The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1871-06-17

Wlfnin lew days we have visited the
wonderful Yosemite, FOR the purpose Of as
certaining personally, the time required by
the Harding route to reach the Valley, the
condition of the road, the facilities for travel
with the accommodations of the road and
Valley. Although situated so near, and a
large amount Of travel passing daily through
Sonora, we were not able to get correctidea
from those who had returned from the scenes
Of solemnity and grandeur, of the practical
means of getting there and back again. Our
friends in Mariposa have constantly kept be-
fore the public through their press, as they
claim, the immense advantages that their
route possesses over the Chinese Harding
route. We have no intention or disposition
to detract anything from the advantages they
have had for q series of years, we have not
passed over their road therefore do not feel
authorized to speak for or againstit, except to
say that parties going to or from the Valley
by that route must ride twenty-five miles on
horseback and from what can be learned,
there is no probability of this kind of travel
being shortened on that route in the immedi-
ate future.
Upon the arrival CT the stages which left
the Big Tree Grove in the morning, with
tourists bound for Yosemite, on Saturday at
l o'clock P. NJ. in company with them. we
left Sonora, in one of Shoup's coaches for Chi
nese Camp, there we changed to stage
wagon leaving at o'clock P. NJ. and reach
ing Garrote at o'clock where we had sup
per and good nights rest at the Washington
Hotel kept by B. L. Savory. AT this house
is the Sonora and Yosemite telegraph Office
through which communication can be had
with all portions of the country. The line is
being rapidly constructed to the valley and
will be in operation its entire length prior to
the first day of July next. On Sunday morn
at four o'clock, we left Garrote and arrived at
Colfax Springs, fourteen miles distant, at Z
o'clock. This is the. breakfast station, the
house being kept by Mr.. and Mrs. G. II.
Elwell, for many years residents of Garrote.
After breakfast we started again reaching
Hodgdon's about half past eleven O'Clock and
thirteen miles from Colfax Springs. After a
short stop we were again on our way to Crane
Flat five miles distant which we reached at
2 O'Clock P. M. at this point stage riding
stops and we must take to horse. Here we
took dinner, the house being kept by L. D.
Goblin an old resident of the lower part ofthis
county. Mrs. Goblin takes great pains to ac-
commodate travellers and furnishes q right
good dinner. From this point to the top of
the Valley hill, the road is very nearly all
graded, SOON as the bridge is completed, fall
len trees, stumps and rocks are removed from
the road bed, stages will run nine miles be-
yond Crane Flat and within seven miles of
Hutchings' Hotel in the Valley. A little
past three o'clock we mounted horse of
llutchings' train, being unaccustomed to rid
ing had not very pleasing antcipations of the
condition of our body when we should arrive
at our destination. Five miles brought us to
Tamerac Flat, the point to which agents in
San Francisco, are very unwisely represent
ing that stages run. This route is good
enough for a mountain road, to be represented
as it really is, for miles it runs through as
beautiful forest as any country possesses,
with now and then, monster tree of the same
species of those at the Calaveras Grove, rear
ing its majestic proportions high above the
modest pines of q few hundred feet. Some
of our party measured two of these trees near
the road they were respectively 10 and 229
feet il diameter perfect in form, without
blemish, beautiful monuments to natures
handiwork. Four miles from Tamerac brought
us to the top of the mountain where we looked
with astonishmentin to the Valley. Twomiles
more and we were at the bottom ofthe hill and
tel, arriving there at halfpast six O'Clock.
Twenty-nine and half hours from Sonora
and twenty-seven and half from Chinese
Camp. We travelled by the public route,
which can be relied upon every day, by those
desiring to visit the valley.
This route is entirely new, the parties that
opened it and that have established houses
along the road, have done everything so far
without having a dollar of capital. They
have worked hard, doing the best in their
power to improve they are making rapid
strides and are entitled to great credit for
what they have already done. In q short
time the great obstacle to many persons visit
ing the valley, will be reduced to seven miles,
requiring eighteen miles less horseback trav-
cling than by the Mariposa route. Shoup's
line of stages has been increased to what it is
during the season ana every week is being
added to. We found all parties connected
with it gentlemanly and accommodating.
Considering that everything connected with
the line and road is in its infancy it is en-
titled to favorable consideration. Parties
leaving San Francisco at 4 o'clock in the
evening. can be landed at Hutchings' Hotel.
in from twenty-four to twenty-six hours, with
much less fatigue than we anticipated, until
making personal trial. We shall have
more to say about this road and of the Val
ley.