The Shasta courier., 1855-02-17
Emigrnnt Road Meeting,


On Tuesday evening avery large number OF
our citizens assembled In the st. Charles Hotel,
for the purpose Of taking action on the subject
of building wagon road from Lasson's Mead
ows on the Humboldt, through Mobiles Pass to
the Sacramento. The meeting was organized
by calling Judge J. c.. Hinckey to the Chair
and appointing Homer A, Curtiss to act as Sec
retary.
The meeting was addressed by several gentle
men, after which the annexed preamble and
resolutions were read by the Secretary ard
adopted by unanimous rote.
The advantages of this route for the location
of the contemplated road, so fnly set forth,
that we do not deem it necessary to say anything
in addition thereto.
We cannot refrain, however, from directing
the attention of members Of the Legislature to
the important fact, that two hundred and twen-
fy-fve miles travel from Lasson's Meadows.
through this route, will place the emigrant OH
the banks of the Sacramento River, while. by
either of the other routes, it will leaye him
the east side Of the Sierra Neyada
We would also call the attention of those gen.
tlemen who are now exertiug themselves to es-
tablish line of stages from California to Mis-
souri,, to the fact that through Mobiles Pass there
is already natural road superior in almost
every respect to many Of the mountain rpads
over which the California Stage Company are
now running daily lines of stages II is an alb
solute fact that the worst part of the ROAD from
Shasta City to the Humboldt lies between this
point and the Canon House. and over which
portion stages have been passing daily for three
years. Mr.. VIM. Burt, one of the California
Stage Coppany's drivers, informs us that he can
easily drive a stage coach from the summit of
the mountains TO the Sacramento River withou,
chaining wheel, save at one PLACE
Whereas, The project of building a good wa
gon road from Missouri to California has become
subject of Legislative action which action will
of course be confined to those States more i'm
mediately concerned; and Uhefeas California
is now more directly interested than any of her
sister States, because of her isolated condition
and her great want of more rapid communion
tion with the eastern side of the continent; aud
Whereas. the construction cf such a wagon road
would tend TO more intimate connection of the
eastern and westrn extremes OF this Republic
and thus secure an additional check upon .he
rapidly increasing and traitorous sentiment Of
Disunion; and lVhercas, the selection OF the
most feasible route for such road across the ST.
erras is now subject Of enquiry the part of
the California Legislature; Therefore, We, as
citizens of Northern California, deem it incum
bent upon to present such facts in relation to
the route leading from the Sacramento Valley
through Mobiles Pass, to the Humboldt River, as
may assist our Legislators in taking such def
mite action in to regard the matter as may lead
To the early completion OF the projected work.
While the Truckee and Carson routes have
been greatly improved in the past year or two
yet the great mpediment to emigrants, and es-
pecially to those interested in stock still re-
mains-we mean the absence of pure waterand
nutritious grass for a distance of at least one
hundred and twenty-five miles. From point
on the Humboldt called Lasson's Meadows or
the Big Bend, the emigrant will find, as he de-
scends the river, that its waters rapidly become
unfit for use, and the grass so impregnated with
alkal as to endanger the lives of the stock. This
is the case the entire distance to the Sink where
is to be encountered formidable desert, between
forty and fifty miles in width, witheut any wa
ter except that flowing from the Boiling Springs,
the use of which, to our knowledge, has f.
quently resulted in death to both men and
stock.
Now most of these obstacles may be avoided
by leaving the Humboldt at the Big Bend men,
toned above, and travelling a little south of west
through Mobiles Pass to the Sacramento river
Isco-thirds of the travelling distance necessary TO
reach the Sacramento rirer, By either the Truckee
Carson routes, scW place you the banks of the
Sacramento rirer the head Of the Uallev By the
northern No6es route, sche the same distance of
trarel sciH leave the trareler east Of the summit of
the Sierras either the Carson I'rnekee rout.
The highest ground which this road passes
over is estimated to be not more than l575 feet
above the level of Salt Lake. The natural grade
east or west from the summit of the mountain,
is SO perfect that with small amount of labor
stage coach could safely descend without locking
a wheel.
The feed on every portion of this route is suf
hclent to accommodate large amount of emi-
grafton, with the exception of two stretches
and for these feed may be secured at convent
ent distances.
There is no stretch of more than Is miles
without plenty OF pure water.
Wheat, oats, barley and hay, together with
great variety OF vegetables. may be produced in
abundance at intervals of from 10. Is and 90
miles. Besides, there are two or three large
valleys on the route where Indian corn might
be cultivated with the greatest success.
Sugar Pine and Redwood, OF an almost incred
lble size, grow in abundance for more than one
half the entire distance.
Ihat portion Vt this route, extending from the