San Andreas independent., 1857-09-12
HONEY LAKE CORRESPONDENCE,
HONEY LAKE, July 30th. 1857.

generally of the Eastern slope of the Sierra Ne
Vadas, have thought it might be interesting to
some OF your readers to have brief description
ot That portion of it which have traversed in
company with the Government train. from Car
son valley to this point will only attempt a
oescriptlon OF that portion of the country lying
nor'n OF Munsoo the last of the valleys that
have been settled.
oTEAMBoAT SPRNGs.-After leaving Munsoo.
our route continued through awide, level bench
VI the mountain, to the northward which we
!ound TO De unbroken and gradually descend
ing. One IS struck, after leaving the beautiful
ana rich valley of Munsoo, with It's clear noun
tam streamsy watering the yerdant meadows
WHICH surround the little lake in its centre. to
nnd himself entering upon country of char
acter SO different, that it appears the very pic
ture OF sterility and desolation. The mountains
are no longer clothed with pine, or crowned
Win the lofty cliffs of granite; but their red
ana dlngy sides have only for covering, patches
OF scrubby sage and grease wood, struggling
for existence among fragments of lava and SEQ
rated rock, which compose them. The view of
the vide plain that stretches to the northward,
between these ranges, is uninterrupted, and at
the nrst glance, the scene presents only barren
waste with nothing to relieve the eye. Situated
at the southern extremity of this plain, and di-
viding it from the more fertile country, is the
Steamboat Springs" one of those natural Gu
rosfties frequently met with in volcanic districts
Ihese springs have gained some notorety not
wlthstanding their locality is seldom visited,
even by the scattered inhabitants of the south
ern valleys. Their great number and the vast
extent of surface they occupy, boiling and
steamlng from what appears to be the solid
rock, which in many places they have colored
with variety of brilliant hues, attract the ad-
mlration and wonder of the traveller Extending
for more than mile in length is hard, smooth
lncrustation, resembling gray slate, in which
are hundreds of fssures some of them quar-
ter of a mile in length, others mere round aper-
lures, around which the sediment has formed
pyramidal elevations from two to four feet in
height; from many of these cavities the water
issues boiling hot, and large volumes of steam
rush up at intervals-whch naturally suggest
ed the name given to the place. In some the
water is thrown above the surface but falls
again within the seething caldron, and escapes
ut some other outlet; others only emit low
rumbling sound, while several have become
entirely Inactive, which would Indicate that the
subterranean fires with which these streams
come in contact, are gradually becoming ex-
hausted, perhaps the last dying remnants of the
same, which seems to have charred to their very
centre the surrounding hills
TRUcKEE VALLEY.-Progressing on our route
along a small stream some twenty miles to the |
northward we approach a chain of detached |
buttes standing across the plain, and resembling
immense heaps of ashes, as do also the noun
tain range beyond the eastern side of the pla- |
teau, bare ofvegetation except meager growth |
of sage and grease wood-those embems of
desolation. There is every indication of their
having been subjected to a great heat at no
distant period Geologically speaking they |
seem to have given the whole of their fertilizing
properties towards enriching the beautiful mead
ows of Truckee, which we beheld after passing
the buttes. These green fields contrasted pleas
antiy with the scorched and burned country
surrounding them. These meadows arc some
five by ten miles in extent, bordering on the
southern banks of the Truckee, by which they
are well watered with sloughs running from
the river; they contain several varieties of fine
grass, and it will not be long before they are
settled for grazing purposes.
SANDY DEsERT-North of the Truchee our
road carried us over sandy desert which was
much more extensive than we had anticipated |
reaching some twenty-five miles to Long VAL |
ley. The train was until after night in cross
ing, and not being prepared for it, we suffered
severely for water; some of the men had their |
tongues and lips badly swollen. The air in
these parched and arid plains is SO dry that
every breath of it which is inhaled absorbs and
takes from the system large portion of moist
ure, so that when one travels over them for a
few hours he becomes feverish and suffers an
intolerable thirst. Numerous banks of bright
eolored slate made a conspicuous show, along
the foot of the dreary mountains on the eastern
side of the desert. We obtained in this vicinity
some specimens of cinabar and there are many
indications that beneath the forbidding surface
Of this region, are stores of mineral wealth that
viii some day prove as remunerative to the
capitalist, as ever did those on the western
slope of the Sierras.
GLASS LAKE-Upon ascending low hill
near the end of the desert, the attention of the
traveller is attracted to very singular appear
ance. In the valley below he sees what he
takes to be sheet of water some six or eight
miles in circumference, with the bluff banks,
and sage brush growing on them, as well as
the distant mountain tops reflected in its CLASSY
surface; upon approaching it, however, he
finds only the bed of what, in the rainy season
is doubtless lake. 1t is formed of hard, white
clay smooth as polished marble, and so firm,
that horses hoof scarcely makes any impress
sion on it. The mirage" which constantly
plays around it, aids in producing the deception.
LONG VALLEY-Our road over the desert,
bore little westward, which brought us near
the summit range, when we entered Long VAL
ley, which runs northward along the summit
for fifty miles. On Goddard's new map of CAL
ifornia there is stream laid down running
through this valley, called Wilkes River, but
we found scarcely the bed of river, with only
occasionally pools of still water. The valley,
however, abounds with excellent grass and clo-
yer, and in my opinion is a good location for
stock raising At this season of the year the
grass is fresh anG green in these valleys and
the stock will continue to fatten here until win
ter, during which am told they can live with
out being fed. The valley of Wilkes River, is
from two to three miles in width, widening
considerably as it approaches the Honey Lake,
upon which it opens. The meadow which
continues through its centre, is from one hun
dred yards to half a mile in width, and more
luxuriant growth of grass, could not be pro-
duced anvMhere: ON either side are low sandy |