San Andreas independent., 1857-05-30
Carson Valley News.

The Sacramento Union of May 9th,
contains the following letter from Mr.. y.
A. Thompson, the renowned Sierra Nevada
Expressman, in reply to the Shasta Re
publican That paper pronounces some
of the statements of Mr.. T. as every
false" which assertion other papers in
terested in local interests, commented on,
very freely advancing erroneous opinions
as to the practicability of the Big Tree
Route:
ain an article published in the Mountain
Democrat upon the " Carson Valley news" it is
said that Major Ormsby contradicts my state
ment in relation to the feelings of the inhab
tants of the Valley towards the Big Tree Road.
He SAYS the citizens of the Valley are almost
unanimously in favor of the wagon road by the
johnson route. For my part, am satisfied the
Valley people are in favor of any or all roads
which may be built by the people of California.
have seen there but five persons who were not
partial to the Big Tree route, and amongst
these are Major crmsby, John Cary and a rela
tive his, whose interest it is to have the travel
pass by the Johnson route The people of the
Valley say that if the Big Tree road had not
been opened the Placerville folks would have
/ been content that they should continue to climb
the steep SUBMITS with their pack animals until
doomsday and therefore it is they are willing
/ to lend their aid to those who are likely to put
through first good wagon road.
''As to the statement of Major Ormsby, that
the meeting in Carson Valley in favor of the
Big Tree route broke up in row, that nearly
all the delegates withdrew from it, and that
when the resolution was offered in favor of that
route, but three persons present, l have
only to say that it is incorrect, and this can
! show. When the meeting organized the
report of the Delegates from the Mokelumne
! Hill Convention was read and motion was
made that it be accepted. Mr.. j. Cary rose to
state his objections to the report, and just then
the emigrant party from Salt Lake drove up
AS it was the first arrival from that place for
for some time, every one was anxious to hear
the news, and nearly all present left the meet
ing, while Mr.. Cary remained addressing his
remarks in favor of the Placerville route, to the
officers of the meeting. After learning the
news brought from Salt Lake, the meeting
assembled the resolutions put to vote
and adopted-Maj. Ormsby voting against them.
There were more than three persons then pres
ent, and there was no row. Subsequently
motion to adjourn until Saturday to receive
the report of the Committee on Collections, was
put and carried.
Mai. Ormsby Furthermore states, that the
report that the inhabitants of the Valley, with
some men from Salt Lake were waiting until
the snow had disappeared, for the purpose of
bringing through their wagons by the Big Tree
route, was incorrect; and he adds that they in
tend to come through Placervile, and are q
! portion of Mr.. Kemptons train which had al
ready arrived and furthermore, that the Salt
Lake party, instead of getting their supplies in
Stockton, and returning by the Big Tree, had
expressly declared that they had intended to do
their trading at Sacramento, as they preferred
the Placerville route, deeming it shorter, safer
and freer from distractions. Now have only
to say in reply, that time will show which is
correct-Maj Ormsby ormyself Mr.. Kcmpton
told me that he intended to leave his wagons
in Carson Valley and come on with his horses
by the Johnson road. Mr.. Cherry, of Washoe
Valley, also informed me that he was going TO
Salt Lake, where bis family lived, but that pre-
viously he going to San Francisco to buy
goods, and that he would have them shipped
to Stockton, where his teams would be ready
to receive them. Mr.. jennings who intended
to get supplies for Washoe Valley, intended to
pursue the same course, and ten or twelve ira
ders and farmers of Carson Valley, whose
names | could mention if necessary, told me
that they intended to do the same thing Be-
sides these cases, H. Vansycle, who had an
wagon three miles above Pacervile, is going
to drive his oxen over the Johnson route, and
bring his wagon through Placerville to Sacra-
mento, where he will lay in his goods, and then
drive back by the way of Mokelumne Hill and
the Big Tree road to his house in Carson Val
ley The only man have seen in the Valley,
who is going to take his wagons the Pla-
cerville road for the purpose of taking goods
back, is Maj. Ormsby himself
" will admit that the route is little shorter
to Sacramento by the way of Placervlle but
as to its safety, Mr.. Olds, of Carson Valley, in
formed me that he started from Placervlle late
last fall with team and wagon loaded with
goods, and that in descending Ravine Hill his
wagon upset, and he was obliged to get a train
of pack mules from Carson Valley, and thus
transport his goods through three feet of snow
As to its freedom from distractions | NAV re-
mark that Mr.. Loreard, of Washoe, told me
that he put sixteen yoke of oxen to two wagons,
and loaded them with one ton each at Placer
vile, and when we got to Slippery Ford Hill he
put on twelve yoke of oxen and had to pull
sometimes half an hour without gaining more
than two feet, even by putting his own shoul-
der to the wheel. Mr. Job, who is now in this
city, hauled over the Big Tree road upwards of
one ton with four small mules"
| TET.EGP DErNI