The Placer herald., 1862-03-22
The Dutch Flat Wagon Road.

season, and may reasonably expect a rapid
drying up of muddy roads, and a resumption
of travel and a revival of business through
out the State, as well as in the now famous
mining Territory Of Nevada. public atten
ton will again be called to the various i'm.
poFtant wagon routes stretching over the
Sierras. 1t is certain that during the pres
ent season. the Placervle route will have
formidable competition in the Henness Pass,
Yuba Gap, BIG Tree, ETC., but there is yet
another that has figured but little in the
public prints, that is destined to become the
great central route of the State. We refer
to the Dutch Flat Road. A company WAS
organized last fall, for the construction Of
this road, embracing in the majority of its
Stock khollers some of the most enterprisino
and wealthy merchants of Sacramento. BE.
fore the first floods of winter, the Company
had an engineer corps IN the field, and es-
tablshed several camps for workmen. OPP
eratons were necessarily suspended 10y the
severe winter. We learn through one of
the principal stockholders, that the road will
be prosecuted TO completion the coming
summer, without doubt,-and knowing the
business and financial stamina of the men
interested, we believe there is not the possi'
ibilty of the failure of the work This
road will follow the dividing ridge between
the waters of the North Fork of the Amer
lean and Bear river to near Bear Valley,
and thence along the head waters of the
South Yuba well toward the summit The
srmnst will be crossed at one Of the lowest
passes in the mountain range. and from
thence within few miles, the valley of
Truckee river will be reached. From the
Truckee to Genoa or Virginia City there are
but few obstacles to overcome in making
good roads.
The great advantages this mountain rou e
will possess, will lie IN centrally, shorter
distance from Sacramento to Virginia city
by twenty five miles than by Placervillef in
easier grades than that route; in being con-
sructed in great part on 'divide." and
will not be 50 liable to wash rs road with
much side hill grade; the gradients will be
light; and by means of light grade and
shorter distance teamsters Will be enabled
to save four DAYS time on the round trip
from the Sacramento Valley to Virsnia.c city,
and haul fifteen percen. more freight with the
same teams, than by Placervile. And last
but not least, 10y the Central Rail Road,
to Lincoln, and the Auburn Railroad, the
first division of which is shortly to be open:
ed additional Railroad distance is secured,
and wagon distance diminished. These are
advantages that cannot fail to make the
Dutch Flat Road an mportont line of com
muniration wi h Nevada Territory.
In making q comparison of this with the
PIacerviile road, we dc not do so in any in
vdious spirit We believe there is y bust
ness growing up in Nevada Territory to
Justify the building of roads through every
djarent mountain county on this side. And
we have too great an appreciation of the
noble enterprise of the people of Placer,
Vile, who have thus far given the State the
only mountain rcsd that has p oven passas
bic at all seasons,of the year, to wish to see
them lose the fruit of their public spirited
labors:
S p. & N. RA1LRoAD-The work on
this road suspended for some weeks on
account of the unfavorable season-has
been again resumed, with large force of
laboreTs, and track is being graded at q rap
id rate. a gang are at work on the deep
cut at the connection with the Central Rail-
road, and will get through next week.
Shortly after, track laying will commence,
and 10y the first of May it is confidently ex
pecied to have the road open to the Union
House, seven milesfrom Folsom on the Au.
bura road. The entire first Division, to
in the month of July Two schooner loads
of ties for the Company, have arrived at
Sacramento, and the remainder contracted
for and will be delivered as rapidly as re
CURED The early opening of the road is 4
matter ofinterest to shippers and travellers
and of particular satisfaction to our citizens
who have taken an active part in forwarding
the enterprise.
New FIGURING MILL-Mr. Mallett, from
San Francisco, having purchased the prop
erty known as the "Auburn Flouring Mills,