route
is given upon the authority of D. D. Harrill
Postmaster of Shasta City, D. Corsaut, Sheriff
of Shasta county Samuel Francis, Esq, Capt.
Young. and other reliable gentlemen who have
passed over the route and are well informed
with regard TO it. / am not advised as to the
depth or duration of the snow along this route,
but would venture the assertion (predcted upon
the lowness OF the mountain at this point that
there is less to be apprehended from this cause
at this, than at any other point in the Sierra Ne
vada north of 36dg. north latitude.
G. w. Nc
~A gentleman who has farm in the vicin-
ity of an Indian encampment above this city,
,..fo.r~ IL.