The weekly Butte record., 1867-05-18
Wagon Road Report.


To the OroriRe and Beck,courth Pass JTagonroad
Company:
GENrLEMEN:-At your request have examined
the country of the North Fork and also the Mid
die Fork OF Feather River. with the view of deter
mining the best location for the line OF the pro-
posed wagonroad from the town of Oroville in the
county of Butte to Beckwourth Pass in the Sierra
Nevada range, in Plurnas county. As the result of
my examinations, have located the line on or near
the waters of the North Fork to the head OF Spring
Garden creek in Piumas county, thence up the
Middle Fork 10 Beckwourths Pass. Maps of tie
route have been prepared, one OF which has been
filed in the County Clerks office, in this county
and another forwarded 10 the county of Butte.
The line as located may be more infinitely des-
crbe1 AS f,llows:-Commencing at the town Of
Oroville. on the main Feather River, and running
up the light bank distance OF two and a half miles
to crossing. Then following near the present trav
eed road to Cherokee Flat. hv way Of Oregon City
mp Oregon Gulch TO the head or of the stream.
Crossing low ridge which divides Oregon Gulch
from Spring Valley creek, the line keeps the left
bank of the creek. crossing the West branch of the
North Fork, at the distance of eleven and half
miles from Oroyille, and one and half from its
junction with the North Fork. Thence ascending
Dark Canon II the summit of the ridge forming
what is known the Big Bend Of the North Fork;
thence following the eastern slope of the hill which
forms the bank of the North Fork. descending on
a grade ot about two inches to rod, crossing Bar
dees Riyine Flea Valley, Dogwood and Camp
creeks. and four other small streams, and striking
the main stream OF the North Fork, at point two
miles above Camp Greek, and 26 miles from Orc
vile. From this point, the line of road follows the
meanderings of the river, at a height above il of
from 50 to 100 feet, and crossing il at Long Bar.
distant from OroYille AZ miles; thence following
the right bank TO Junction Bar. Here the line
leaves the North Fork, and follows the course of
the East Branch, past the towns of Smith ; Bar and
Rich Bar, to the junction OF Indian and Spanish
Greeks; thence up Spanish Creek. following on or
near the line of the Indian Valley and Quincy
hot Df On in fbaas foil
ing the present travelled road to Mohawk Valley
via Spring Garden Ranch. to Meizenoei ners; then
crossing the low ridge which divides the waters
o. the North Fork from the waters of the Middle
Fork Of Feather River, crossing Long Valley and
striking the main stream of the Middle Fork at the
foot of Mohawk Valley; thence following the high
ground on the north side of Muha wk Valley, to the
mouth OF Grizzly Greek; thence in direct line
across Sierra Valley u Beckwourths Pass.
The distance from Orovie to the principal points
along the line of road are as follows:-1o Oregon
Civ, 81 miles. Cherokee Flat. 10 miles: West
Branch Of the North Fork, llt miles; opposite 10
Yankee Hill, Is miles; Big Bar and File, Valley
Creek % miles: Camp Greek, 81 miles: point 10
where the line of road strikes the North Fork. 26
mile: Shores ar, 80 miles; Rock Creek. } Il miles;
crossing at Loug Bar. - miles: junction "f East
Branch with the North Fork, II miles Smiths Bar
45t miles; Rich Bar, 463 miles; Twelve Mile Bar,
SCI miles: opposite Soda Bar. 5>3 miles: junction
of indian and Spanish creeks, 594 miles; Butterfly
valley g. miles; Quincy, IS miles; Spring Garden
Ranch. - miles: Reizenlleimers Ran h 79l miles:
divide between North aad Middle Forks, 81 miles;
Johnsou's (Long Valley 81 miles. HurleyS. mo
hawk Valley) s94 miles; Old Beckwonrth House.
l0os miles: Summit oi the Sierra Nevada. at Beck
wourth's Pass, lis miles
The country OF the North Fork of Feather River
has been supposed by many to be totally impracti-
cable FOR a road. bat on the whole line jus, located
found no very formidable distractions To building
a frs. class wagonroad: and | an OF opinion that
4 farther examination and more detailed surveys
would prove the fact that the country of the North
Fork and Beckwourth's Pass presents a route for
railroad across the Sierra Nevadas, which will
pare favorably with any other IN Northern or Cen
tral California, ani | may venture the assertion
that there line north OF Tulare county. that
shows 50 many advantages in favor OF railroad
location, and which would present 50 little 10 OBJ
struct travel 10 any season OF the year
The country from 0roville 10 the head of DARK
Canon is low. billy section. ana the road line Is
through a portion well adapted for road building.
the grading being very light. and the ground of
such nature will admit Of good solid work being
done. From the summit Of the ridge of the Big
Bend, 10 Bsriees Ravi1e, distance Of four miles,
the hill is but little broken by rock streams, and
from Bariees Rasine to Camp Creek. the hill close
10 the river Is very rocky, and there Is also ledge
of rock al height above the river OF from so TO
100 feet: the bench between these two shelves Of
rock presents natural course fer road, and apoa
this bench the line is located. From Camp Greek
to Long Bar the country is more broken by eanons
and ledeeS OF rock. bll the general formation Is
similar to that just described. From Long Bar TO
Rich Bar, the stream is very crooked aud the road
line is carried we'll up on the hill. The river from
Rich Bar 10 Twelve Nile Bar Is through a rocky
canon, which is. without doubt the greatest ohsta-
ces which will be met with on the whcie line; but
the stream is very straight and the rock Is OF such
that when the road is built il viii be strong