Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-05-09
Or ma q. p. =. h. Rsuts.

We noticed in q Placetvills paper, which
has been mislaid, an important statement
in connection with the Central Pacific
Railroad Route. 1t is probable, however,
that the statement should be taken with
many grains Of allowance, for Pl%acervills
is on the opposition sky-scraping route to
Dutch Flat, and while neither the Dutch
Flat, NOR the Placerville routes are practi-
cable for q railroad, the statements Of the
advocates of the one against the other
should not be set down as entirely true.
However. the the old axiom that "When
rogues fall out, honest men get their dues"
may prove true in regard to railroad
routes through the Nevada mountains.
Neither route is practical for Winter use,
and the advocates Of both know it, but
will only tell it Of the route they are
opposing.
The statement was to the effect that the
Central Pacific Company had commenced
tunneling at some point above Dutch Flat,
and struck rock so hard that o drill would
not penetrate it. That is pretty tough,
but If nothing else will prevent the Gen.
trail Pacific Company from building a
railroad for q great national highway on
o route that is impracticable for SIX months
Of the year, we hope they will find miles
of it, and DO forced to adopt a practical
BILE one. We report. as o fact, and time
will prove it, that the money already
spent on the Dutch Flat road. would have
sent the iron horse into Virginia City,
Nevada, over any Of the routes north Of
the waters Of the Yuba, and at an eleva-
ton 80 low as not to be troubled with
snow to a greater extent than the railroads
in the State Of New York are.
But the statement continues, that,
having struck this hard rock, the tunnel
was abandoned, a new survey ordered,
| which was made some twenty miles
around, and a new tunnel started, which
| was also abandoned, and a third wa now
going on, with a hope of being able to
| dodge the coutumacious rock, or, at least,
to find a soft spot in the great back bone OF
the Pacific coast, which can be penetrated
BY a cold chisel and nitro.glycerine.
When it is remembered that hardened
steel can be drilled, and quartz and dia-
monds cut into any desired shape, the
character of the rock that has turned aside
the Central Pacific Railroad will be &C.
knowledged q thing Of some substance, il
the statement be entirely true.
The policy governing the adoption OF
the route for this great national walk has
been a selfshness utterly unworthy Of the
magnitude Of the undertaking. There was
no adequate effort made to find o route
that could DO trayersed the year round, OF
over which o road could be speedily con-
structed. A bonus was log-rolled through
the national Government in the shape oil
bonds and lands, and the State Of Cali
fornia and the city Of San Francisco were
badgered out Of hundreds Of thousands BY
interested STATE and city officials, to be
thrown away on o route to satisfy TIT
local jealousy Of Sacramento, and permit
that to be the first ranch at which thi'
great national highway should arrive in
California. The amount given this selhsf
concern by the national Government, ant
by the State Of California, and by the city
Of San Francisco, combined, we repeat, ii
sufficient to build a railroad from Sacra'
mento by tho way Of Oroville and Beck
with Pass to Virginia city, and had i
been expended in that direction, Virgins
city might to-day be in railroad communi
cation with Sacramento. This is unde'
niably ,rue.-ED. News.
We do not doubt but that the Contra
Pacific Company will aght it out on TIT
line they have chosen, in obedience to tn
boyish jealousy that has controlled then
thus far. But when they have done so
they will find their road useless for a con
siderable portion Of the year. Business
will require another road on a route tina
will be servicable, and capital will b.
found to build it, while the great Contra
Pacific with all its bonuses and bonds ant
lands, will be rendered useless by avalan
chez Of snow. That is our OPINION
Butte Record.