The weekly ledger., 1857-04-25
The Wagon Road Fever.


We have not had very much to say on the subject
of wagon roads Notwithstanding the mania that
prevails at The present time--for the reason that
Amador stands as ii were between two fires, the
one on the north and the other on the south.
The people of FL Dorado and Sacramento are
ciamerous that the national road should be inter
sected by way Of Johnson's Cutoff, while the citi
zens of Calaveras and several counties south of it
are equally busy in their efforts to produce an i'm
preston that the Big Tree route is the only really
desr able one.
The Wagon Road appropriation by the General
Government will be expended in the construction
of road to the eastern boundary of the State
and it is q foregone conclusion that more than one
road will be made to the summit Of the Sierras to
meet it. There is competition in the matter, and
we rather like to see 1.-THE more good roads we
have, leading TO the summit or in any other direc
ton, the better. Congress made the appropriation
for the good of the State at large, leaving local
enterprise TO contend for the immediate advantages
to be derived; and if roads should be made to fol-
low every accessible pass in the mountains the
whole people will be benefited
Conventions are being called above and below
MS Ell Dorado is pressing her suit for the favor of
little Amador, and so is Calaveras. Our advice is
that Amador receive the addresses of both, and,
without coquetteing, accept any advantage that
either or both may have to offer. The truth of the
matter is that Amador has, in her own right, one
of the best (f not the very best routes to the
summit in the whole State and of this she should
not lose sight in the general scramble for wagon
road advantages.
Our Sacramento neighbors, we tnke il, do not
exactly understand wagon road geography and
we ask their attention toa few facts that have
to present To the north of us the nuchtalked-ofl
Nohnson's Cutoff, or FL Dorado route, presents IL
self During several years past, strenuous efforts
have been made to raise money to make the route
n good one. The State has been appealed 10 TO
open her Golfers, the people have been called upon
time and again TO "shell out, and yet the road has
not been made better than nature made it and the
figures named, when the State was asked to make
the road, summed up 100000. At the present
time call is made upon The united enterprise of
FL Dorado and Sacramento to build the road and
from the stirring appeals that are made an outsider
would readily arrive at the conclusion that the
work to be accomplished is only exceeded, lin point
of expense aud importance) by the Pacific Railroad
project. The Fl Dorado route is between the Amer
lean and Cosumnes rivers, and on the eastern slope
of the mountains follows Carson canon
Below us, the Big Tree or Calaveras route pre-
sens itself; and in this case, also great deal of
gas is expended, arguing that large amount of
money must be raised to make the road good one.
We doubt not, however, that good road can be
made, and We sincerely hope it may be made. II
Amador should make an intersection with it, il will
be all the beter-there is no danger that we shall
have too many roads. This route is between the
Calaveras aud Mokelumne rivers and on the other
side of the mountaniollows Carson canon, as does |
the FL Dorado route
Now forthe Anlador route. II follows the divi- |
ding ridge between the waters Of the Cosumnes and
the Mokelumne and, without one dollar having
been expended TO improve 1t, is as good a noun
tain road as there is IN The State II isas good as
the road from jackson to Volcano, or from the
Mormon tavern to Placerville. 1t is better than
the road from Jackson to Volcano. II is as short
as any, If not the shortest route from the summit
to the centre Of the great Sacramento valley. On
the eastern slope of the mountain, it, too, follows
Carson canon. Stage coaches might pass over the
road with perfect safety to-day, and ten thousand
dollars would make ii the best mountain road in the
State.
Hence ii is that we do not advise Amador TO
81 fret herself about the roads either north or
south of us. We claim to have the best route of
the three, and do not fear but that we shall have
our share of the emigration" The Amador
route traverses the whole length of the county
from east to wes; and therefore there can be no
jealousy eoncerningit
Meantime, as before stated, let us reap any ad-
vantge thatw can from the other routes. A"Big
Tree Route" convention is to be held at Mokelumne
Hill next Saturday; and Amador, having been in
vited, need not compromise herself by being repre-
sented at that convention. We trust she will be
represented. Indeed, 1t would be nothing but fair
that Amador should assist in improving the road
on the other side Of the mountains; perhaps there
may be concert of action in this particular to some
extent, by all three of the counties
Some time ago we suggested awagon road con-
rention in this county, and sorry that did not
meet with the approval and call forth the action of
eur citizens.
THE.weatber is delightful warm days and
cool nights