The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-28

the Junction House mile from Garden valley descends
and Little Yuba Oregon creek tributary to the
Middle Yuba and from thence ascends with an easy grade
by the lateral divide separating those streams regalnng
the former divide at Gaoways ranch opposite Downeyle
on the North Yuba.
On this lateral divide crossing the Middle Yuba at
Emorys bridge the stage and wagon road leading from
Sacramento city and Nevada TO Forrest city and Downie
Vile uuites with the road from this place.
Ia order 10 obyate the crossing OF Little Yuba the road
should extend along the main ridge divide from the
junction House. by way Of Camptonvlie two miles above
10 Gaoways Along this portion of the ridge several
depresons ransversey disposed caused by the eonirac
ton of the divide and the forming of ravines opposite
sides extending in opposite directions These depression
with corresponding elevations Of the intermediate portions
OF the ridge along the apex comb of which the mule trail
leads indicate the casual observer rough and broken
country but by raversng the sides of these elevations
along which but little labor will be required TO make
good road and reganng the summit on the depression
this ridge will be found to possess very gradual and uni
form rise
am informed that il is contemplated to extend the turn
pike road from Fosters bar along this ridge to Gaoways
and from thence Downeylle with branch leading to
Forrest CITY, on the south side of the ridge at the head
branches Of Little Yuba
There is also company organized at Downieville for
constructing turnpike road from that place following
down with the river and connecting with the road TO
Fosters bar this road If completed win probably be
tended eastward and connect with the emgran road
the ridge above Galioways.
From Camptonvie to Ciaoways the distance is called
20 this is the only portion of the distance between
Marysvie and Little Pruckey Lake but what have
ured making the total distance from Marysville the
latter point go miles
| From Galloways ranch the emigrant road continues
up the general of the divide in easerly dec-
ton for about II miles from here il abruptly descends
into very low depression about 800 feet above the water
in the river and from thence leaving the divide to the
north again descend to the Lower Crossing Of the Middle
| Yuba.
By leaving the principal divide about 10 miles above
Galoways and following up the southery side ncning
towards the Middle Yuba good scarped road can be
made with very light grades to the Lower Crossing
From this crossing the road continues up in southeast
erly direction through small valleys, crossing
and recrossng the river several times TO avoid outlying
spurs from the ridges either side four miles to Jackson
| ranch.
This ranch is located at the Upper Crossing of the Mid
die Yuba and directly under the summit range, in large
and fertile valley Astounding with uxuriant growths of
trtous grass from which hay is annually cured and taken
to Downevlle and other points below.
The Middle Yuba forming in the lofty and rugged range
the summit of the Sierra to the southeast
forces passage this valley between towering mountains
which rise abruptly either side and which render fur
ther egrcss by that stream impractcable.
Leaving the river at Jacksons following up in east
direction and on the north side of Pass creek afuen
to the Middle Yuba the road gains the summit at the pass
in the distance of FIVE miles The intermediate section
country ravered between those points the north side
of Pass creek presents uniform surface with very grad
ual rise and entirely unobstructed by outlying ranges
The spurs putting out from the divide to the north subsdt
into low ridges and table lands producing good growth
grass and densey covered with the different descriptions
of peculiar the country and altitude the Dansc pine
| predominating
This mountain plateau expanded you leave the river
becomes more circumscrbed you ascend and finally
terminates in small valleys connected by flat and oper
| ravine leading to the summit
On the south side of Pass creek the mountains present
bold and formidable appearance rising abruptly from
the margin of the stream and eceding at angles of but lit
! tie inclination to the apex of the summit range.
The total distance from Marysvile to the summit a
| Brophy's pass by the road is B8t miles
The intermediate country the most extensive and rich
mining region in the State is well tmbered grass
abundant in the valleys and at convenient dis
tances along the line and superior quality of limestone
| is found on the ridge along the Middle Yuba.
That portion of the between the Keystone ant
Galloway's, far relates to grades for road
confident win be found difficult to overcome at nj
established maximum than that from Galloways to thu
summit But at the time, believe that stage road
with width sufficient for wagons conveniently to pass each
other be constructed this route from the foo
hills to the summit of the Sierra, with gradients ex
ceeding four degrees ths believe is the maximum OF
the national road from Wheeling to Cumberland) and
a cost of s $4,000.
Descending the slope of the Sierra over beautiful
valley extending up to within 1000 feet of the summit ii
the pass two miles bring you to Little Pruckey Lake sit
uated in the midst of large valley basin. This shee
Of water which is circular and about FIVE miles in crcum
ference is envroned the easterly side by high rang
of mountains extending north and SOUTH and connecting
with the main chain of the summit range of which nigh
be considered forming portion The principal trbu
tary the lake is stream having its sources in SOM
smaller lakes elevated under the snowcapped noun
ains to the south This stream flows in north direction
through large valley, and discharges into the lake on thu
south side
The large and fertile valleys that surround the lake thu
quantity and quality of the grasses they produce and thu
convenience of thereto from Downieville Forres
city, and other mining localities the western slope
the mountain induces the drover and butcher to pasture
their cattle the verdant swards and the packer apt
sabekeeper to gather their winter supplies Of hay from TIL
| exuberance Of the prolific soils there found.
Last summer was engaged on survey having for it
object to ascertain the practicaby of dverng the wa
tiers from the lake, through canal and tunnel to tn
side of the divide and from thence be conducted
by canang and fumng on to and along the divide be
This survey extended the top of the ridge Gaoways
To take the water directly from the lake found woult
only be very expensive undertaking. but entirely
necessary by interceptng and cutting off the supply
from the south and conducting il along the side of .h
tain and the summit of the pass extra wor!
would be required above what would be actually necessary