Daily national Democrat., 1858-11-18
Wagon Road Communication.


particular, will lin my humble wav) give a
sketch of the proposed road and of the pro
ceedings of the meeting. Preparatory to the
meetingthe citizens Of Downieville and Good.
years signed declaration of intention TO
organize company to construct road from
Downieville, by Goodyears Bar, in the di
rection of Camptonville to the western line
OF Sierra county, with branch from a point
about six miles above Camptonville to Bones
Ranch, on the main Sacramento Road. for
the purpose of a direct communication with
Sacramento city, and inviting their co-opera
ton in the construction of the road
John IL. Atchison gave me notice of the
move, and requested me to meet him there.
did so. AS passed through Camptonville,
gave them notice of it, and they sent del
egation of their most prominent citizens.
The meeting was composed mainly of the
wealthiest and most prominent business men
of Downieville and Goodyear's Bar and was
quite numerously attended, all seeming to
manifest determination to put it through.
BY the Intervention of John II. Atchson
and myself, speaking in behalf of Marysville
and promising a liberal subscription our
selves, and also the Camptonyille delegation
doing the same, we prevailed on them net to
organize under that declaration and notice,
but enter into a new one, and advertise in
Huba county and describe as follows: com.
mencing st Downievile by way of Good
years Bar and Camptonville to Garden Val
ley, with branch from the head of Woodruff
Creek, about one mile above the Mountain
House, to Fred's Ranch, on the main road
between Forest City and Alleghanytown,
touching at or near Forest City. Freds
Ranch is the point below Galloway's, where
Scots survey of the emigrant roId leave
that ridge to descend to Forest City. This
will give Marysville road on the nearest
and best route to all those most important
mining localities, and will also be that much
of the great emigrant road completed on the
Henness pass route The surveys of the differ
ent routes show the altitude at the head OF
Woodruff Greek to be between fourteeen and
fifteen hundred feet lower than the summit
above Galloway's, on the Downieville road
This is very important item, but there is
another which is vastly more important to
Marysyile, and that is the discovery of
new route on almost direct line from Dow.
Neville to Sierra Valley, following the South
or East branch of the n Fork of the Yuba, and
passing near the foot of Downieville Buttes,
and from thence over low divide to Sierra
Valley, and not encountering in an ordinary
winter more than three miles of snow, and
being practicable for first rate turnpike
road, or a railroad and being 700 feet lower
than any other pass leading into California,
Mobiles pass not excepted This has been
demonstrated by accurate survey l have
the authority of the best men in Downieville
for this. | also conversed with a man today
who says he has been familiar with the route
this season, and has passed over it on foot in
one day from Sierra Valley to Downieville,
between sun and sun, and can do it any dav.
and that quite considerable portion of it
would only require brushing out to make a
good road of it, and that the balance is com
paritively easy, except some blasting be
tween Downieville and the foot of the Buttes.
This proposed route to Downeville has been
surveyed, and the heaviest grades or ascent
on the up trip is one foot to the rod, which
will make road superior to that between
Marysvilea and the Oregon House, and by
the completion of it and the road between
the Labadie Hill and Garden Valley, (Which
we propose to do) teams could haul as heavy
loads to Downieville as they now haul to
Dobbins' Ranch.
The Downieville people ask-Will the
Marysvilans assist? Some of them, Mr. Ladd
and Mr.. Rease, among others, say, yes; they
have heard them say so. Atchison and my
self assured them they would subscribe more
literally to that than any other road, and
that they were fully aware of the Importance
of it.
The first day of December is selected to
organize at Goodyear's Bar after which they
will Immediately proceed to get the stock
subscribed and as soon as a sufficient amount
is subscribed it is proposed to advertise to let
it by contract to the lowest bidder, and
never let it rest a single fine day till it is
completed, which can be done in June or by
the first of July, at frthest
have full confidence in its going through
an sure the Downeville people and all
above Marysville are in earnest. and it only
remains for the Marysville people to come
forward and do their part to insure its ulti-
mate success. PETER RICE.
OreUon Houea Nav I7th