The Georgetown news., 1855-08-09
The Emigrant Road.

vile, went out to recOnnoltre route ior 'Ae
proposed Emigrant Wagon Road d SNORT
time since They report having discovered
q now and more favorable route than any
heretofore recommended, 1t is some dis
+ance North of "JOhnsOns Cut-Of, and
comes in on the North Forth of the South
Fork of the American River. This North
Fork, as it is called by the Commissioners,
is said to be what is better known in this
vicinity as Silver Creek. However that
may be, the route which is now regarded
with most lavor by the Commissioners is 50
far \ North as to bring the road on the divide
between the Middle and South Forks of the
American River, consequently the road, if
so located, must pass through or quite near
to Georgetown; thence through ColOma or
Greenwood Valley, Cenreville, Salmon
Falls, Mormon Island, and all the numerous
settlements between this place and Sacra-
mentO.
Some complaint has been made by our
neighbors at Placerville against the Sur
veyOr General and the other Commissioners,
because they did not simply survey John
sons Cut-Off" instead Of reconnOitreing so
as to select the best route for survey
Now the act Of the last Legislature on the
subject authorizes the Commissioners to
survey and locate central route for wag-
on road, and it is not understood in this Vi
cinity as intending that one particular pass
should be surveyed in preference to all 9th
ers.
We do not understand, however, from
the title of the act nor from its contents, or
the report of the committee of the last ses-
sion on Internal Improvements. that the
Wagon Road was intended to be built by
the State any farther than across the ST.
ezra Nevada" From the report on this
subject, of the Senate committee, we make
brief extract
"The sole province for the expenditure of
the State, is the Sierra and its steep, rug
ged, rocky slopes and passes; commencing
on the western slope at least 80 or 40 miles
east of any existing mining town; leaving
all the roads of approach to the terminus OF
the State road to be made over the lower
ridges and valleys by the county authori-
ties Or by private enterprise
'ln that way the jealousies of the mining
towns contiguous to the Sierra will be avoid
ed, impartial justice will be done to all, and
the State Treasurer be charged with less
expense. Suppose, for instance, a range of
ten miles north and south be taken at the
foot of the steep Sierra including Johnson's
Cutoff, Slippery Ford, Silver Lake and
Tragedy Springs on the old Carson route
Taking the middle Of this ten miles as a
centre and striking radius to include Pla-
cervIle, it will also include. or nearly so.
ankee Jlm's Georgetown, Volcano and
Mokelumne Hill, while C0lOma, Red Ra-
vine and WallOupa in Nevada county, Dia-
mond Springs and jackson will be a little
outside of the circle"
And again
Zone well located central route will be
within sixty miles Of the great bulk of the
mining population, and is equally central
and convenient to the agricultural regions.
One other road will accommodate the north
ern portion Of the State, and one more the
southern portion. 1t is an important fact
too that the natural features of the Sierra
are such that the expense Of constructing
good road is not estimated to be as great as
either Mobiles Pass or the CahOn Pass, as
1t is on the Central Pass. Ten or fifteen
thousand dollars each will be abundant for
all the wants of either Of the extreme North
ern or Southern passes. Thus the burthen
OF expense will be very nearly in propOrtioa
to the density of the population"
The indications are very strong that if
any road is built across the Serras, it will
be through the new pass Should this be
the case, and the State should build the
road no further than was understood by the
committee, then Georgetown will make
road to the State Road, and Placerville and
all other places in the vicinity, will no
aouot DO the same. 1t is true, this place is
nearer to the new Pass, and can build the
road to the proposed State Road at much
less expense, but that is only attributable
to its advantageous position.
The people Of this part of the county are
gratltied that the Commissioners have ere
Gently discovered what was known to them
1or long tinte-that is, the new Pass across
the mountains. But there is complaint,
and that is, that nothing material is to be
done until after the election.