The Nevada journal., 1860-09-21
The ucanesS Pass Endorsed.

Henne5s Pass i'll 50 widely circulated and
able paper as the Buiietin In September
1853, We began 10 call the attention of the
people Of the State to the superior natdral
advantages of the Henuess Pass for II trans
nontane highway. Before that time We
had directed our attention 10 the nature Of
by the time above given, we had collected
proof sufficient to justify US In asserting
Tie EIenness Pass 10 be equal TO any for 4
road across the mountains. We did soas-
scrt at that time, and have never wayered
from that to the present hour ia supporting
the dee cktration then made. In the outset
We endeayorcd to prevail upon our people
to send out corps of engineers to make a
thorough reconnaissance Of the route from
this city over the mountains. Had :; survey
oeen made five years ago, when we sN 4
gcstcd it. there can be ro doubt that the
truth which is now being recognized, that
the Hcnness Pass is the easiest and best Of
ALL wGold have hong ago been known, to
the East advantage of Nevada county and
travellers across the Sierra Nevada In 4
second article. Sept. IS, 1855, we indicated
the probability Of the great inter oceanic
railway passing through this county. and
to secure it. attempted to awaken our citi-
zcns to the Importance of taking steps to
the construction OF a line Of telegraph from
this city across the mountains in connection
with Il wagon road.
We are not alone in believing had the
majority of travellers and the pony express
would to-day be passing through our county,
as well as T. line Of telegraph reaching 10
Salt Lake City.
But We must quote from the Bulletin,
whose remarks are 10 the point:
1t is one of the marked advantages of this route
that when the Traveller has toiled mp hill, he
finds he is NOT compelled 10 lose all his labor by
Immediately going just as far down again. OF
course in passing over so rugged n country, ii is
impossible to have perfectly level road there
must be more less depression AZ different
points: but it is justly claimed for the Hcnness
Pass route that 1t involves far less alterations Of
ascent and descent than any other.
COMPARISON WITH TIT OLD ROAD, VIA P1-t-
CERvILLE.-Having crossed the mountains
eral times by the PlacPrvillc route am able to
draw a comparison which will render the respec-
tive adv yantages of the two quite clear TO those
who have travelled either. The road from Placer
vile, finely graded though it is, has greater
heights to overcome, and iS compelled to seek the
Iuwcr Levels much more oftcT than does The Hen
ness Pass road The former travcTses few val
lrys table lands, until il reaches Carson alley;
anI when the Traveller has pushed his way up the
steep side of one mountain spur, it is only to
descend again on the other side, and repeat the
operation over and over again half dozen
times. The approach 10 the summit every
body knows, is very ardGous. and the graded
road by which the descent thence to Lake Valley
is made, is long, steep, and difficult. The second
summit-that between Lake Valley and Carson
Cannr-which was formerly one of the terrors of
the route, fortunately isavOilcd now by the Dag
9ett trail ; but do not hesitate 10 say that the
heavily loaded team must necessarily cXpcnd
more force in draggin over the steep activities
which separate Straw berry and Lake vsllics. than
is necessary to overcome all the grades hetyrcn
the first crossing Of the luba and the Steamboat
Valley, on the Henness Pass route. These are
facts which sooner or later will be admitted and
svailcd of by all vino engaged in transporting
merchandise or precious metals over the noun
tan5.
SUMMARY Of ApvAETACEs CLAIMED FOR
rHE NEW KOAp.-The Hcnness Pass road max
crs viii not quite finish their work during the
present season; but another month Will have re
moved every obstacle that would prove 9erlDus
barrier to the passage of teams hauling, say, ll,
600 pounds each. III. projectors of the rrnckee
Turnpike, as il is called, claim that in ordinary
frci@htng team can haul at least 3,o00 pounds
more per trip rm the Hcnness Pass than ria
Strawberry Valley: and should judge their cs-
timates not at all exaggerated. Certainly they
have given the irast mountain road ever saw
III any country. 1t is abUndanty supplied with
good bridges, avoids low, swampy grounds, and
rsclIcws the mud-holcs. Its grades are all wide
cnotgh for the passage of teams going III oppo-
site directions and their most ditfcuit points in
voive an ascent Of only sixteen inches TO the rod
IN ming east, and seventeen inches to the rod in
going west. The scenery oi this route Is less
grand and imposing than that on the Placeryillc:
but while the latter would, for this reason, be
preferred by the mere tourist, the former must
eventually command the largest share of trans
pOrtation.
Hereafter, from this time. we expect a
dead calm in the Office of the Sacramento
Ia,on. in reference to the Placcryille route.
1t wo Mt DO 10 humbug the people longer,
They have had enough of it. The Union
has hitherto succeeded in befogging the
passes So ehectually has it done SO, that
we of this city have proposed to deiray the
expenses OF some prominent man from San
Francisco to Virginia City, if he would
trav, the IIenness Pass and report concern
| ing it. All we have ever asked, was, thai
! the various routes should be tried and com.
pared, and we believe that so great has beer
the confidence of the people OF Nevada
county in the Henness route, founded OF
actual knowledge, that they would have
consented to pay the expenses of a corps o
engineers to survey all the prominent routes
if the corps did not report our route th'
best of all.
But, gentlemen opposcrS, the truth begin
to break in through the fogs ye have spread
Your horsc-killing routes are about to b
appreciated at their true value. Our word
spoken i've years ago, and alone, are ahou
to be verified, and more than all, our count.
for which we have laborcd, is soon to rcaI
the benefits to which her natural position
entities her. Speed the day.
GRASS VALLEY NATIosAL.-Wcpnderst
that the Douglas Cub of Grass Valley, Q
some of its members, have purchased tn
interest formerly held by George d. Robert
in the Grass Valley National, which ha
been sold contingentIy some months since
OF course Judge Smith will no longer hol