The Placer herald., 1860-06-16
NUMBER Al.
Report on the Preliminary Railroad Sur
vey between Nevada and Auburn.
SAN Francisco, May 25th, 1850

vey between Nevada and Auburn.
SAN FRANcrsco, May 25th, 1860.
To the President and Directors Of the Saera-
ment0, Placer aud Nevada Railroad Com
pany: .,l
GENTLEMEM-At your request, on the 25th
day of December last, commenced an examination
of the country lying between Auburn, Grass Val
ley and Nevada, by following up the present
main stage road between Auburn and Nevada,
for the purpose of ascertaining the practicablity
of procuring Railroad line between these points.
found that the hills and canons presented IN
insuperuble barrier to the location Of q line upon
this route, but at that time was impressed with
the belief TINT by running further to the East
and crossing Bear River at o higher point the
difficulty could be obviased.
Preliminary SuRvEY--"THE LINE"
l commenced the survey at lpoint three
fourth. OF o mile south Of Nevada, being near
the Mile House on tho old Grass Valley and Ne
vada road. From he above named point the line
runs in Southwest dire ton, q distance OF
about two miles. to the summit of the ridge lying
between Deer and Wolf creeks, crossing said
ridge near the "rnce track" of Mr.. Hughes, thence
the line defects to the South, past the Camp
Spring House, across ',Chapparal Hll," Alta
Shaft Hill. through Mr.. Woods ranch, to the
summit of the ridge that lies west of Grass Val
ley. said ridge being the northwest bank OF Wolf
Creek, thence the line defects to the East eros
sing Wolf Creek just above the New England
Quartz Mill. through the town Of Grass Valley.
The line thus far. although by no means the best
that might be obtained, nevertheless is perfectly
practicable, md n road can be constructed on the
general course at on expense Of about $5OO0O
! per mile-pl Oviding the grades adopted are the
same Us the maximum grades on the first section
of this line MS located by Sherman Day, Esq.
From the south bank of Wolf Creek the line
continues down the southeast bunk Of the creek.
past Labar's Saw Mill, across Rattlesnake creek
to South Wolf Creek.
The last five miles compare favorably as to
cost Of construction, with that portion OF the road
between Grass Valley and Nevada. This brings
us to the crossing of South Wolf Creek, which
consider one of the most difficult crossings on the
entire line, it will have to be crossed at hight
of about 200 feet above the bed of the stream.-
One favorable feature to its construction is how
ever that the timber necessary, is growing on
the spot and immediate vicinity. Between this
crossing and Bear River no serious obstacle pre-
sents itself to the construction OF the road on an
easy grade. The distance between Wolf Creek
and Bear River is five miles. There is no difficult
ty in crossing Bear River-this can be effected ut
several points. The first line l run continues
down the bank OF the river live and hall
miles to point just below MendenhalPs Saw
Mill. at which point it leaves the river, runs thro'
Mr.. Shepard's field, across the Illinoistown rood,
near the summit Of the ridge, and about mile
above Mr.. George W. Applegate's ranch. From
this I examined two lnes one by way OF Tunnel
Hill, and the other to the East crossing the ridge
opposite to Applegates ranch. The line con-
tinurs along the Eastern slope OF the ridge be-
tween the North Fork Of the American river and
Rock Creek. 1t crosses the ridge at the head OF
Rock Creek, and follows down the same to the
California House. From this point run two
lines to the town of Auburn, and find no difficulty
whatever in obtaining favorable location.
trsr. Vnndt thn m
along the Ilnoistown road to Preble's Bridge,
at which point favorable crossing can be OBJ
| tained and am satisfied that a branch line could
be extended to the town Of Dutch Flat from or
near Prebles Bridge.
| would recommend the adoption Of the max
imum grades on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
which would reduce the actual cost OF the con-
struction of the road. II desirable, however, the
grades may be reduced by increasing the length
Of the rond.
do not deem 1t necessary TO attempt to poin.
out or enumerate the advantages that would
arise from the construction Of this road-the line
| extends through one of the most pOpulous por-
tons of the Stateth the land adjacent to it Is rich
| in agriculture, lumber and mineral wealth-in
fact the transportation OF Quartz ROCK alone
| from Nevada county to convenient water power,
which might be obtained ut Folsom, would be
one single branch of business created by the road.
in which thousands of laborers, now idle, might
| be prOftaby employed. For am informed by
gentlemen engaged expressly in the quartz busi-
ness at Grass Valley, that the only impediment to
their entire success is the heavy expense attend
ing the employment of steam power in crushing
the rock the lowest figure being about $l5 per
ton If the rOad was constructed the rock couid
be transported and crushed by water power at .
cost of about SIS per ton.
Another branch Of business that would be cre-
ated in the event of this road being extended to
the vicinity of the mountain lakes would be the
ice trade. as the whole supply OF tne state wouio
pass over the road.
AS to this line eventually becoming part Of
the main trunk of the Pacfc Railroad. can
only say that from the Information gathered
from ditch surveys that have been made in the
vicinity of the head waters of the fubas. am OF
the opinion that Il favorable line can be found TO
connect with Lieutenant Bcckwith's survey with
out tunnelng the Sierra Nevada. and connecting
with the same Mt q point East of Mud Lake
For your information in this point hereby sub
nit portion of Beckwiths report:
In conclusion, gentlemen find it impossible
to state accurately the cost Of constructing this
road the probable cost, however. will not exceed
s2,OO0.000 / am induced to believe that the
amount of business on the road, when completed,
will pay from Is to rs per cent on the invest
ment. s. G. ELLIOTT, c. E..
THE WAsHoE SILVER MINEs-A private
letter from Virginia, to a gentleman in this
city says:
"Immediate steps ought to be taken fou
the construction Of a railroad to Carson Vaf-
ley. You only receive u small amount OF
the ores taken out of these mines. There is
already out, on the Comstock lead, two or
three thousand tons of ore that will pay