Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-17


There Is plenty Of vacant land susceptible OF
tillaee and Convenient 20 the river, and there
fore 70 irrigation, in the vallies of these rivers
yet uDoccupied, and which NAV be had for the
settlement.
From East Walker river. the road crosses
mouDtain-not very Highland thence over 4
sage brush plain. for fifteen miles, where up a
long ravine, AZ the foo; OF a mountain, is a spring
OF alkaline water, sith plenty of bunch grass ID
the vicinity
From here the road crosses 4 low bill, and
thence descekds into the valley Of West Walker
river, two miles 20 a station kept by Wellington,
the principal proprietor OF tie road We were
travelling Here the road from Carson City and
Virginia City TO Aurora, fifty miles south,
crosses the lone Big Tree and Stockton roads.
Here the valley Of Walker river is settling up
rapidly. and numerous grain fields attest the pro
rress OF agriculture. In fact, from this station
to larson valley "settlements are numerous and
apparently aourishing There i abundance OF
vacant land, convenient 10 water and susceptible
of tillsge. while The ueighboriDg mountains sup
ply fuel.
Two DAYS ,srrney With so OF team reaches to
the Sierras, where there fine timber trees
As the world produces.
Az mining in this region involves machinery
propelled by steam, hsnd-, horses and mules are
put 10 reqsisiliOn IN great numbers; these have
20 be fed, and whoever produces grain convent
ent 70 the mines cannot fail to make money"
Barley here is worth 10 cents per pound and
-four 5 cents
Carson river is small stream, forty feet wide
and Two feet deep It's valley is about ten miles
wide, exceedingly fertile, and az loose ash
heap. Here, once more, We are greeted with
large fields, enclosed with board fences, fine
barn. and comfortable farm houses All along
The margin OF the stream are cultivated fields,
but further out there IS much vacant land sus-
ceptible of tiIlage On the western boundary of
this valley. the Sierra Nevada mountains lit
their snow clad crests up amid the clouds; and
along their rugged sides are great forests of gi-
gantlc pines From the low mountains east OF
the river is presented. probably, the most sub
lime scenery west of the rocky mountains
river, valley farms, villages and the Serras pre-
senting such varied and bold outline. and diver
sity OF tint and landscape as to be positively en-
chanting.
We commenced the ascent of the Sierras at
Vanscles Station leaving Genoa, Carson City
and Virginia City TO the right II is six miles
up the grade to the first summit. The grade
consists OF series Of parable 5, winding back aud
forth up the mountain side. aud finally crossing
at n low gap Al intervals of mile are eating
houses aud whisky shops, and one is never out
of sight of q mule team. These teams costing
from six thousand TO ten ihous md dollars each,
consist Of from eight 20 twelve mules. and haul
usually two wagons, the forward one about 20
feet long and 10 feet deep, built Up like rail
road freight car, with slanting ends. The other
wagon is hitched on behind. Ga these two wag-
ons j, is no uncommon thing to find frenty ttOus
and pounds Of freight, 10 crossing the noun
,aius these teams travel about FIVE miles per day
on an up grade. All the supplies of Nevada are
thus hauled across from California. No won
der then that tho road sgarms with those s.prai-
rie boats"
Where the grade il narrow you frequently have
10 wait for an hour in a curve for them TO pass
as they consider il disgfnceful, under any circum
stances, to be civil to any but their own craft.
They literally run coaches down these grades.
IL is no fast walk or trot, but fierce gallop
der the lash, around sharp curves. when mis-
take Of foot would preeipitate coach and con-
tents down into frghtful gorges over and amid
the tops of the talIest pines. declare TO you
that the Sierra stage-drver is the most reckless
bresk-nsck of ali the desperate characters west
of the Missouri No wonder Horace Greeley
becsme-nervous when placed under the guidance
OF one such on his visit 10 California.
The road winds up the mountain side through
forest of pines and frs some of them eight or
ten fee; in diameter, aod many OF them over two
hundred feet high. Numerous springs OF clear,
cool water flow out along the road, and at the
tUtlc u n tdUk Vi MdLtIs ltTulSutu irOtU
a spring some distance of, from the mountains
forming the sides of the gap.
From the summit, the road decends through
a forest of pines and firs, within view of lake
Bgler, fifteen miles; to the foot of the second
range, up which the grade winds several miles to
the last and highest summit on the road. From
this summit there is a beautiful view of the lake
which the partisan hate of the California legsls
ture has endaavored 70 change from Bgler to
Il
.-of the road winding down from the first summit
with villages and station houses scattered at
short intervals along the route. The lake is a
large body of fresh water locked up between the
two ranges, high up in the Sierras, Astounding in
the finest trout and the resort of countless water
fowls, while the deer. the mountain sheep, the
black bear and the terrible grizzly invite the
most exciting sport. Here, therefore is one Of
the finest summer resorts on the Pacific coast.
From the second summit we travel down
grade. through continuous fores. of pines and
frs. to within few miles of Placerville at least
forty miles. The road descends through can
yOn to within eight miles of Placerville, whereit
crosses over to another canyon. When crossed
the summit il was showing. and We travelled down
about ten miles, when we crossed the snow line.
and from that passed into different climate from
any we had experienced since reaching the re
gons of mountains Vegetation began to
change, and GUNNER birds chattered among the
waysde trees. Down the canyon rushes the
south fork of the American river. sometimes
leaping over frightful precpices. and again
spreading out into deep. quiet pools. wherein
specklsd trout tempted the angler. Houses of
entertainment line the roadside. and numerous
villages betoken enterprise.
Twenty miles from Piscervilie the road forks,
aud another grade. called the Barton grade,
lower down the mountain side. has been con
structed and now has most of the travel, to the
utter ruin of those who have built on the upper
grade This Barton is nabob, owning
large hotel, several saw mills, huge barns, store
houses. and whisky shops, on the road, besides
sundry large ranches &c wn in the valley. With
these facilities. and the monopoly Of the road,
he IS thanks to be liberality of the Calf ,rna
legislature, which seduOusly seeks the enrichment
of the fer at the expense OF the manv. vel to do
in the world. Far WEsr.
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