Mountain Democrat., 1857-10-24
"a Little Learning Is n Dangerous
ThlnR''


the conduct Of Mr.. Kirk, Superintendent
Of the National Wagon Road. From what
had previously appeared on the subject
from interested parti :, we were prepared
for gratuitous and unwarrantablc accusa-
tons against the expedition, such as Isl
ezra" brings, but not quite so destitute of
truth and 80 malicious. We trust thathe
is somewhat relieved since the publication
of his harmless spleen. We would Sug-
gest for his future guidance, the proprirty
Of his having a slight foundation for a
false statement, and a more intimate ac-
quaintancc with the subject about which
he prcSumcs to be so familiar, before he
again appears in print lie merely ex-
poses his stupidity or malisnity in abu.
sing Mr.. Kirk without cause.
We arc assured the forthcoming report
of the Superintendent will be generally
satisfactory TO the public, and will most
fully refutc the groundlcsS charges that
for months have beer preferred against the
expedition. But before its publication,
from our knowledge Of some facts con.
ncctcd with it, we deem it but simple
act of justice to Mr.. Kirk to correct few
Of the gross miSstatementS Of "Sicrra."
For his intormati0n, then, no man
needs it more. will briefly inform him
that survey was ordered and Engineers
appointed under the Superintendent to
make it, not only of one route, but tho
rough examinations, and we are satisfied
the duty has been ably performed. 1t is
true that the expedition went out by way
Of Carson Valley" and it is also true that
each wagon was loaded with Z, 900 pounds
of freight, and that they were all SAFELY
hauled across the mountains; and instead
of "Mr. Kirk having taken circuitous
and difficult route" he took the safest,
easiest, nearest and most direct from his
headquarters at Placcrvillc, which the
Department established. Again: lie did
not spend "sir weeks in going from Sac
ramento to the western end Of the route
at Honey Lake Valley" but arrived there
in four weeks; and in place of " sand de-
sert and alkaline water" good grass and
pure water were found in abundance the
rAOle distance. 1t was only after reach.
ing Honey Lake, Lake "Sicrra" evil
dently knows nothing about, and which
is anything but inviting, that "alkalinc
water">w first met with, and drinking it
probably caused the death of the stock Of
the expedition, none having died until
they drank the water Of the Lake.
1t is untrue that "a further survey oi
a route wasmadc towards Carson Valley, y
as every man Of the expedition will tcs.
tify. Nothing but rapid reconnaissance
was undertaken across the South end OF
Honey Lake, between that and the North
end Of Pyramid Lake, in order to shorten
the distance between the valley and bend
Of the Humboldt, and to avoid, if possible,
the Mud Lakes, which are said to bc i'm
passablc during the winter season,-the
route examined having been recommend.
cd by some of the oldest residents of Ito.
ncy Lake Valley.
The loss Of stock, which "Sierra" so
deeply deplorcS, WAS caused by the al
kaline waters" Of Honey Lake, as can be
proven by those who possess considcra-
bic knowledge Of the route from the bend
Of the humboldt to Honey Lake Valley.
Officers and men Of the Ranger Compa-
ny" sent out during the latter part Of the
season by the citizens of Plumas county,
and who certainly were prejudiced in ia,
vor Of Honey Lake, stated to immigrants
and others that "thc whOle distance, one
hundred Gnd Mirty:Jire miles, 'cds com
pletc desert-mOt particle Of grass on
1t, and dend stock lying all along tho
road" To confirm this statement, they
returned by way Of the Sink Of the Hum.
boldt, Truckec River and BcckwOurth's S
Pass!
The malignant and dastardly inSinua.
tion with regard to the massacre of fifty
emigrants by the Indians" is scarcely
worthy Of notice. 1t shows the authors
heart to be 'lazar-like and loathsomc, and
carries on its face the fact that hc would
not hesitate to stab an enemy in the back
or in the dark.
The expedition has been conducted
economically, performed tho duties as.
signed it faithfully, and returned in less
than four months, which is sufficient evil
dence that there was no timO wasted on
the way. 1t commenced its labors at
Honey Lake, and carried them through
to tho City Rocks as directed by the De-
partmcnt.
We arc not aware that the SupCrintcn-
dent has expressed any opinion with re-
gard to the various routes. We do know,
however, that he has strictly attended to
his own business and endeavorcd to per.
form his duty efficiently and conscicn.
tiously.
RoNDo.-Rondo is becoming quite q
fashionable gamo throughout the State,
judging from what our exchanges say
The Yreka Union says tho game Of bill.