The Placer herald., 1857-05-02

u
citizens of Placer in 1852; slide has occurred
upon it, but can be made passabe for wagons in
a weeks time by the labor of a few men. From
Washoe, through Eagle to Carson Valley, the dis
tance is eight miles, These vallies are divided
by low ranges of hills over which the traveller
can ride his horse at gallop.
On this road to Carson Valley, six thousand
dollars was expended in 1852. which amount has
been paid out of the County Treasury of Placer
More work is required to make it good for the
passage of wagons and stages. and the expendi-
ture of few thousand dollars is necessary for
that purpose. We know of several parties in
this county, who will contract (and give ample
security for faithful performance) to put the road
in good condition. for wagons and stages, from
the Forks House to Washoe Valley, for $4,000;
and from our information we satisfied that,
for that amount it can be made the best Emigrant
Road into the State.
The reader will remember that after crossing
tie turnpike bridge of the North Fork of the
American, the road continues along the top of the
dividing ridge between the North and Middle
Forks of that river, meeting with no obstacles
other than those we have named, until it reaches
the west summit of the mountains. Not canon
is crossed in the whole distance from the Forks
House to this summit; and good grass and water
is found at short distances along the entire route
to Carson Valley.
A few miles this side of the west summit the
head waters of the American forks (mere rivulets)
are met, and the immigrant to the Sacramento
valley, if he desires, can follow down the ridge
north of North Fork of American to Bear Valley,
just in the edge of Nevada county, from which
flow the head waters of Bear River and the South
Iuba, (the divide between these two streams is
not over two hundred feet in width.) From Bear
Valley there are favorable routes down the ridge
between the North Fork of American and Bear
river, in Placer county, or on the divide between
Bear river and South Yuba into Nevada county.
This last is the Truckee route into Nevada and is
the only good route into that county; it passes
entirely through Placer to Bear Valley, at which
point it follows the courses above stated.
There isanother road which passes from Truckee
river into Nevada county, down to Bear Valley
but there are formidable obstacles to its being
made good for wagons, and the route first named
is in every respect the most desirable for the peo-
pie of that county.
We have been thus full in detail, in order to
show before closing this article that this route is
the most desirable in every respect for commu-
nication with the National Road to terminate
near Honey Lake Valley.
Before proceeding further, we will point out
the naccuracy of Eddy's map of California in re-
gard to the position of Lake Bigler. On the map
The whole of the lake is placed within Placer
county and L tab Territory. This is incorrect
The angle formed by the State line is in the lake
about ten miles from its southern shore. and be-
low the northern boundary of Ell Dorado county
From the angle the State line continues north
through the center of the lake. This places one
half of it in Utah Territory. and the remainder in
Placer and Ell Dorado counties, the largest por-
tion of which is in Placer (Bigler Lake is from
40 to so miles in length, and has varying width
of from 20 to 25 milcs.) Eddy's map also lays
down an emf grant road around the south end of
the lake into Placer county, following down the
divide between the North and Middle forks of the
American river. There never was any such road
The old Georgetown trail passes down the di-
vide between the Middle and South forks of the
American into FL Dorado county. On the upper
portion of this road is Johnson's Cutoff This
must be the route intended to be laid down on the
map. ~
With this correction, the reader will be enabled
to trace upon the map of the State, the road
through this county that is described in the fore
going, and form a correct opinion of its impor-
tance.
We now propose to show the advantage our
road has for connection with the National road
which is to terminate near Honey Lake Valley
We take it for granted that in order to reach
Honey Lake the National Road will follow the
old emi grant trail down the Humboldt to its sink,
from thence it will strike directly to the shores of
Mud Lake, rounding it's southern shore and con-
tnung about westerly to Honey Lake. Or it
may SO from the Sink of the Humboldt TO the
south end of Pyramid Lake, into which, the
Truckee, flowing from Lake Bger, discharges
itself From here right up the stream in a south
crly direction, and along the eastern base of the
Sierra Nevada, the road could be constructed to
the Truckee Meadows. At these Meadows the
TTuckee cuts through the cast summit of the Ne
vadas in an east and west direction From the
Meadows right up the course of the river to the
Placer county crossing at Lake Bgler, it is but
twenty five miles. and over most favorable coun-
try; but little work is necessary to make all ex-
cellent road.
From the south end of Pyramid Lake along the
river to the Truckee Meadows, the distance is
SO miles Beautiful meadows are found along
the whole course of the stream, alternating from
right to left bank, the hills generally rising alb
rupt from the river opposite these meadows. The
banks of the river in many places along its course,
show the round boulders and gravel deposits
similar TO the high flats of the American river,
which induces the belief that gold diggings may
be found Between the Meadows and Pyramid
Lake surveys may show that the road can be
shortened by going over some of the hills instead