Oroville daily Butte record., 1857-04-23

Maj. W. s. Watson, a practical Engineer
and Surveyor, who has or ossed 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:
"The route would call attention to, commences
nj this city, AMI Jan be reached 10y either bank OF
Feather river, the head OF Mesila Valley IN Butte
county, by the WY OF Hamilton or oroye TO renee
Ranchu in Messiila Valley. distance oi ~ miles,
the present stage road is we'll established as to
need no descrptio stages leaving here at A. NJ ,
arriving at penc,'s at 2P
At this point commences the ascent of the Butte
Greek Ridge on the Spanishtuwn road, ard for three
and half miles is the worst portion of the whole
route to Honey Lake, the top of the D1gown rid ge
opposite Nelson's Bar being 4i6 feet above Pence
Rnncho. After the ascent Is made al this point. the
ridge for ten miles docs not rise more than ~ feet
per mile, being similar fOrmntien; laying between
the West Branch OF Feather river and Dry Greek, as
the Table Mountain north of Orovllle. The stage
that leaves Marysvllle, nj A. NJ. arrives nj Nj
being only two hours drive from Peaces rancho.
From DogtowD 10 Lovelocks store, near The head
OF Little Butte creek, the road continues along me
Jeff bank of the West branch Feathcrr'er ard rises
with an aver age grade Of 70 feet per mile tor miles.
From Loyelock's to il"nbug Valley, a distance OF
% miles the route continues along ne rldge, WIN
the West Branch on The right ana but'e 'feeh on
the left, through no of the finest tlmOered countries
In the world ith scarcely grn over when lhl'
valley load cannot, with ease be conveyed, me ehtre
rise being an average grade OF A feet per mile.
Up to this point the road Is the best natural ROAD IN
California, without exception and over when stage
route will be established in three months 10 RIcl
Bar on the East Branch OF the North Fork The rohd
as ii now is in its natural stare Is newer IMAM TIE
road frou Marysve To Nevada
From lIumbug Valley to the head OF the Eas'
Branch of the North Fork, the rdge bears more "a
the Nortn, the general course from Dogtown being
Is degs f. Passing the h. al OF Big Butte on tue
lett, the road pres. nts an elevated plateau ~
several miles in width. for four ar hNe miles, WIN
the East Branch Oh The right, and gradual ascent
of about nifty feet per mile 10 the head o the bast
Branch of the North Fork. distance OF lwtiVe miles
through of the largest pine lumber III CaIlor-
MIA. some trees measuring 3! feet III circumference,
and of immense height From The East Branch the
ridge bears back toward the east, the general course
to Humbug Valley beng N degs e.
Here the entire country seems one VAST hal, WIN
here and there some mountain ridges To the norlh'
and from which the most extensive anu imposing
views may occasionally be seen, the rdge grauualy
rising, with scarcely place which needs an! I'M
provemeit, the Chapparai lllil beng the ohs pihce
where there is nj all any difficulty OF ascent ana mus
with expenditure Ol two or three mo isai'd uoiars
can be improved rs 10 allow loads OF forty huhd Ell
to be haule, up with ease AS ~ loads OF thlr h'e
hundred have been conveyed fr Jn Pence hahch W
Humbug Valley in one day.
Beyond the ascent of Lhapparai Hill the road again
presents It's ueu even surface and Tor distance oil
thirty milss "A stage can at all times OF the year, be
driven with safety and ease seven miles per hour.