The Nevada Democrat., 1859-12-21

The Mountain Routes- The Distances and
A1utudes.
In ahs Marysyille Ezprsa, Of Saturday, we
hotice eommunication, signed &c. H. b.
eompAring the mopntain routes via PlaceryiIls
and the Henness Pass. Since the first of No
vember, the writer has crossed the mountains
| by the several routes, and thus refers to the
new mineral region and the distapcesg tn
In two years the population may attain to a
4 quarter that Of California at present; half Of
which, whatever is may be, will be drawn from
the Atlantic side. They must be sppplied by
| California, and lucky are'tbe people who can
furnish them the best highway, and the nearest
point OF trade. And from present indications,
the Truekee Meadows are very likely to be-
come. in short time, rival 10 Carson City,
being six rniles nearer to the rich mines Of Yir.
ginia City than 10 the present depot of trade
Carson City. One store has already been open
ed on, Truckee, and others are likely soon to
follow A trading post, OfItovn. started il
these Meadows, would draw its supplies over
the Northern route BY Henness, Truekse
route. via Dog Valley, it IL bat 81 miles from
the center Of Truckee Meadows to Forest City I;
81 to Downievile; 81 to San Jnan; flT to Ma
| TO Grass Valley, Add IL miles 10 either OF the
above figures, apd We get the distance to Yir-
ginia City from either of the points named; IL
miles being the distance from the store house
to Virginia City by the new toll read, o saving
Of n miles az travelled at 6rst, via Washoe and
Eagle Valleys. The distance, as Travelled, from
Placeryille to Virginia City is I28 miles; and
from Sacramento Il is l73 miles, -.as.i
The foregoing figures, 50 far as the routes
through Nevada and Placerville are concerned,
agree very nearly with the representations Of
those who have Travelled over both routes. We
have converscd with more than twenty parsons
who have been over both routes, and have yet
to nnd one who makes the distance from the
Virginia dggings to Pacerville less thap 1875
miles, and It is usually called 1870 miles; conse.
quently, from Sacramento to the Virginia dig
gngs, there is adherence Of some ten or twelve
miles in favor Of the route by way Of Nevada,
Eureka, and the Hepness Pass. r .aiet
Not long since, the Sacramento Union spoke
tof the Henness Pass as a very good summer
route, but one that would be entirely useless in
the winter on account Of the great depth Of
snow. 1t appears, however, that even in this
respect the Nevada route has the advantage Of
that by way Of Placeryille. Itiswell known
that the higher the altitude the deeper 10 the
fall Of snow, and the following is proof positive
that the Pacerville route is some 5000 or 200
feet CHER than the Henness Pass iee iaft
a
x A little about the altitude Of the two sum.
nits, and have finished. II has been stated
often, through the columns Of Interested papers,
that there was always more snow on the north
ern route than the southern, because of the
greater altitude of the mountains Of the north
above those OF the south. This may be true, If
some OF the highest peaks of the north are com
pared with the lowest passes Of the extreme
south. But that the submits Of the Carson,
Placerville route are lower, or even as low as
those OF the Henness Pass, ] deny, And now
! for the proof: On leaving Carson City toward
| the Carson summit the ascent Is gradual for 20
miles; then to the first summit between Hope
and Lake Valleys, ii miles, the ascent rapidly
increases. From this summit there is descent
for six or seven miles, and most Of the distance
a sharp one, TO Hawleys station, on the banks
Of o stream styled the Truckee, because from It,
indirectly, is supplied tho Truckee Lake. On
leaving this station, we pass up an awful side
! hill cut, between Two aud three miles, 10 the
summit. This side hill cut is what is called the
grade, and is the dread of all but footmen. Both
Of these SUBMITS named are In altitude about
1900 to 1000 feet above the river crossed at
| Hawley's station. This river runs ives! from
this station, some IL miles or more, aud emp
| ties into Lake Bigler. Lake Bigler supplies
Trnckee Lake, situated some so miles almost
due north, at Webber's ranch, on the hight aud
very summit of the Henness Pa : from which
lake the Truckee river, proper, ~ es It's rise,
and flows easterly through Trueke- Meadows
and to Pyramid Lake. On arriving ut Haw-
| ley's station on this side little Truckee river,
we have crossed Lake Valley summit and de-
seended at least 1900 or 1000 feet, and have
another to climb of as great or greater eleva-
ton. And here is the proof: This river, 1900
to 1000 feet below the two SUBMITS, is still de-
ecending rapidly to Lake Bigler, and Lake Big
Ter dischargng for distance Of so miles into
Truckee Lake, Here is plainly shown q con-
tinual descent from the foot OF these submits
for over 60 miles, dischargipg its waters on the
very pinnacle of our favorite, the Henness Pass.
The descent of the 60 miles cannot be less than
1900 to 1000 feet, making In all balance 10
favor Of the Heuness summit of 5000 feet at
least, and probably more; and this would be the
decision Of all impartial persons, who may pass
over DOtu TOutth Wltuuub hHJ .huuMttubd VI tuc
final termination Of the little Truckee at the
foot of the submits at Hawley's. lE
Unless they are prepared to argue that water
will run up hill, the Sacramento and Placer
willie papers must now admit that the summit of
The Henness Pass is much lower than the other.
The only reason the route has not been kept
open this winter is in consequence of the great
distance between the stations. But stations
will be established at convenient distances ear
ly next spring, agood wagon road will be con-
structed, and we have no hesitation in saying
that il will command more travel aud be less
obstructediby snow than any other route. io
Judging from occasional paragraphsru u the
Sacramento papers. the people Of that citY an
pear to be opposed to tle opening Of the Ne.
vada and Eureka route. Their opposition to
All. .o,,to l. douktlaSa rklv oup;oc 40 s~.o