The hydraulic press., 1860-03-24
MOUNTAIN ROADS.

The course pursued by the.iournals and
citizens of Marysville with reference to the
important subject of mountain roads, has
always seemed to us extremely impolitic and
narrow sighted Aiming to be the trade
center of an extensive, populous and wealthy
region, great portion of which is not cas-
lily accessible for want of good roads, the
true policy undoubtedly for Marysville was,
and is, to encourage and aid the opening of
every feasible route likely to connec it with
the mountain interior, or with the great line
of emigrant travel beyond. It's patronage
should not be exclusively bestowed upon one
route, in obedience to the persuasions of To-
cal interests or local jealousy, but it should
strive to make itself the focus of many radi-
an inland metropolis on a single hig hway
it must be the central point Of many, diverg-
ing in various directions; must be superior
to the influence of outside riralries, and
make itself a necessity to every section
within its reach.
Blind to these facts, or regardless of them,
Marysviile has chosen particular mountain
route on which to bestow its favor, and has
exhibited a marked indifference to all others.
The Sierra Turnpike and the Yuba Gap were
long the favorites, and advocacy of them
seemed based upon belief that there was
no place worth connection with except one
or two towns in Sierra county. Even since
Utah have led to the settlement of a new
territory lying due east of Marysylle, and
to the opening of a wide field for the extern
sion of its trade, that city, instead of aiding
to build, or at least encourage others in
building, direct road across the Sierra Ne
vada, gives all its kind words to the ox-bow
route through the Yuba Cap. The people
of Downieville, who were most interested
in this particular route, subsequently to
survey abandoned it for another of proved
superiority; yet our Marysville cotempora-
ries, with amusing constancy, still applauded
the old one. Ouly week or two since, the
Appeal had an article asserting the immense
advantages of the Yuba Gap, when Downie-
vile has abandoned that for the Jamison
route. The National Democrat has a more
accurate knowledge on this subject, and is
evidently aware that the most direct road
from Marysvlle to the eastern slope lies
through the Henness Pass, by way of North
San Juan and Forest City-the very route now
being improved by the Truckee Turnpike
Company, and over which Smith l. Fall's
passenger train will travel as soon as the
snow melts. This is the main thoroughfare
designated, by resolution introduced into
the Assembly by Mr.. Curtis, as transmon-
tame mail route from Carson City to Marys-
vile, to have branches diverging to Downie-
vile and Nevada. BY this route Marysville
is within $50 miles of Virginia City By
the Sierra Valley, Yuba Gap or Jamison
route the distance is from fifteen to thirty
miles greater, over roads that cannot be so
well graded as the Truckee Turnpike road
will be. These are facts. We do not pre-
sent them for the purpose of opposing the
more northern routes named far from it
Downieville and upper Sierra need the jam
ison road and will have it, We regard it as
a very useful and necessary enterprise. and
hope to see it completed, as it doubtless will
be. Our only object is to call the attention
of the journals and business men of Marys-
vile to the mistakes they have labored I'M
der and the impoltic course they have pur-
sued in regard to these mountain road pro-
jects generally Let them encourage the
projects originating in Sierra county, but
do not ignore the truth about other routes,
and particularly about the one we have so
frequently shown to be the shortest and best
for themselves, yet the Improvement of
which has been left entirely to the enterprise
of mountaineers who have but secondary
interest in the matter.
WEIGHTY QUEsTIoN.-Some of the
s'sports'' at Petaluma, after duly inspecting