The Nevada journal., 1863-01-14

Such being the nature Of the country be-
tween Nevada City and the Henness Pass,
there only romans a choice Of three posi-
BILE routes.
The frst-folowing the summit of the
, ridge lying south Of the South Yuba to its
termination at Bear Valley--passng down
into the valley across the South luba at
that point, up Jordan Canon on to Esd
Creek platenu, and thence across to thoIIen-
ness Pass Turnpike at bowman Baneh.
The objections to ibis route are such
as to render it impracticable for road hav-
ing the required conditions, MS before s.a2
ted, In the first place, it is too circlitous.
deYiating toe tar TO the sputhward Of n III
rect line. Secondly, it would rtsu;rc heavy
grades in passing from the Washington
ridge down 20 the South Yuha river, and up
on to the Fall Greek level Or neces state the
lengtheuine Of the road within the lult Of
deep snow. Aud in the third place. it
strikes this snow belt within 20 miles Of Ne
vada.
The second possible route, is that over
which the road is now constructed; crossing
the South Gubn river ut point nearly north
of Nevada City. following the summit Of the
ridge between the Middle and South Yuba
rivers, crossing the high ridge hotwccn Eu-
reka south and Bowmau's Ranch, and
thence eastward to the IIsnnoss Pass. This |
route has also many and serious objections |
| These are,
Ist-The heavy grades in crossing the .
South Yuba. In mary places aad for con- /
siderable distances the grade reaches and
p feet per red.
2l-lts wide deviation from n Straight
line ani therefore it's unnecessary leucth.
3d--The loss OF elevation in tlcseeuts
eastward. The sunimit Of Bowman Hill is
about zoe feet sloyo Bawmau'S, which is so
much Of elevation worse than thrown away.
4th-The unnecessary width of snow belt.
il commencing within 90 miles of Nevada
Bowman Hill during the winter scason-on
account Of the deep snow and its drifting at
that points tho worst part of the route
between Nevada and Virginia City. The
altitude Of it's sunmit is within 500 feet of
that Of the lIan0ess Pass.
The third route is that we hav, Just sur 1
reyel, aud of which it viii be proper here 10 5
give :
PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. II
1t commences at n point called the White I
Cloud Gap, at the foot of tine White Cloud !,
IN, about l. miles east of Nevada City on =,
ho NgshiEa.sr NavaE5-cs az I leaves tie
ummit Of the riso and the turnpike, de- :,
cendiag on the north side of the ridge with ,
continuous grade OF 0 inches per rod, by r,
iod llil', around Virgin Canon, Jefferson !,
'uint, jetlersoa Canon, through a low ran ar
rest Of Brandy Flat 70 Washington, which ~
lace is reached in miles 1t then runs
long on the south bank OF the South Yubn
jver, through Stenmitg Ranch. to a point
w rods below the mouth Of 'ctotchmaa of
rock. where it crosses the river. This tn
lace is highly favorable for crossing, the M
yer having perpendicular banks of solid h,
1pk chino saV4.ral .il,-, :
igh water mark From this point the line. scr
ith an ascending grade, runs along tho me
orth bank of the rivSr an the hill si,e 10 lin
e mouth Of Canon Creek thence alun. au,
e slope on the north side OF Canon Creek, tur
asstng liul9 Canon Greek in 10 q5-I00 alb
Hes passing around tbe DEVILS Ellnw in On
bt-ln0 m,,.s, ON to a level b2pch to q an,
lint few rods above the mouth of TcXas BRO
EEK H. 3l-l0) miles, where it crosses Can con
Creek, which NJ tGis point bears nearly 4
rth aud south ttence on the east slanc sea
Canon Creek TO bcnch or Gap where it Aal
osscs the Eureka and Fan Creek trail in wit
l3-la9 miles thoacc along uG selies Of esii
,rcs and bcuches un the same side Of the Cd
eek TO the base of two high peaks which oHe
e abruptly and block M the way between p}at
G Creek and the ridge 70 the sogthwarl, roa'
Iero it turns to The len through \ narrow the
-. crosses tba Creek iG II 57-lp0 milss, and
/ jGtcrsoot7 the lianness Pass Turnpike ioui
e rods west Of the Toll House, in 70 and
les. poiI
The prominent icstuers Of this route are and
lst--rrS LIGHT GRADES. rem
This will appear by the following tabular oi III u
tement Of the grades adopted il the sur VIII ,i.
4 cmd'ag Gcoi.s Eas'tcord. II
nches per rod. od......,,......,.,..6: .6:ij miles 'ot
......-.--.-........ $50 - II
-cl and grades Of less than inch ton
per rod ''.'''''''''''.''''''.2;4 pent
Descending Grades Eos'@drl amo
hcles per rod. ..dp0 miles the
-, ,,,, rs wdt
,r roj '.'..' .,2 :. ease
or exhibition Of grade see profile. ot =
2d-irS DIRECTION. ding
glance at the maps accompanying this blast
lrt shows the general direction Of the E-
te ex epti1r slight unavoidable devia- pcr ,
: in passing around few streams and Tor f
mes. 90 be nearly IN direct line between five ,
ada City and Bow,nan's Ranch. Canon Fo
X affords natural pass nearly through the /
Eureka ridge, and in the required direc-
for 4 road to connect Nevada with the Fr,
ness Pass. Conclusive evidence of tins -iis
is found in the saving Of three miles Of Th'
incc between Nevada and Bowmau's 5. eIrca'
the Eureka route, and that too after oi,1a
g Of about one mile in getting around riyei
a and jefferson Canons. I believe a straci
he f-F..i, ka+ xvaa,. the q