Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-04-25
Wagon Road Route.


Maj. W. S. Watson, practical Engineer
and Surveyor. who has crossed the Nevada
Mountains on five different routes. furnishes
the Marysville Express, with an excellent
description of the Honey Lake route, from
which we extract the following:
.sThe route would call attention to, commences
at this city, and be reached by either bank o
Feather river, the head of Mesiiia Valley m Butte
county, by the wey OF Hamilton Orovlie 10 Pence
Rancho, in Hessiila Valley distance ol ID miles,
The present stage road is so well established as u
need no description. stages leaving here al A. NJ
arriving at Pencrs at Z. P
Al this point commences the ascent OF The butte
Creek Ridge on the Spanshtnwn road, ana iuf three
and half miles is the worst portion Of t''e VINO
fs'ute to Honey Lake, the top Of the Dosfown Id e
opposite Nelson's Bar being 4s6 feet above Fences
nchO. After the ascent is made ut this point, the
;e for ten miles dots not rise NOR, than 70 test
per mile. being similar fotmaiirn; LAYING between
the West Branch of Feather river and Dry Creek Us
the Table Mountain north OF Oroyie- Inc stage
thai leaves Marysvile, at d A. MI arrives at P NJ
being only two hours drive from Peaces rancho.
From Dos;own to Lovelocks store, near the head
of Little Butte Greek, the road continues along 'le
left bank - the West Branch Feather rver and rises
with average grade Of 20 feet per mile for miles
From Lovelock's To Hr.nbug Valley, distance OF
70 miles, the route continues along me ruge, WIN
the West Branch on The right and Butte Creek On
IN the world. with scarcely era c over when f
valley load cannot, With ease te convey ed, the entire
rise being an average grade of A feet per mile.
Up 10 this point the rU;d is the best natural road IN
California, without exception. and over which stage
foatn will be established in three monihsto Rich
Bar on the East Branch OF the North Fork The rosd
rs IL now Is; in lis natural stait Is hcu-r 'hah the
road frua. Marysvile 10 Nevada
From Hatnbug Valley TO the head Of the Ea.
Branch Of tfe North Fork, the rinte bears more Il
the NORTH. the general course from Dosicwn being
Is degs Z. Passing The h. al of Big Butte on the
several miles I'm width. for -four five miles, with
the East Branch Oh the right, and gradual ascen
Of about fifty feet per mile the head of the East
Branch Of the North Fork, distance of twelve mite.
through of the largest pine timber in Caif r
ard of immense height From the East Branch the
to Humbug Valley being N. degs. f.
Here the entire country seems one vast fiat, will
here and therr. some mountain ridges TO the north
and from which the most extensive and imposing
views may occasionally seen, The ridge gradual
rising. with scarcely place which needs any
provemet, the Chapparal Hill being the oily
where there is at all any difficulty of ascent and u,
with an expenditure OF three thousand dollar:
be improved As to allow loads of forty hund "a
be hai.e, up with ease as il il, loads OF thr'y-st
bred have been conveyed from Penee's Rhi.ch t
Humbug Valley in one day.
Beyond the ascent of Chappara Hill the foed agair
presents its ueual even surface and for distance
thirty miia., stage al all times of the ,bt
driven with safety and ease seven miles pei hour"