Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-05-09
Report of the Wagon Road Reeonnol-
Sance.
To Honey Lake Wdgon Road Commute.
of the Citv of .Harusriiie:

sance.
To Honey Lake Hagon Road Commute.
Of the City of .rarysriiie
GENT EMEN :-rtn compliance with your
Instructions, on Tuesday the i4th day o.
April, 1857, we started from the city for
Honey Lake Valley, taking in our way the
following places Rabbit Greek, Gibson
fille, Nelson Point, American Valley, and
indian Valley, and arrived at Honey Lake
Valley on Monday, the Goth of the same
month.
On the oath we started to return, baving
occupied QUE time during the four days in.
terveping, in examining the passes leading
out of the Valley. and Found but one Which
we deem practicable, as follows: -,
Commencing at a point on the West side
of Honey Lake Valley, known as RUPEES
Ranch. We proceeded nearly Q due West
course, and crossing Sqstn River. alta dis
lance of about eight miles from the place of
starting, at the mouth of the Western
branch of said river
Thus far, the road has gradual ascent,
almost imperceptible, and it is not until you
look back upon the Valley, that you become
aware OF having reached so high an altitude.
This hill reddires little Or ne grading. The
principle labor will be febh5 - IN removing
the loose stones or boulders, none of Which
are sufficiently large to offer any serious
difficulty Along the top of this ridge, are
a number of small valleys, where it will be
necesshry to DITCH, in order to make the
road good in the ,Spring-at all other. sea-
sons Of the yeaJ It is good natural road.
At the crossing Of, the river, before men
toned, a bridge, about seventy feet in length
will be reduired. After crossing. we PRO;
ceeded UP, the West branch of the rivers
distance of bout two miles, where we reach
ed the summit of the Sierra Nesada Noun
tains-a grade about the same as before no
ticed. When standing on the summit
where there is not one particle of snow
you would not be made aware of the fact,
except by observing that the streams part
company, one running towards the Pacific
ocean, and the other towards the Honey
Lake Valley.
From the summit we change our course to
our bearing, South; Westerly, direction, and
descend insq d beautiful valley KIN wn the
Mountain Meadows, through what can east
ly be made a beautiful road, The road lays
through the falley, distance of about ten
miles, some portion Of Ehichn-say one half
the dislanceT-will require ditching en- both
sides, in order to secure dry road ii the
Spring. ~.
From this point we entered a wooden
country. through which. we passed in a
straight line bearing westerly course to
the Lasson Meadows, distance of about s
miles. Through the Lasson Meadows we
continue the same straight course, distance
of three miles, when we strike the north
fork Of the Feather river. This, it will be
necessary to bridge with a substantial struc-
ture of abou: one hundred feet in length.
Tiflber convenient and of excellent quality.
From the north fork we pursue more
southerly direction through the Woods
leaving the old emigrant trail to the right
through which we found o level pass that
can easily be made good road, and reached
Butt Greek, In distance of about six miles
This greek will also, require bridging
From Butt Greek you strike mill through
which good pass was found. This leads
into Soda Spring Valley, formerly known as
Humbug Valley, . distapoe not exceeding
three miles from Butt Greek.
From Soda Spring Valley, we assembled,
by very easy grade, to the top of the
mountain, where we found about three feet
of snow. which was soft, and the only snow
between Marysvile and the Honey LakeVal-
lev, on the route we are here describing
The distance over the snow will not exceed
ten miles. and we became satisfied, from the
observations we are able to make, that a
good road with an easy grade, can be made
the entire distance. without any dific ulty
Over this portion of the road, four yoke of
oxen, on the 18th of November last. hauled
fffu-sir hundred pounds of freight in one
wagon, which freight was purchased in the
city of Marysville In addition to this, we
Ir,, al fhaf ctocl ho hoon driven or
the road during the entire winter.
From this point, where we left the snow,
we proceeded southwesterly, and reached
Chapparel House in a distance of four miles,
over a good road. In coming to this house
we reached Chapparel Hill. This is the
worst hill on the route, but an easy grade
can be found over it by avoiding the present
road. The entire distance between Soda
Valley and Chapparel House is eigh'een
miles.
From Chapparel House, we p-ocee led. ex
aiming all the way, critically.t to Lo'veltock's,
said to be eighteen miles, but from an ex-
animation we are convinced it is less by at
least two miles. Over this entire distance,
a beautiful stage road can be easily made
from thence to Do. Town, about four miles,
still bearing a south westerly direction, the
m nnIS it it all That can Il dSsifsH
From Dog Town to Fences Ranch, in
the valley, distance of eleven miles, we
have no occasion to speak, as it is rw5ll
known by all stage men as being one of the
best mountain roads in California.
From Fences Ranch to 6roTfllt, we pfSS-
coed over an excellent road, the distance, be
ing eleven miles; and from 0roville to Ma
rysville, twenty seven miles all are famil-
lar with tie road, thus rendering any de-
scriptiotni from US entirely aipsrfuohs.
kkEeAFlTUiArroN.,
The distance from Honey Lake Valley to the
., summit. .,r ........... ~ miles.
To lower end of Mountain Meadow 10 9.