The Placer herald., 1860-03-31

Nearly four tcnths Of The Whole length is ght
line. Only seven per cent of the whole distance
has Il curvature sharper than 9554 feet radius
There will be by one location $40 feet of tres
tlcwok bridges costing for the wood work $l5I,-
200 and with the masonry SlTl.l19; and by the
other location there will be $3.50 feet OF trestle-
work. costing for woodwork S72.l05, and with
the masonry S7S.0l9 The total grading and
bridging 10y one location costs S53S .619, and by
the other $lG7 ,203. The superslructurc cos $
Sl0.Sll per mile. and for the whole road 1927,
094. Buildings nnd fixtures sG5,O00. Rolling
stock 81 10000.
When extended to its full length to Nevada. go
to So miles,) the road will penetrate one of the
most populous and prosperous mining regions in
the State and one cf the finest bodies of timber
land. The character of the mining is of u per
mancnt kind consisting largely of hydraulic and
tunnel claims and quartz ledges. The whole
country traversed by the road is capable o. Il
high state of agricultural Improvement in its
valleys and of profitable for grazing on its
hills. 1t is as capable of supporting dense pop
uation rs the same extent in New England or the
hlly portions of New York and Pennsylvania
1t has a climate as well adapted to the peach and
the vine as that of northern Italy at the foot of
the Alps. The ''m0he pile and go home" class
Of people is fast yielding to permanent populh-
tion who have already commenced fitting up
homes for life. The process of planting vine
yards has begun along the slopes irrigablc by the
mining bitches. Our survey passed through and
in sight OF several vineyards in process Of plant
ing Orchards too are being extensively planted.
Should the fears OF some people be realized, and
the mines be exhausted. the waters Of the mining
bitches would be turned to cultivation. and n
dense and permanent population would take the
place of the transient miners.
The elevation attained by the road at Nevada
$500 feet above the sen. is certainly onc-third.
and perhaps nearly one half of tn entire cleva-
nf th4. T,nQ n tbn
fair chance is presented to this road to compete
for the Washoe trade. and for q connexion with
the great road across the continent. as to any
other road in the State. For the purposes Of
railroad crossing the whole Sierra is yet an un-
studied lesson All the surveys by the United
States Government have been to the North or
the South of the central psrt of the Sierra that
lies opposite To the great centre of population
The Truckce and the Ienncss passes point to-
wards your road. and there is every probability
that they will be thoroughly examined during the
coming summer. Certain it is that other passes
will be. and the usual fate Of the hindmost will
remain for the laggordS in the race.
take this opportunity to bear testimony to the
efficiency and accuracy of Mr.. NJ. l.. Stan2ro
who assisted me in the field. and to the ncatncss
and elegance of the map. and profles also made
by him.
Nor would fail to acknowledge my indebted
ness to the labors of the several gentlemen con
nccted with the press at Nevada Grass Valley.
and Auburn for their aid in collecting and fur
nshing valuable statistics MS we'll MS for arousing
the attention of citizens to the importance of the
work. To Mr.. Elliott, the County Surveyor Of
Placer County. am also indebted for notes of his
reconnaissance Of line from Nevada to Auburn:
and to Mr.. S. +. Barrett. of Auburn. for the sta
tiscs gathered by him of frcights and passengers
at various points.
SHERMAN DAY.
Chitf Engineer.
Folsom. 2Gth March. 1860