San Andreas independent., 1856-12-13
Atlantic and Pacific Rail- Road
The Route by the Big Tree.

The Route by the Big Tree.
The demand for an easy transit of the
commerce Of the two oceans across the
Continent of America, has been annually
increasing until the time seems to have
arrived when it must be accomplished
We have heretofore shown the natural
advantages of the Big Tree route, on the
line intersecting between the head of
Hope Valley (well known by that name to
the immigrant and which valley is but
two miles from the head of Carson Canon,
which leads to the valley of the same name,
and to the old immigrant road. Of this
route, Mr.. L. w Noyes and Mr. Fra. A.
Freeman testify The Pass must be
some hundreds of feet lower than the sum-
NIT of the Pass on the Hangtown road"
[actual surveys have pronounced it 300
feet lower than any other Pass yet discov-
cred. I" 1t should be said, in conclusion,
that the entire Big Tree Road route ex-
plored, every where abounds in grass and
water, with plenty of timber at hand"
"There is little doubt that the above
offers the most eligible route for either a
wagon or railroad across the Sierra
Nevada"
According to surveys, made, the dis
tance from Stockton to San Andreas, is
forty-four miles, and to Murphy's, it is
sixty-seven miles. From Murphy's to the
head of Carson Valley, uia the Big Tree,
it is forty miles, all told making the
entire distance, from Stockton, to the level
plain and beautiful Valleyof Carson River,
only one hundred and seUen miles, over
which railroad can be built, of single
track, including the sidings at stations,
depots and turn-outs, for SIC, 800 per mile;
or total sum of 81, ,123, 800. On this
ratio, including contingencies, it is esti-
mated, the road can be built, from the
Missouri line to California. The entire
distance of actual length, which includes
all turn-outs and parallel tracks, switches,
&C., is computed at 2,730 miles and to
cost, when completed and in operation,
S69, ,S92,600.
In another portion of to-days paper we
publish the observations of a practical
man, who has travelled the route by OK
team express, and had sufficient time to
closely sean landscape and natural advan-
tages Of the route. Theparts of the road,
which he describes, (from Carson River to
the Missouri line, has more obstacles to
overcome than from Carson River, Cat the
sink to the San Joaquin at Stockton. By
Carson Valley, Hope Valley, Faith Val
ley, to the Twin Lakes is the only natural
route across the mountains to the Bio
Tree. These valleys in extent and beauty
are not surpassed by Santa Clara, San Juan.
and Salinas Vallies.
In our last paper we spoke of the way
travel on this side of the Sierra Nevada
but it is not one-fourth what it is bound to
be on the other side The teemine popu-
lation and surplus wealth and produce of
these rich valleys, must find an ocean out
let, and an avenue of trade to furnish a
thriving people with the manufactures and
luxuries of foreign lands. The citizens
demand it-God has designed it-and
Nature has provided the way and the means
to accomplish it, by the Big Tree Pass
which seals the compact, and records in
the book of Fate the fat that the railroad
must and aciu be built by his route! In
referring again to the way-travel on the
western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Noun
tains, which will patronize the road and
be benefited by its construction and COM
pletion, we will notice some of the perma-
nent improvements Of public utility, on
the line of the route, in Calayeras county