The Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1852-1872, 1853-04-09

November 25, 1852.
Hon. W. NJ. EDDY, Surveyor General:
SR,-Havipg just returned from trip of six
weeks into the mountains In the western part of
this county, and also in the northern part of
Klamath county, found your letter of October
%, and hasten to reply to it. Accompanying
this send you hasty but correct sketch OF the
country between this place and the coast
My excursion was to find pack trail to a
harbor, (and to examine the said harbor which
is situated near Point st. George, and about due
west from this place. AT present it is sufficient
to say, that we were completely successful In
finding good trail and good harbor.
You request III your letter such information as
| can give in regard to the new emigrant road
opened this year from the Humboldt to this
place. was over this route once this year, and
| will give you the distance and description as
hase them on my journal of the trip.
From the Humboldt to Black Rock Springs
90 miles w. n. W., country very level; no tim
Der; water in two places. The road then bears
IN ~ w "a miles over very level country, grad
ually ascending; then over a low rocky rid se s.
Nv. miles to the mouth of Big Rock Canon
Through the canon w. 10 miles is a valley about
90 yards wide, level and good travelling; then
miles over gently rolling country 10 Little
Rocky Canon; through this . miles, rocky
wagon road, but levels thence w. n. w. 90
miles, to mud lake 3 miles long, hafmie wide.
over rolling but not billy country; thence west
over rolling country, sometimes rocky, but
usually good natural wagon road, - miles to
hot sprlnS. These springs are between two
salt or mud lakes and directly at the eastern
base OF the, Sierra Nevada mountains
From HUMBOLDT to the Sierra Nevada there is
no timber, but an abundance Of good grass and
water. The Two lakes are about ) or miles
apart and are very shallow, so that late III the
summer the greater part OF each is dry.
From the hot springs the road is north Is
miles, level road, tine grass and clover; then
over the main ridge of the Sierra Nevada one
mile; thence TO Goose Lake valley, nine miles :;
descentvery gradual except the last 300 yards,
which is quite steep.
l have never crossed the Sierra Nevada noun
tains at any other place than this, but have
Deen told by several persons who have been
over the different crossings, that this is the low
est and easiest crossing now in use | rode nv
mule over and was a. minutes in going from
base to base of the main ridge, which is the only
part which resembles mountain
Around the south end of Goose Lake the road
IS over level. grassy valley, % miles leaving
the lake nearly directly west OF where we struck
1t passed up d gradual descent one mile, through
heavy pine and fir TIMBER then miles of rolling
timber country to a small canon, average depth
about 25 feet and 60 to 100 yards wide. Down
this the road followed II miles, then across a flat
miles. This flat is surrounded by perpen-
dlcular rocky WALL similar to the sides of the
canon, and appears to have been once full of
water-along another canon miles, then over
a fiat, very rocky country IA miles. This is the
extreme northern point of the road and is w.
N w. from the point of leaving Goose lake.
There Is abundance of good water and grass
along this part of the road, and the low hills are
scantlly covered with tolerable timber.
From this the road bears s. W. 6 miles, over
rolling rocky country, then miles over grassy
flat to Little lake; around this 3 miles, road
good and level; thence over rocky ridge
miles, ascent and descent very easy Tulare
lake valley, then up this valley W. n. w. to the
natural bridge, Is miles level road; then S. s.
w. miles across low ridge into Klamath lake
valley. Around this lake the road is for the
most part level, passing oyer two small spurs
from the hills.
From Klamath lake road good and level II
miles, then ascend low hill to the upland legel,
thence Is miles TO Butte Creek The last miles
through heavy timber, level road up Butte
Greek the road good and level miles, passing
then through low gap i'll mountains to Shasta
valley - miles.
In constructing railroad the Sierra Nevada
might be avoided by crossing 10 the northward
of Goose lake. and then passing TO the souh-wes;
and eav ing Little and Tulare lakes TO the right,
a route could be had tolerably clear OF mountains,
but very rocky and rough.
December 3d-Since writing the above none
of our expresses have been able TO arrive or de-
part on account of the continual storm. This is
one of the most serious disadvantages we labor
under. We are at times cut Oft entirely from
all communication with the rest of the State.
My sketch OF the western part of this county
Is very rough. but still | feel confident that the
position OF the various streams, &c, correct
ly land down. With respect, yours.
JAS. I. LOWRY,
County Suryeynr Siskiynu Co