The Placer herald., 1860-03-31
Description of LGcatsJ Eoute

The upper line commences at the point of the spur
above the American and Empire hotels, in Auburn, at
an elevation of Ga feet above the ground the Placer
Herald office and "a feet above the grade of the lower
lne ut that point II passes around the western slope
OF that spur, crosses small ayine and vineyard and
encounters rocky of 50 feet deep after which Ban
ward ravine is crossed by treste bridge 1900 feet
long and 1875 feet above the bed of the stream at the
highest point. The how ridge west of Banvard ravine
may be either cut through, passed at the
face, as may be hereafter determined. Then follows
the most expensive structure Of the road trestle
bridge across Baltimore ravine, $50 feet long, the
highest point of which is 6 feet above the bottom Of
the ravine. Another line for crossing at this point will
be noticed elsewhere.
Cutting through the high spur west of Baltimore
ravne with cut of Sc feet deep the line Little
baltimore ravne on short reste bridge 4G feet high
passes along the northern slopes and spurs of the d
vide, between Auburn and Dutch raynes crosses this
divide at the gap with Crandall's turnpike and
then crosses Dutch ravine 81 miles below auburn
trestle bridge 500 feet long and IS feet high in the
centre. Following the northern slope of the high
ridge south of Dutch ravne for about mile the line
then sweeps round by 70 curve through depression
III this ridge above the New Castle reservoir and at
tans the heads of Secret ravine.
Crossing several small sources Of this ravine, by
another long curve the line Shnbone ranch
an embankment 81 feet high, and now assumes
direct course towards Folsom. Proceeding along the
western slope OF the dividing ridge between Long
Valley and s cret rayine the Rock Spring branch il
crossed at Chinese Camp by embankment and
tisste bridge 81 feet high and the line cuts through
broad fiat spur of the ridge east of Courtghts
or ll0 miles. As far as the lower end Of the Rock
Spring embankment or $40 milos, the grade has
been uniform and uninterrupted at so feet to the mile
This necessary to reach the elevation Of the upper
part Of the town Of Auburn. This division comprises
nearly all the more difficult and expensive sections on
the entire line.
The Lower E.lne OF tho First Division.
This commences in Auburn at ten feet above the
level OF the block at the gateway into Gsons yard
the Placer Herad Office and 81 feet below the initial
point of the upper line. 1t crosses 4iubun rnviue
| q 10 ski
western slope the base Of the hill southeast of
Uordon's stable, and follows generally course few
rods north and west of the upper line passing around
| or across the same spurs and raVines.
at the crossings Of Banvard and Baltimore raynes,
the two lines are nearly together but soon dyerge by
reason OF difference of curvature, and after crossing
! the larger spurs and rayines join again near New
Castle and follow the route until the grades meet
IN the common line 5.l5 miles below AUBURN. The line
crosses Banyard ravne at y feet above the stream,
Baltimore rayine at LOG feet. Little Baltimore at 81
feet, and Dutch ravne at 81 feet
OF these two limos. give the decided preference to
the upper line, for which will be given fur
ther
The Second Division.
The line continues along the western slope and the
| summit of the lower dividing ridge between the
sources Of Secret and Miners ravines. Crossing
this divide near the western edge of the Mammoth
Reservoir Of the Bear River Ditch the line proceeds
down small branch, aud across the main stream OF
Graveyard raylne thence low ridge to Poverty
ravine crossing that stream obliquely by embank
nent and trestlework 20 feet high, and shortly after
ward crossing Miners ravne by trestlework 35 feet
| nigh, about half il mile southwest OF the Franklin
House.
.ita quarter mile west of Days tavern, and ten
miles from auburn the line the stage road from
the Franklin House to Sacramento by trestework
and embankment u feet high. For the next three
miles the line follows nearly the route of the stage
road to Folsom, passing across the fiat table land Mt
the sources OF several small branches OF Miners ravne
Having crossed this ridge by shallow cut of about
400 feet III length the line leaves the stage road to the
east, and passes around the eastern base of the high
knob westof Rock spring House, (Iiearhs) and keep
ing above the North Fork Ditch it takes westerly a
recon for the purpose Of attaining the table land be
tween the ditch and Rose Springs. 4 few low ridges
are cut through, the deepest of which is 25 feet
The line passes about 600 feet west Of Deals Bar
Reservoir, aud cuts across the eastern corner OF small
Ter reservoir near the stage road. Here the line finds
a small branch of Big Gulch, which it descends by
so feet grade to its junction with the main stream and
thence along its valley passing through tho village Of
Ashland Golmerly iussville), where it Joins the Cali
fornia Central Railroad at point 1913 miles from
duburn and immediately at the northern end OF the
Railroad bridge at Folsom.
| There few expensive sections this diviSion-
These are at the crossings of Poverty and Miners IA
vines the deep cut, 80 feet deep, at the Junction with
the Central Railroad and few cuts not very expensive
through the lower dividing ridges. This portion OF the
road IS located along table land, slightly rolling and
differing i'll character bat little from the Sacramento
plain where it borders the foot hills. The grades
are indeed sleeper, and the curves generally sharp
er, but in expense Of grading it is nay opinion that
the cost OF this Is miles will dfer but little from that
ol the Central Railroad from Folsom to Lincoln.
The material to be eXcavated is generally granite
gravel, or if rock decomposed granite or loose boul
ders and lodges with numerous seams. Several
granite quarIies this division lie very convenient
to the road, and will furnish both freight, and mater
lals tor masonry on the road
U. 5. To~ynrhip and section Lines.
Upon Township and Section line map the
road may be laid down as follows: Commencing
| in Auburn on the western boundary Of and near
the northwest corner of Section Is 7 XI N. r.
s e, the line crosses dagonully through the mid
die of Sec l6, cuts a small N. w. corner off from
Sec 21 crosses Dutch ravine in the northern half
of Sec 20. leaves this section the middle Of
It's western boundary, passes to the centre of Sec.
49, then turns an entire semicircle in the south
ern half of this section; asses down through the
middle of Sec. 80 and 81. cuts off large N. W.
corner from Sec. &, Il. NI, N. Il. E.; cuts off
S. E. corner of Sec. 7. XI, n r. 7 Il, and keeps
along near and west of the range line between
ranges and 8 for four miles. 1t then crosses The
middle of Sec Sc of r. Xl, N. r. f, also passes
through the middle Of Sec. &, T. X, n r. e,
cuts off Il large N. w. corner Of Sec. 7, passes di-
ogonally through the S. E. quarter of Sec. II;
crosses southerly through the middle of Sec. l3:
cuts N. w. corner off from Sec "A, and S. E.
corner off from Sec. 23; passes southerly through
the middle Of Sec 26, and down to the centre Of
the northern half Of Sec. 35, where it joins the
Central Rail Road and passes over into olson,
which lies in the S. W. quarter Of Sec. 35 I. 10,
n r. L.
Although this region has been "sectionized,"
and qute a number OF sections have been taken
up and fenced, under pre-emption, or school
land warrant, other form of title. yet it is now
understood to be mineral land, not subject to sale
in the Land Office, except here and there sec
ton which can be sworn to as having no mining
claims on it. It is also claimed that over the
southern portion of Z. 10 N. H. f, the bounda-
les of the Rancho de San Juan M y be eventu-
ally confirmed.
These different forms of occupancy will have
some bearing on the right of way, but am not
aware that any difficulty need be anticipated IN
obtaining that right. In some few cases am IN