San Andreas independent., 1857-03-21
The Big Tree Route.

alton of the series which will be contrib
uted, by that gentleman, to the columns of
the Independent. Every friend of the
Big Tree route, and especially the citizens
of this county, ought to feel deeply grateful
to the worthy writer for his disinterested
labors in their behalf. Mr. Reynolds is
generally and favorably known throughout
the Western States, whence comes the bone
and sinew of our emigration he is looked
upon as reliable man whose opinions are
worthy of all confidence DIR. REYNOLDS
knowing the advantages of the Big Tree
route, having conducted the first train
(the Border Ruffian train) that ever came
the new pass, has made use of that know
ledge to assist others in their weary journey
over the Plains he has written to all the
principal emigrating parties, now preparing
to cross the Plains, the coming season, d-
rectlng them to come into California by
the Big Tree road he has warned them
against decoy runners and decoy trans,
paid by traders, interested in other and
less advantages routes, to traduce the new
Pass, and thereby divert the Immigration
The practice of this system of imposi-
tion will meet with considerable opposi-
tion, In future, as the Doctor has, in the
Missouri Po1,,L I;coo o,l otbon Uro.4ox,,
Newspapers, exposed their villainy In
reading the following plain facts, every can
did man will readily perceive the criminal
conduct of these runners, and the motives
of their employers
LETTER FROM DR. REYNOLDS.
SAN JOSE, March IA, 1857
Mr.. Editor What with visiting few pa
tients, working in my garden, &C., (but proba-
bly, more of the so-forth than anything else,) l
fear will be behind time with my article this
week. feel so much interested in having at
least, all mny friends who may hereafter cross
the Plains to California, come the Big Tree
Route over the Sierra Nevada Mountains that.
at the risk of making your readers tired of Big
trees and little trees, and all other trees must
say few words more on this new read Now.
1t is well known to you, and | avail myself of
this opportunity to inform your readers, that
have earthly interest in recommending this
Road, aside from the motives which should
govern every we'll wsher of his race and in
duce him to give to posterity the results of his
in tba ofI e. e Al
government and guidance of those who see
proper to follow him in future. | know there is
opposition to this Road in other parts of the
State, from purely selfish considerations; for
no person, after crossing the Carson, Johnson
or Georgetown routes, and then travelling the
Big Tree" Road, could possibly hesitate to
pronounce the latter at least two hundred per
cent. the best route. Yet you will find men
whose interests happen to beidentified with one
OF the frstmentioned routes, base enough to- hire
runners, and send them fifty miles ahead to
meet the emigration, and by heartless and un-
princpled Misrepresentation, turn them from
an pleasant practicable route, into one of dam
gery toll and difficulty, when their only motive
in thus deceiving and misleading the poor toll
worn emigrant, was to get them to pass some
contemplate trading post" where they had a
few sacks of spoiled -four, and keg of thrice
watered whiskey, from which they hoped to
realize few dollars. This game was played
last Summer. | wrote notices myself and had
them taken back to Hope Valley, and posted up
(near where the New Route leaves the Old Car
son road) for the benefit of some of my friends
who were several days behind our Train but
when they came along there was not a notice
to be seen. Theyhad been torn dozen by parties
interested in the other routes. These parties.
(who by the way had never seen the "Big Tree"
Road) represented that they were well ac-
quainted with it and that it was only another
trap to catch travellers, and that the Carson
Route had been so much improved that they
would have no difficulty in getting along. and
so on. The result was, most of them were in
auced TO follow the Old Road and one COM
Pany particularly, after great toll. DELAY and
losing two oxen, put all their available teams
to one wagon; still could not succeed in ovar-
coming the difficulties ofthis abominable upass ),
and were about desparing of getting their wagons
over at all, when they were met by some Cali
fornlans with fresh oxen, who kindly loaned
them their teams, and they were thus enabled
at last to get through
Now, if the State would do her duty. and an
point competent and disinterested Commission
ers to examine these different routes, am per-
fectly confident there would be no hesitation in
reporting in favor of the Big Tree" Road and
as soon as emigrants were aware that the
niends OF this Route has the sanction of the
state for declaring it the most practicable or
Tue only practicable route across the
mountains, they would no longer be deceived
ana mlSied by the Misrepresentation of selfish