The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-11-09
LETTERS FROM NEVADA.
NUMBER T;
CARSON Cry, NEVADA,
July 20, 1865.

My old Friends:-I told you, my
friends, in my last letter, that my next
would contain description Of my trip
to Lake Tahoe.
Soon after closing my letter to you,
the C bus ".drove to the door, and the
shout fall aboard" called me from my
papers, and 1 found merry party.
awaiting me, ladies, married and sim
gle, gentlemen, old and young, all gay.
and happy at the thought Of .some-
thing to take them from the dust of
town. After the usual suggestions, Of
extra wrappings for the ladies, the
usual questions Of ''have you my
shawl, veil, books or satchel?o as the
case might be, the usual whisperings
together of the men about "pocket pis.
tols," cigars, flies, &C., all was prop
erly adjusted, and off we started. BY,
fight ofbeing new conner, and espe-
cial guest, | was favored with seat
outside that 1 might enjoy more ex-
tended view. We whirled on rapidly
and in few moments had passed over
the three miles OF hard Level road had
entered the lower growth of pine, and
began our ascent Of the Sierras, on our
way over I" the new road to Lake TIA
hoe. This road has been recently
built, and by it tho Bake is but twelve
miles from Carson, and the road to.
Sacramento some thirty-five miles
shorter than any other road, and it has.
tho advantage, too, OF being a widcr.
road, and the grade more gradualthan
others; threeby saving much time and
labor for the teams. We drove on,
oursix strong horses trotting gently
all the way, for five miles more to the
Summit. ;" I always supposed before
/ came here, summit meantthe high
est elevation of all; but 1 find here,
every ridge has its tsummit," and in
crossing the mountains, you have the
"first summit" Second summit and
SO on, for every rise you pass; how
ever there is but one Hsummitn be-
tween here aud tho Lake. AS we
wound around the beautiful road, l
was all but enchanted" finer engfn-
cering never saw, and the views
were extended and magnificent; be-
hind and almost beneath us lay Car.
son, u little beyond tho village OF En-.
pire, stretching far off to the East like
a white thread drawn over the plain,
was the road to Virginia, probably
the straightest wagon road ever built;
on our right lowered splendid peaks,
huge masses of granite in its various
stages; the hills covered with lofty
pines, hemlocks and cedars of all va
rieties; on our left here and there a
glimpse down into some dell score
or two Of feet below, or somo valley SO
tar down that houses looked like
wagons, and men like insects; while
we had an opportunity of studying the
progress of civilization in all its sta
ges--hero farm in great luxuriance,
grain ready tor the sickle; there one
with but a few hardy stalks of corn
just breaking through tho earth, and
cabin in the process of erection; down
to a family seated ON the ground eat.
ing their first rude meal on the 'farm"
they have just "pro.empted," which is
hereafter to be homo for them. The
descent to the Lakeis moro beautiful
than ALL for we are now surrounded |
by verdure, and feel like uncaged birds,
to be once moro out of the desert.
| am not able to give you an idea |
Of this beautiful sheet of water; it is
about sixty miles long and aboutthirty
wide, is as clear as crystal and always
sweet and cool under the hottest sky;
It's depth has never been sounded, but
i is known to be very deep. It's color
IS q bright blue, except near the beach
where ii is brilliant green; it is sur
by high hills on ali sides OK.
,ept for about fifteen miles on the west
,rn shore, small valley rms back
from it, called Lake Valley; here and |
here a narrow gorge breaks down to T
ts shore, the pathway for some beau
,iful silvery stream; it has but one
,ut-lct, the Truskee river which flows
North and East into Pyramid Lake
some one hundred miles distant. The
'each is firm, affording fine rides and
walks for all, and little copses of ur-
Ter growth abounding on its banks,
! shelter is formed for those who wish
o bathe in the delicious water 1t is
favorito resort for many from both
Nevada and California, and belongs to
zach State, the boundary limo running
through the Lake midway. The Lake
Is well as tho little streams near by,
8 famous for its delicious trout they
lro Of all sizes, from six inches in
ength to twenty five pounds in weight
md some say they arc found even lar
ger than this; they are very pretty,
ust like the Eastern brook trout, en-
,ept ours are spockled black, while
hose are red.
see my letteris assuming an alarm
ng length, and yet "the half is not
odd" | would love to tell you of the
sail wo had, of the excitement we OK.
perionced in capturing the connettish