San Andreas independent., 1857-03-07
,;:;;::: !: MARCH 7, 1857.
The Big Tree Route.

On our recent trip to San Jose, we visi-
ted, j. W. B. Reynolds, NJ. d., and
listened with much interest to his descrip.
tion of the Big Tree Route, over the Sierra
Nevada Mountains. Dir. Reynolds has a
diary of every days travel, and observa-
tions, made while on the route, which we
will publish as soon as we can get a COPY;
the undeniable facts, there exhibited
ought to convince every one that we have
the only route, yet discovered, by which a
railroad can ever cross the mountains
We obtained from Mr.. Reynolds promise,
that ne would write us a series of letters
embodying his views on the subject, and
exhibiting the advantages of the route
This he has partly done in his able letter
to the Missouri Republican, which we
copied some time since.
The following letter is the first Of the
serles, and we hope that he may not fail
in giving us few more of the practical
results of his observations:
SAN JOSE, February 26tl, 1851
Editor Independent When you were in our
city, promised to give you my views about the
Calaveras, or Big Tree Route across the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, as an Emigrant Road
Having crossed the Plains last summer with my
family, and travelled the route above indicated,
over the Sierras, | was most pleasantly sur
prised to find this so far superior to any of the
oAd travelled routes across these mountains. |
had crossed at another point in 1850, and of
course dreaded a second trial (as every one who
had made the trip might be expected to do.)
This l did in spite of the assurance of friends
who had come all the way to Carson Valley to
meet us and pilot us through this new route
knew they were well acquainted with the diff
ferent roads across these mountains vet they
represented the advantages of the new route to
be so far ahead of the old Carson or George
town roads-that, notwithstanding | was per-
fectly aware that they had no motive in the
world In deceiving me, and would be far from
doing so, however strong their interest might
urge them to do it, yet | could not avoid the
conclusion that they had exaggerated the good
and underrated the bad portions of the road
/ know those friends will excuse me, when |
acknowledge that | did not have entire conf
dence In their representations about the q new
route, Tor Will submit to their candOr whether
it is possible to conceive of so good a pass in
such close proximity to the routes which had
been Travelled for gears, by some hundreds of
thousands of persons. But such is literally,
and substantially true. 1t is really astonishing
that the Legislature should hesitate about dcsig-
mating the route, or rather the route across the
Sierras, when such pass as the one under con-
sideration exists Yet forget that my own was
the first wagon train that travelled it, after the
gentlemen that came to meet us. They (three
in number), crossed in buggy, and there was
no time during the whole trip over, but two of
them at least, rode IN the buggy. Our train con-
sisted of four OK wagons, one mule wagon and
two carriages, with mules. We worked three
yoke of oxen to each baggage wagon. We had
us much weight, if not little more, than emf
grants usually have the last end of the
road over the plains (for we had provided every
thing in abundance for our famiies); vet we
did not ind it necessary to stop, or double
team" on account of the road all the way over
the mountains. We found abundance of grass
and water on the route, made average travelling
distance every day. had some of the most de-
lightful scenery on the way, and in fact, | con-
slider the crossing of the Sierra Nevada Noun
tains the Calaveras or Big Tree Route, as
about the most pleasant part of our journey
from Missouri to California.
In haste, yours,
J. w. B. REYNOLDS, NJ. D.,
San Jose, Cal.