Oroville daily Butte record., 1857-09-21
Commissi ner Kirk and the Wagon Road.

Commissa ner Kirk and the Wagon Road.
We clip the following articles upon this
subject from those excellent weekly papers,
the Shasta Republican and the Shasta
Courier:
DIsCRACEFrL CoNpUCT-RoADs FROM
HUMBOLDT TO CALIFORNIA The press Of
Sacramento and Ell Dorado counties will not
be able to preserve the name of Mr.. John
Kirk, Superintendent of the western diyis-
ion of the Honey Lake Wagon Road across
the Plains, from lasting and we'll merited
odum.
1t is said that surveys being made will
demonstrate that the Carson is the better
route from the Big Bend of the Humboldt,
and that Congress will, at the earliest op-
portunity, cause the road to terminate in
Carson Valley. We may grant this untena-
bic proposition and still by fair reasoning
Mr.. Kirk could not be justified in his con-
duct. The law of Congress appropriates
money for the Improvement of the road to a
point " at or near Honey Lake 2" Mr.. Kirk
accepts office under this law. Can he disre-
gard the plain intent of the law? Can he
change it, and by sending immigration
on another route, defeat and disregard the
plainly expressed intent of Congress IT,
even, Congress grossly erred, Mr.. Kirk is
not invested with the power of correcting
that error.
The truth appears to be, from our best in
formation on the subject that this Mr.. Kirk
is basely using his official influence for the
promotion of the private fortunes of himself
and friends He is largely interested in
property in FL Dorado county. To enhance
the value Of this property, it would seem
. iot trb v-;l L., A.
mon understanding of the people Of Califor-
MIA, and override law Of Congress, but
that even his most solemn obligations will
not hold him il the path Of duty
For the present year the objects of Mr.
Kirk and his unscrupulous advisers have
been accomplished. Relying upon the in
tegrity Of MIR. Kirk no means were adopted
to counteract the improper influence which
he has brought to bear against the Honey
Lake route The bulk of the immigration
have been diverted from the best road across
the mountains. The route adopted from the
Humboldt to our eastern frontiers has been
abandoned by the immigration through the
influence of the untrustworthy man who was
authoiz lied and empowered to improve it.
The advantage that has been gained over
the Honey Lake route has been obtained
through corruption and cannot be maintain
ed Fortunately Mr.. Kirk and his abettors,
however rich, cannot change the shape of
the Sierras. The depressions on the one
route and the elevations on the others must
remain forever We trust that Mr. Kirk
will be speedily driven in disgrace from his
present position and that some Que will be
appointed in his stead who will carry out the
purposes of Congress -RepuGiican.
The HONEY LAKE WAGON RoAD The
evidence that Mr.. Commissioner Kirk is
prosttuting his position as superintendent
of the Wagon Road, for the purpose of ben
eftting his own pr gate interests, is so rnp-
idly accumulating that, we think, even the
Sacramento and FL Dorado papers will in
sho time find it impossible to defend him
without blushng in the act. The inhab-
tants of Honey Lake Valley, as we'll as hun
dreds Of the imm rants. declare that the
whole eff rts OF Mr. Kirk are directed to
wards il fiuencing the emigrants crossing the
Plains, to take the Carson Valley route, and
a.. n.