San Andreas independent., 1857-05-02

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advantages and duties of the Convention which
meets at Mokelumne Hill to-day, but had no
room. The following able communication COW
ers all the ground, and we commend it to the
careful perusal and attention of the delegates
and the public:
For the Independent
The Wagon Road Convention.
AS the time is at hand for the meeting of that
body, it may be proper to offer some suggestions
for the consideration of the members. The ac-
ton of Congress, with the call for the Wagon
Road Convention on the I'd day of May inst, at
Mokelumne Hill, has attracted the attention and
awakened the interest of the whole community
to the magnitude and Importance of the object
contemplated; and as no division of opinion
exists, or can exist, with regard to the Road to
be travelled, so no delay should be made in
adopting the measures for procuring the means
to drive through the work to completion in
three months time. But if the Convention
should entertain projects for Branch Roads to
tap the main or Big Tree Road, they will ac-
complish nothing; for it is self-evident, that
the parties who talk of tapping the Big Tree
Road, concede by that very language that it is
the main road from Carson Valley via Stock
ton, to San Francisco; and the public are per-
fectly aware already not only of its practicable
ity, but directness, being nearly in a straight
line. Again, suppose the Convention should
favor some new route; then, of course, explo-
rations and surveys would be necessary, requi-
ring money and causing delay another year or
more, thereby losing the golden opportunity of
meeting the expectations of our public spirited
citizens, as well as the provident munifcence of
the General Government, for do not believe
that our claims to part of the appropriation
has been entirely overlooked, as alleged IN The
Cal, for the obvious reason, that we never
asked the General Government for an appropri-
alton to make National Road within our State
borders; neither do l believe that the Depart
ment having charge of the construction of the
great National Mail Road across the Plains to
our eastern State line, will arbitrarily establish
or locate Terminus without direct reference
to our commercial centre.
From the indications and present appearan-
ces, on the eve of the Convention, and from the
well-known character, ability, and energy of
the members elect, it is reasonable to believe
that the Convention will act unanimously for
the public good, and that the public will re-
spond nobly to consummate the great work be-
fore them, and in manner highly fattering to
the members of such body.
To raise funds so as to accomplish and COM
plete the road in three months time, should be
a primary object of the Convention but the
manner in which the funds shall be applied, is
of far greater Importance; the contract system
in this case should be ignored and not thought
of; Committees, or Boards of Directors should
be secuted as useless and unnecessary machi- !
nery President without salary-a Trea-
surer and Road Superintendent are all the off
cials that are required-the two latter to give
ample bonds for the faithful performance of
their respective duties. 8: The right man in the
right place." for the three offices named, will
accomplish more than all the select committees
that can be named in California. The expec-
tations of q liberal and generous people must be
fully met in this matter; they will require all
the money contributed to be honestly applied
and faithfully expended on the road. By the
adoption of this or some other similar plan, the
Convention will cut off the hopes of contract
speculators, and secure the entire confidence of
the public.
Lastly The different departments at Wash
ington should be made fully acquainted with
all the information relating to the great natural
ii
advantages of the Big Tree Pass over all 9TH
ers, across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, lead
ing into California, endorsed officially by all the
members of the Convention. Such information
is eminently due the new administration, who
have already foreshadowed their good inten-
tions towards their new a0orld on the Pacific
coast; and as no national road will be con-
structed without being carefully surveyed by
U. S. Engineers, so also, we may conclude to
certainty. that they will be guided by instruc-
tions. enlightened by the knowledge and science
of the present day; and mark, the great United
States Mail Route will be the forerunner TO the
Pacific Railroad.
These few simple suggestions or IDEAS are
submitted with great Difference to the members
OF the different county ueiegaIioHS, III Iie hoPo
of inspiring them with singleness of purpose
in the undertaking contemplated, and with
firm belief that they will prove equal to the
occasion and to the momcntous interests in
yolved. CANDoh.
ConREcrIoY.-M L. w. Noyes called on us
week before last and requested us to correct
statement made in the INDEPENDENT as coming
from him. in reference to amounts subscribed,
and not paid, to the Big Tree Road fund he
says our informant misunderstood HIM, II lie
inferred that reference was made to Mokelumne
Hill, in the statement Mr.. Noyes says he meant