The Shasta courier., 1859-08-06
Navigating the Upper Sacramento.

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Capt. Trueworthy, of the little steamer Anna,
visited our town during the week, with a view
to the completion of some arrangement by which
he would be compensated for the further risk
and outlay necessary in making the effort to run
his boat to the mouth of Middle Creek. He left,
however, without consummating that arrange
ment. He made several propositions to our
merchants--one of which was that he would
agree to expend ten days labor, if necessary, in
the effort to reach Middle Greek with his boat,
with the understanding that, if successful, he
was to be paid $4,000; if not, $1,000.
We think it would have been wisdom on the
part of our merchants to have accepted this of
fer. In the first place, no one doubts but that
Capt Trueworthy might have brought his boat
to the mouth of Middle Creek in one, or, at far
thest, two days. But then he would of necessity
have run some risk of injury to his boat because
he would have taken her where steamer IS
wheels never before "vexed the waters" 1t
was his intention, however, in his passage up,
to make careful survey of the river and re-
move all the boulders which might have imper-
lied his return trip. This work would, of ne
cessity, have occupied him several days longer
than the time absolutely necessary TO make the
rum But then, when his boat had reached
Middle Creek, the river would have been sur
veyed, the fact established beyond dispute that
Shasta was the literal Head of Navigation, :"
and quietus given to all projects having in
view the building of towns at points intermedi-
ate between Red Bluffs and Shasta These were
ends of infinitely greater value to our town than
two thousand dollars told ten times over Be-
sides it was surely worthy of remembrance that
Capt Trueworthy had already expended in this
matter of so great Importance to Shasta over
one thousand dollars without being benefited
to the value of a single groat thereby.
We have been informed that Capt. Truewor-
thy, after his return from Shasta, received prop
ositions, of greater value than those offered him
by our merchants, by persons who desire the
building of town at Latona, provided he will
agree not to run his boat above that point We
presume our merchants know that for every dol
lar invested in town at Latona, they will here
after be forced to expend FIVE dollars in having
it removed.
The water in the Sacramento is now nearly at
of all others to have boat run to the mouth of
Middle Creek; and so good chance as they
have permitted to slip through their fingers, may
never again be offered them.
Our merchants profess to believe that the run
ming of boats to Middle Greek would be of i'm
mense benefit to Shasta. No sensible man
doubts it. The mere establishment of the navi-
gableness of the river to that point, would have
increased the value of property in town at least
ten per cent.
Aword as to the river from Red Bluffs to Mid
die Greek. We have the testimony of Captain
TruewoIthy that the portion of over which he
passed in reaching Latona, is greatly superior to
much of the river below the Bluffs-that it is
wholly free from snags and sawyers, and dan
gerous bouders. Raftsmen tell US that the riv-
er, from short distance above Latona to Mid
die Creek, is better than from Latona to the
Bluffs. Only this week large raft of lumber,
out the slightest difficulty. 1t is therefore folly
for any one longer to deny the navigableness of
the Upper Sacramento for steamboats, as far as
the mouth of Middle Greek. And we believe
that our citizens should at once expend ten
thousand dollars rather than permit, at this
time, the project of running boats as far as Mid
die Greek to fall through. If we expect to make
Shasta the " Head of Navigation" we must not
stand out about few dollars at time when
other parties, striving for the same thing, are
expending, or willing to expend money regard
less of amount. Unless we ourselves put our
shoulders to the Wheel" it is useless for us to
call upon Hercules for help. The gods help
those who help themselves. And so with own
ers of steamboats,