The Shasta courier., 1861-08-17
Survey of the Boundary Line between
Shasta and Siskiyou.
To the Hon. The Board Of Supervisors Of
Shasta County.


Shasta County.
The undersigned would respectfully sub
NIT the following their report of survey
made by them of the boundary line between
the counties of Shasta and Siskiyou, began
July 23d, and finished August 9th, 1861.
Began by selecting place as station
nearly due east of the most central peak of
Castle Rock mountain, and ascertained by
observation the altitude to be 1850 feet above
! the level of the sea, the magnetic variation
| I6o cast, and measured base line and COM
puted the distance to the said central peak of
Castle Rock, and found it to be one and one
half mile, latitude 40 l0> north, longitude
1920 lS> west, and erected monument on
the line, on the west side of the Sacramento
road, of stone, five feet square and two and
one-half feet high, planting post in the
centre marked Siskiyou and Shasta, and
marked two trees, one on each side of said
line.
july 24.-Ran due east mile crossed the
Sacramento river, one mile crossed the ridge
between Sacramento and Soda Greek, at an
altitude of 3l40 feet, magnetic variation l60
"a east; two miles crossed Soda Creek, alti
tude $500 feet, four miles to the Summit of
ridge, altitude 800 feet. Finding it impos-
sible to proceed further with animals, we
crossed over into Squaw Valley and encamp-
ed near Cunningham house.
July 25th.-Returned to the top of the
ridge and continued to Squaw Valley No. !,
distance 8 miles, altitude 1896 feet, magnet
ic variation 110 east, and set post and
erected a mound feet square (marking post
as before) four chains south of Cunning
hams house the measured base line and
found the county line to be l5.42 miles south
of Shasta Butte.
July 26th.-Left Squaw Valley mile
crossed creek; 2 miles crossed Squaw Val
ley No. 2 four chains north of Huckeythorn's
house; miles crossed Squaw Valley No. 8;
miles crossed Huckleberry Valley; took an
observation for latitude. and found it to be
4lo 10 as before; miles crossed creek 81
miles came to McCloud river, altitude $500
feet, variation Ice 30> east.
July 27th.-Crossed McCloud river, and
continued the line up McCloud range of
mountains miles, altitude 1900 feet, when
we found it impossible to proceed further on
account of the dense chapparel covering the
entire country as far as the eye could reach.
After three useless endeavors to find pas
sage, we were compelled to encamp for the
night in a gulch, without grass for our ami
mails.
July 2Sth.-Made another attempt to get
over the ridge, but without success as before.
We then determined to go to Pit River Val
ley by way of McCloud river, and continue
the line, and accordingly began the descent;
valley surrounded by dense chapparel, and
spent the rest of the day in cutting a way for
the animals-altitude 5000 feet magnetic
variation 17o east.
July 29th.-Traveled all day; crossed
McCloud river at noon, and encamped 10
miles south east of Shasta Butte.
JULY 30.-Measured base line and took
observations on Castle Rock, Shasta Butte,
Sugar Loaf and Lone mountains, thinking
they might be useful in determining our po-
sition in Pit River Valley, if they could be
seen from that place-magnetic variation
16o 3O> east altitude 4465 feet; the rest of
the day spent in travel to Bear Greek, dis
tance 25 miles.
July 31st-Traveled down Bear Greek to
New York Ranch II miles, and encamped
near noon. In the afternoon measured
base line and took observation on Shasta
Butte to determine our INSTRUMENTATION
I7o 30> east, altitude 1890 feet
AUGUST lst. Measured a longer base line
and took observations on Shasta Butte and
Sugar Loaf Mountain, and found us to be
81 80 miles south easterly and 20.06 miles
due south from Shasta Butte-latitude Ale s.
BON north thence ran north 2.64 miles.
AUGUST 2d.-Learning there was hostile
Indians ON our route, we rode to Fort Crook
and consulted with Lieut.. Kellogg as to the
best course to pursue, who informed us that
he would send detachment in that direction
the next day. Deeming it safe to travel we
returned to camp and continued the line north
miles to the county line, which happened
1, ho@,
SO and 80 north thence west on the line
miles, and encamped on Bear Creek.
AUGUST 3d.-Continued the line west,
crossing the Pit River road, when we blazed
and marked large sugar pine 6 feet in diam
eter miles thence west; l mile to the foot of
McCloud range of mountains, where we
found it impossible to proceed further on ac-
count of the brush-leaving distance of liz
miles unrun.
AUGUST 4th.-Stayed in camp to rest and
recruit the animals.
AUGUST 5th.-Returned to the starting
point, and continued the line east miles,
over rough volcanic district, to the west side
of Hot Spring Valley.
AUGUST 6th-Continued the line east
mile, and erected a monument of rocks 5
feet square and 2 feet high, planting a stake
in the centre marked with the names of the
two countles-altltude 3I55 feet, variation
lie 80 east thence continued the line east |
mile to the foot of the mountains on east side
of Pit River valley, making in all 454 miles
from Castle Rock.
From the best information we could obtain
we were then 20 miles distant from Big or
Round Valley, on Pit River, but from the
roughness of the country we deemed it best
to close the survey here.
In, ~
6 miles south of the county line, we have
learned that party of Oregonians, en- route
for Washoe, were murdered and robbed of
500 head of cattle, which fact proved that we
were right in not attempting to cross over to
Round Valley.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
E. LINN,
County Surveyor Shasta County.
SAuI RIcE