The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1860-01-14
From the Nevada Journal, January 9th.
Nevada and Her Railroad.

Nevada and Her Railroad.
We are about to present some facts to the
people of Nevada county to which we would
invite close attention. These facts 90 tc de-
termine where the interests of the county
lie in connection with Railroad.
No one doubts that sooner or later a com
muncation with the seaboard is inevitable
A Railroad, by virtue of our resources and
wants must sometimes become necessary
We are among the majority in believing that
necessity now exists. Whatever diversity of
opinion may prevail on this point, all will
agree it is wise to look around us, be fore
warned and forearmed to protect our inte-
rests in time. Accordingly the citizens Of
Nevada City have raised handsome sum of
money to survey a railroad route to Auburn
in Placer county, and a competent engineer
with corps Of assistants adequate to the
task will enter upon the work Immediately.
We propose to present the reasons for a
connection with Sacramento pia Auburn
By an examination Of the report of T. d.
Judah, Chief Engineer of the California
Central Railroad, we find that Auburn is
1850 feet above Sacramento, and therefore
Auburn is 975 feet higher than Folsom
The point taken at Auburn by Judah was
the Placer Herald office which is in the
lowest part of the town, while the survey of
the Hon. Sherman Day establishes the ter
minus at Auburn of the Auburn and Folsom
road at fully sixty feet higher, which will
make the ascent gained from Folsom to Au.
burn on the proposed road between the two
places, 1895 feet.
The elevation of Lincoln above Sacra
mento, if anything, we cannot ascertain ex-
actly, but sufficiently so for all practical pur-
poses. Going from Folsom towards Lincoln
we find by Judahs report, that the Half
Way House is % feet loaoer than Folsom
requiring descending grade towards Lin
coin The latter place stands ont on the
plain on Auburn ravine, and to the eye
would seem TO be but little higher than
Sacramento. But we have data somewhat
to the point Of determining the relative al.
titudes Of Auburn and Lincoln. According
to the report of Judah before us there is
fall of 740 feet from. Auburn to Gold Hill
which is seven mi es from Lincoln. Allow.
ing but 90 feet fall TO the mile for the re-
naming seven miles and we have $50 feet,
Lincoln. Add 60 feet for the elevation of
the Auburn depot, on the railroad 10 Fol
som, above the Herald office, and We have
the approximate altitude of Auburn at 94O
feet above Lincoln, which is absolutely less
than the actual difference
These facts are significant, and demon
strate that the interests of Nevada county
lie in connection with Auburn by Railroad,
fer oe haze route a tey miles shorter than
to Lincoln and aoe may sofely sag wiM 94o
feet less ascent to overcome. Indeed Rail-
road from Nevada to Lincoln may be pro-
nonnced inpractcable. The hills are too alb.
rupt in the vicinity of Lincoln to run ra,,
road in this direction. The spur railroad
proposed from Gold Hill to the California
Central, we fine on investigation to be of
but little practical benefit to this county.
Indeed if we design to have a good railroad
connection with the Sacramento Valley the
extension railroad will rather be curse
than blessing if completed. We cannot
connect with it without overcoming about
1000 feet ascent, whereas on the Auburn
of feet to overcome Nevada is, in round
numbers 1900 feet above the sea level, or
say 2,l00 above Sacramento. She is then
l,O5O feet higher than Auburn. Now an
elevation of 1895 feet has been easily over
come in 10 miles, the distance between Fol-
som and Auburn. 1t is evident then. the
route being practicable, that an elevation
of 1850 feet can be easily met in 2S miles,
the distance between Nevada and Auburn.
If, then, we desire railroad to this city
with an easy grade, and at far less expense
for running the cars, we should by all means
interest ourselves in the Auburn route. The
road will be built to Auburn. Capitalists
have already given that assurance. The ad-
vantages of the route are, in Brief the dis
tance is less, the grade far easier and the
value of the road when once constructed,
more, requiring less expense and being more
effective in the transportation of upward
freight.
Donald Mckay, the Boston shipbuider,
who has been making tour Of inspection
through the British shipyards, writes that
American models for speed are very superior
to any that he has seen in the Royal Dock
yards. He recommends the more general
use of iron and steel in the construction Of