The hydraulic press., 1860-09-22
The Henness Pass Route--North Sam

Vne Henness Pass ROutes.NOrth San
Juan, etc.
We mentioned the fact last week, that Mr.. J..
w. Simonton, one of the editors of the San
Francisco Bulletin, had been to Washoeand re-
turned via the Henness Pass route. That paper
of the 18th inst, contains the notes of his jour-
ney, from which we make the subioined copious
extracts:
/; IMPORTANCE OF THE ROUTES TO wAsHoE.
The supplies of this section must come chiefly,
if not exclusively, from California, and be hauled
in wagons over the rugged mountains which sep
arate the silver region from the Pacific coast
Quite naturally, therefore, the question to the
comparative merits of the different routes over
the mountains has attracted much attention, and
is truly one of great practical interest for if
team of eight animals, on trip occupying from
nine to fourteen days in its consummation, can
| carry 900 to 1000 pounds more of freight by
one route than by another the fact is highly i'm
portant; because everything which lessons the
time occupied in the journey, or increases the
amount of freight which can be earned by the
! same expenditure of animal force, necessarily
reduces the cost of transportation, which has to
be added to the price OF every article consumed
by the miners, or subtracted from the profits of
every pound of ore brought over the summit and
hauled to naMgable waters.
TIE HENNEsS PASS ROUTE.
! During my journey last Aprilto Virginia City,
over the Placeryille route, it my good fortune
] to make the acquaintance of the late and lament
ed Henry Meredith, of Nevada, who was positive
in his epinion that the route via the Henness
Pass would ultimately be found far superior to
any other and it was with exceeding regret that
! found no trail had been broken through the
snow, and that | was unable for this reason, to
return via the route named, to examine and re-
port upon its practicabilitv. My interest IN the
subject revived again last week, while visit
ing the Marysville Fair, upon learning tha
company of enterprising gentlemen, chiefly citi-
zens of that place, were engaged IN constructing
a good wagon road over the Henness Pass route,
with view of putting its claims fairly in compe-
titfon with those of its rivals. Determined to
see and judge for myself, | started, and here l
am again, at the great center and capital of the
Washoe silver country.
SAN JUAN, IT'S HYDRAULICS AND HOMES.
The town of North San Juan is, by far, the
most alive of any passed on the road from Marys-
vile. l need not say it is the center of of
the most extensive mining operations in the
State. Probably nowhere else is the hydraulic
process of gold mining more perfectly or more
prohtably conducted; and there is room in its
vicinity still for the employment of large
amount of capital
1t is claimed for San Juan, that here were invent
ed many of the most valuable improvements in
machinery and appiances-so that now, one
man can do the work which formerly required
the united efforts of half dozen; and districts
that formerly were considered scarcely worth
working at all, made to yield exceedingly
rich returns for the labor expended upon them.
But San Juan is noticeable not merely for it's
mining enterprise. Its families and homes, nest
led in many neat though unpretending cottage,
surrounded by hourishng orchards and gardens
with cultivated roses and honeysuckeS Chamber
ing over door and window, and healthy, rosy,
merry children, making the AIR vocal with their
gladsomeness-all these combine TO mark the
place most pleasant one to look upon, to
give an air of comfort and permanence in
strong contrast with the squalid, temporary and
make-shift character of too many of the mining
camps.
DESCRIPTION OF THE HENNEss PASS ROAD.
Leaving the town lSan Juan) our
road descended Immediately by handsome grade
to the middle fork of the Yuba, which we crossed
by bridge at distance of about two miles,
Thence, by another easy grade, we surmounted
the first hill, travelled along its ridge, and reach
ed Plum Valley, distant II miles from San Juan.
Here is one of the best stopping places upon the
route. Still ascending, soon reached the top
of the ridge dividing the waters of the Middle
and North Yuba, keeping along it for distance
Of more than 20 miles, when we descended some-
what again. to Miton's, 80 miles from San Juan.
The reader must not suppose that the descents
referred to, are equivalent to the ascents made
on the journey Eastward. 1t is one of the mark
ed advantages of this route, that when the trav-
eler has toiled up hill, he finds he is not COM
PEELED to lose all his labor by Immediately going
just far down again. Of course, in passing
over so rugged country, it is impossible to have
a perfectly level road. There must be more or
less depression at different points. But it is just
ly claimed for the HennesS Pass route, that it
it involves far less alterations of ascent and
descent than any other
From Miiton's to Jackson's Ranch, the dis
tance is 3 miles. Here is the junction between
the San Juan road and recently graded road
from Nevada, etc. II A few miles east
of Jackson's, and iHst before coming in sight of
Truckee Lake-a beautiful sheet of water-the
road crosses the summit of the Sierras by grade
easy, that the traveller is quite unaware of the
fact that he has passed the barrier, until he finds
the water-courses reversed and running towards
the east. From the summit until we approach
within five or six miles of Virginia City, the
Henness Pass road traverses series of level
table lands and vallies, divided by comparatively
low ridges easily crossed and scarcely requiring
grading at oil, with the exception of what is
known as Dog Valley Hill. This is at present,
perhaps the most troublesome point on the route;
but by the time this letter can appear in print,
hundred men will be at work grading that pOr-
ton of the route also, and making its present
difficulties easy to surmount those
which have already nearly vanished under the
skillful engineering OF the superintendent of this
enterprise.
COMPARISON OF THIS WITH THE pLAcERvILLE
ROUTE.
! Having crossed the mountains several times
by the Placerville route, am able to draw COM
parison which will render the respective advan-
tages of the two quite clear to those who have
travelled either. The road from Placerville, fine
ly graded though it is, has greater heights to
overcome, and is compelled to seek the lower
levels much more often than does the Henness
Pass road. The former trarerses few valleys or
table lands, until it reaches Carson Valley; and
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 to the summit, as every
body knows, is very arduous, 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