The Placer herald., 1857-05-09

two or three points. The highest ridge of the
summit is avoided by following around mar
row bench Of land to the south side at which
point some light sde-hill cutting is necessary.
From the summit the road dcscends three miles
into Squaw or Grass Valley; from the head to the
foot of this valley at Lake Bigler is over an al
most level road. An excellent grade from the
summit can be obtained by running to the head
of Squaw Valley and along its side to its foot
at the crossing of Truckee, near Lake Bigler.F
The river at the crossing is thirty feet wide, and
between two and three feet in depth in the sum
mer season. has hard, firm bottom. Down the
eastern bank of the river to its head (the lake.,
the distance is five miles and but little work ne
cessary. Following along the western shore of
the lake twelve miles, its northern end is reach
ed-good road with the exception of two miles,
which requires some side hill cutting. From here
it is three miles to the Eastern Summit of the
Sierra Nevadas, the ascent is easy, and only lit
tie sde-hill cutting needed. The distance from
the summit to Washoc Valley is five miles; the
descent is made over road constructed by the
citizens of Placer in 1852; slide has occurred
upon it, but can be made passable for wagons in
Il
Washoe through Eagle to Carson Valley, the dis
tance is eight miles. These yallies are divided
by low ranges of hills over which the traveller
can ride his horse at gallop.
On this road to Carson Valley, six thousand
dollars was expended in 1852, which amount has
been paid out of the County Treasury of Placer.
More work is required to make it good for the
passage of wagons and stages, and the eXpendi
ture of a few thousand dollars is necessary for
that purpose. We know of several parties in
this county, who will contract (and give ample
security for faithful pcrformance) to put the road
in a good condition, for wagons and stages, from
the Forks House to Washoe Valley for $4,000;
and from our information we are satisfied that,
for that amount it can be made the best Emf grant
Road into the State.
The reader will remember that after crossing
IL turnpike bridge of the North Fork of the
American the road continues along the top of the
dividing ridge between the North and Middle
Forks of that river meeting with no obstacles
other than those we have named, until it reaches
the west summit of the mountains. Not canon
is crossed in the whole distance from the Forks
House to this summit; and good grass and water
is found at short distances along the entire route
to Carson Valley.
A few miles this side of the west summit, the
head waters of the American forks (mere rivulets)
are met, aud the immigrant to the Sacramento
valley, if he desires can follow down the ridge
north of North Fork Of American to Bear Valley,
just in the edge of Nevada county, from which
flow the head waters of Bear River and the South
40 Lo.,, oatr 80
not over two hundred feet in wdh) From Bear
Valley there are favorable routes down the ridge
between the North Fork of American and Bear
river, in Placer county, or on the divide between
Bear river and South Yuba into Nevada county.
This last is the Truckee route into Nevada, and is
the only good route into that county; it passes
entirely through Placer to Bear Valley, at which
point it follows the courses above stated.
There sanother road which passes from Truckee
river into Nevada county, down to Bear Valley,
but there are formidable obstacles to its being
made good for wagons, and the route first named
is in every respect the most desirable for the pco-
pie of that county.
We have been thus full in detail, in order to
show, before closing this article, that this route is
the most desirable in every respect for commu-
nication with the National Road to terminate
near Honey Lake Valley.
*The Truckec river runs north-westerly from
Lake Bigler for short distance, then circles to
the north and east, and flows in an easterly direc
tion through the Sierra Nevadas to their eastern
base, at Truckee Meadows, and thence north-by-
east into the south end OF Pyramid Lake.