San Andreas independent., 1857-05-02
NOTES OF A TRIP TO CARSON VALLEY
OVER THE BIG TREE ROUTE!
BY MR.. L. w. MOVES.

nal, Kept curing MS recent visit to Carson VAL
ley. We are under many obligations to Mr..
Noyes for the favors he has from time to time
done u.s. and for this Big Tree Road enter
prise The public should also remember that
1t was to his energy and enterprise, mainly, that
this Big Tree road was opened last year; since
then ne has devoted much time and attention
to the subject, making himself familiar with ev-
cry foot OF the road. This trip was made under
very adverse circumstances, every mountain
stream, on account of the melting snow, being
swollen so as to be almost impossible. The
following notes will be read with interest:
MuRpHy's, April Both, 1857.
Mr. Editor Mr.. L. w. Noyes arrived here
last evening, and having furnished me with his
notes, am enabled to lay before your readers
everything of interest relating to his trip, and
the proceedings in Carson Valley.
Mr. L. W. Noyes left the Big Tree on the after
noon of the goth, inst, and arrived at Carey's
Mill at 9, A. NJ, on the 22d. He first struck
snow at Black Springs, about ten miles from
the Trees, which continued, at regular depths
His travelling time was about twenty hours,
having to go some five or six miles altogether
out of his way, to cross the Mokelumne river
He was much affected by the sun-blindness, and
in Hope Valley, just before reaching the Canon,
he met two persons, or was near enough to hear
them talk, though he could not see them On
his arrival at Carey's, he ascertained that they
were Messrs. Rodgers and companions The
Canon itself was free from snow, and the upper
bridge was broken down.
At the mill, Capt Woodford kindly furnish
ed him with horse on which he travelled all
over the valley, notifying every house in the
Carson, NASSAU, Eagle and Jacks vallies to
attend the meeting at Genoa, on Saturday the
10Th, to elect delegates to the Road Conven-
tion at Mokelumne Hill, on the I'd May.
The Meeting was held and largely attended
and much enthusiasm manifested Delegates
were elected, and a Committee appointed to
raise subscriptions in money or labor, for the
construction of the eastern portion Of the road.
1t was stated with confidence that several thou
sand dollars could be easily raised in this way.
1t is not thought that the location of the west
ern terminus of the Government Road, at Honey
Lake, (should that be really the fact,) can af-
feet this road at all. From the place where the
road to Honey Lake branches off, ON the pre-
sent route,-down to the junction with this
road, there is every natural advantage, and all
that is necessary to render it perfect, is the
sinking of one well, between the sink of the
Humboldt and Ragtown, in the Desert.
On his return, he reached Careys on Sun
day, where he met with Mr.. Thompson, going
over. Left Carey's in company with Mr.. Whee-
Ter, one of the Delegates, on Monday, at A
NJ, and arrived at the Big Tree on Wednesday,
at noon; coming rather slow, and building
fires as guides for Mr.. Thompson on his return,
who was to leave on Tuesday, the 28th, to-
gcther with Messrs. Carey and Thorington, del
egates to the Convention. On receiving this
report, the citizens of Murphys Immediately
dispatched team to convey them hther. BY
this time the snow had so rapidly melted that
it was not more than three feet in depth, leay-
ing the ground in some places bare the streams
were foaming, and he had to head them all.
There is not much of general news. They
say that there is an increasing good feeling and
harmony between the Mormons and :! Gentiles,"
and all are much dissatisfied with the commu-
ncation that lately appeared in the Chronicle.
to be from Judge Drummond. They
deny that the Judge has been at Salt Lake for
a year-that he is now in California, and could
not have had any foundation for such report.
There was also q pretended " charge to the
Grand Jury in Carsons, directing them to find
bills of indictment against all practicing polyg
amy; when, as they allege, the only charge
made by him, related to the case of man then
co-habiting with black woman whom he
wished to have indicted, under color of cer-
tain law of the Territory, and this had no refer
ence whatever to polygamy The jury was en-
tirely composed of i" Gentiles,' as none but them
were allowed to sit.
One fact speaks we'll for our road. Freights
have been, all along, from to 10 cents per
pound from Placerville, but now, the owners of
pack mules say that they coming over soon
to dispose of their mules, since all the freight
ing this summer will be done over our road
with teams, and parties have offered to contract
for freighting through the season at 5 cts The
settlers also intend coming over as soon as pos
sible and bring for sale beef-catte, wagons,
old iron, butter, and some even talk of bringing
over bale hay in exchange for provisions TOOLS
&c.
Ragtown was almost wholly consumed by
fire ON the 18th of April. 1t consisted of some
dozen or fifteen houses, and is supposed to have
been done by the Indians, instigated by the
traders on the Truckee route, who have sworn
that there should be no trading post there this
season. party of the NASSAU Indians were
poisoned lately by eating dead COW which
they found in Lake Valley. DR.. Daggett has
some of them under his care, but he thinks
they will die Their limbs were badly swollen.
A party of men left Carsons on the Goth,
on prospecting tour to Walkers Valley Part
of them have been there before and found good
prospects.
There is stated to have been water ditch
dug there last year, the owners of which were
killed by the NASSAU Indians. The Wassaus
say that the Pyote and California Indians in
tend attacking this party, but it is thought that
this is simply to mislead and that they them
selves mean to attack them.
During the winter there have been about two
hundred miners at work in Gold Canon, ma
king from So to as high as $l5 per day, but
water is now getting scarce and they will soon
be compelled to suspend operations for the sea-
son. {. At this place, on the 18th" says Mr..
Nixon. two distinct shocks of earthquake were
felt which lasted from three to five minutes
I,hn,: