Mountain Democrat., 1857-04-11
TIM Mnrnn Road.

| we are pleased 70 see tnat the press Of
the State arc at last manifcsting an inter-
est in wagon road across the Sierras,
commensurate with its Importance The
papers further north arc very naturally
urging the superior advantages" offered
by the topography of their region of
country; while most Of the papers in the
southern parts of the State, are laboring
to convince themselves and the public
that the only feasible route is that known
As the "Big Tree Route" This is all very
we'll but nature has declared in favor of
a route that will lead the weary and way
worn immigrant Immediately on his en-.
trance into our State, into the rich and
exhaustless placers Of Ell Dorado, and the
teeming valleys Of Sacramento, that he
may establish his household gods where
peace and plenty reign, and where, by
the blessing Of God, the poor man does
not labor in vain.
Although Congress has designated
Honey Lake Valley, or what is generally
known to the public US Mobiles pass, as
the western terminus of the government
road, yet efforts will not be wanting to
remove it to some more favored locality.
Already convention of some Of the more
southern counties has been called for that
purpose, call which will most likely be
promptly responded to by our -enterpri--
sing neighbors.
We, in nowisc wish to depreciate the
route by Honey Lake Valley or the Big
Trees, which, doubtless, possess some ad-
vantages; but our desire is to call the at
tention Of the counties vitality interested,
and the public generally, to what We be-
licve to be the best and shortest route be-
tween Sacramento and Carson Valley, and
the only route in the State that has been
tested BY actual survey. The route we
refer to is that via the city Of Placervillc,
South Fork of the American River, Slip
perry Ford, Johnson's Pass, Luther's
Pass, Hope Valley and Carson Canon.
This route was selected by the Commis-
sioners appointed under an act approved
April 2sth, 1855, ITO provide for the sur
vey and construction of o Wagon Road
over the Sierra Nevada Mountains" and
tho subsequent surveys of the Hon. Sher-
man Day confirmed the judgment Of the
Commissioners. A road following the
survey Of Mr.. Day, would not only be
more favorable in distance than any other
route to Sacramento, but its general ele-
vation is such that most of it would cs.
cape the deep SHOWS that render other
routes impossible portion of tho year,
owing to their greater attitudes; further
more, it follows the southern slope Of the
hills and would be highly benefited by the
suns rays, both in freeing it from snow
and keeping dry road bed. The maxi
mum grade Of the proposed. road is five
degrees, which is far better than many Of
our county roads; this grade, however,
occurs in but few places we believe, and
the remainder is from one to three de-
grces. A large portion Of the route could
be we'll made at very small expense, and
$4,000 would probably place the entire
line in fair condition. We make the
distance from Sacramento to Cary's mill
in Carson Valley, ono hundred and three
miles, and believe that when the road IL
improved between Placerville and Sacra-
mcnto, and the actual distance between
tho two places known, the distance be-
tween Sacramento and Cary's mill will
come within one hundred miles. In an
other article We intend to compare the
two other routes with the one already
noticed, not only In distance and practi-
cability, but In relation to the CONNER
cial advantages which Sacramento desires
to, and, from her position, should COM
mand. An appeal has been made to the
counties Of Ell Dorado, Sacramento, YoIo,
SolanO, AmadOr, Placer, SonOma and Ma
pa, and we reiterate it and recommend
that steps be taken at an early day to
open the line between Sacramento and
Carson Valley.