The Placer herald., 1855-10-13
AUBURN, OCTOBER 13. 1866.
Immigrant Road,

TIERS Pass, Hope Valley, and Carson Canon TO
Carson Valley. The work will be let as soon rs
practicable. The Placerville Democrat says OF
the road:
1t will be Of incalculable advantage to our city,
and secures to us great part Of the trade Of Salt
Lake City. We understand that early next spring
or as as the road is improved. company
stands prepared TO establish line Of stages be-
tween Sacramento and Salt Lake City. connecting
with line from the latter place to Missouri
We copy the above from one of our ex-
changes, to show to our citizens the progress
of this important roai. Our neghbors of Ell
Dorado county have been untirine in their
cndeavors 10 have the road pass through
their territory and will reap the reward of
their perseverance, Our citizens should
arouse themselves to the Importance Of an
immigrant road through Placer and not be
behind hand in an improvement which tends
so directly to their prosperity and interest.
We are sorry that Surveyor Marlette did
not have the time ana means at his command
10 survey the route from Yankee jim or Iowa
Hill to Carson Valley. as we are firmly con-
vinced he would have found it shorter and
much better than the one adopted by the
Commissioners. In fact it is such prac-
ticable route that with a little improvement
stage can 60 from either Of the above
places to Washoe Valley in one day. Three
years ago q six mule team was taken to
Carson Valley by party from this county.
who went over the mountains on this line,
for the purpose Of marking out a route, and
they found it much more practicable, of an
easier grade than the roads in other portions
of our county The head Of Carson Valley
lies west OF Placer and therefore shortens
the entrance into that Valley By our route.
While the counties north and south of us are
trying to get good roads over the Sierra
Nevadas it becomes Us to take little in
terest too The trade of Carson. Washoe
and numerous other Naliies, lying along the
eastern base Of those mountains viii soon be
worth contenling for, ana will tend to en-
rich the county that commands it. Already
we see the rapid progress the people on our
east are making. Their territory organized
into county, courts established, and exten-
sive farming operations carried on, mines
developing &c. a company of gentlemen
from Iowa Hill recently went over the road,
and one of them upon his return, Mr.. Young,
writes to the Iowa Iill News very in
teresting letter in relation to the trip ?. He
SAYS
From iowa Hill TO Secret Spring House the
distance is Is miles, q good road Travelled by load
ed teams. From thence to Robinson's Ranch, 6
miles with plenty of grass and good water From
thence to the summit OF the Sierra Nevada noun
tans the distance is 20 miles; the best OF grass
and water the entire distance. The ascent to the
summit is so gradual that had no idea OF being
near it when the beautiful prospect OF Lake Big
Ter opened to our view; distance from Iowa Hi
70 the summit A miles. From the summit the
road descends Ii gradual slope OF land four miles;
fine trout stream running parallel with 1t TO
Suuaw Valley. the most beautiful valley the eye OF
man ever beheld. covered with the most luXuTiant
grass three TO four feet in hei ght: clear stream
of water winds through the valley and emptles
into Truckee river. This river runs in northerly
direction across the lower end Of the valley. The
road crosses the river at this point; the ford is
easy and good, not wetting the packs on our
mules The road ascends the river on the east
side five miles. and is good one, to one OF the
most DeautlIUl lakes IN the NOlIl-Ldhc ID Slci :
making the distance from Iowa Hill to that point
Sc miles. The lake is the head waters OF Truckee
river. At its head it is ninety feet wide and four
feet deep, running with rapid current in north
westerly direction. The head OF the river is sit
mated on the west side of the lake, fifteen miles
south of the north end. From the river to the
north end of the lake, good wagon road can be
made with small amount of labor From the
north end of the lake to Washoe Valley, the dis
tance is eight miles, good road with one excep-
ton. and that is slide of granite and soil that
has slid over the road since it was made. \ small
outlay of money would make it good road
Washoe Valley is three miles wide and ten miles
long having in the south end OF II small lake
one mile long and one quarter OF mile wide
The immigrant road runs through the length OF
the valley. The valley is mostly settled; all kinds
of vegetables can be purchased for ten cents per
pound; fresh butter Is cents: eggs, sl,50 per doz
The entire distance from Iowa Hill to Nashoe
Valley is seventy-nine miles.
was informed by the inhabitants Of the valley
that the Iowa Hill road was the shortest road ran
,,sng from Carson Pulley into tie state Of cat-
ifornia A gentleman who has resided in the val
lev for the last sixteen months, told me that he
had travelled the Downevile road, the Nevada,
the Placervlle. and the Iowa Hill roads, from Wa
shoe Valley to Sacramento and Marysville, and
that he could travel the Iowa Hill road to Sacra
mento in one day less than the others, and tt
Marysville in day and half less than tht
Placervlle road. From Washoe Valley to DR.
Kings ranch, the distance is two miles-a leve
road with the exception of small bill, the eleva
tion of which is some forty or fifty feet above the
valley. From the Doctors to the Mormon sta
tion is twelve miles, making the entire distance
from Iowa Hill SO miles.
There is now constructed from the latter place
to Secret Spring Iiouse--whch read. loaded teams
have been travelling the past season-leaving on
ly SO miles of road to be worked.
That the Iowa Hill and Carson Valley road vii
ho ;,op vad and nodp n GOOD turDDi<p road.
have no doubt. If the State does not do it Place
county eventually will. 1t can be done with les
expense, will be shorter than any other route ant
is the most central road running from Carso
Valley into the State. About two-thirds OF tn
entire length of it is ridge road, requiring bu
a small amount of grading. 1t crosses but on
stream that exceeds five feet in wdtb,-the True
kee riyer-and that but once. One hundred fee