The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-03
LAKE TAHOE.
BY DIR. GEO. NJ. BOURNE

This great lake lies on the parallel Of
120 degrees long. W. and 80 degrees lat.
NJ; about three-fourths lying within the
State of California, forming the eastern
and southern boundary of Placer county,
and the eastern and northern boundary
of FL Dorado county, and the eastern
boundary of the State for a distance of
about fifteen miles; the remaining one
fourth lying within the limits of the State
of Nevada. 1t is in the heart of the Sier-
ra Nevada By the Central Pacific Rail-
road it is about twelve hours eastward
from San Francisco to Truckee, thenceS.
f.. by stage two hours, remaining over
night at Truckee; but il, during "the sea-
son" the stopping point be the Summit
Hotel" the stage travel is increased
though the visitor has the greater gratifi-
cation in passing amid a most interesting
portion of the mountains in a manner
which affords mnch more pleasure than
by rail over the same section.
The altitude of the lake is 6,2l6 feet
above the sea level. It's depth is ratedat
/ ,525 feet, but it is claimed that later
soundings have given over 1000 feet In
form it may be classed as an irregular,
nearly right-angled parallelogram; the
general direction being N. and 5. In
length it is about twenty-five miles; in
breadth from eight to twelve miles, and
with its various bays covers an area
of about three hundred square miles.
1t is the largest and deepest known lake
at so great an altitude, and is fed by the
winters SHOWS and springs and streams
from the adjacent mountains which sur
round it, rising in many parts to two
thousand feet and upward above the lake.
Some of the tributaries are of large size,
pouring into the lake q constant volume
of bright, pure and sparkling water so
nearly equivalent to the absorption,
drainage and Evaporation that, as nearly
as | can estimate it, the extreme rise and
fall of the lake does not exceed from three
to four feet
In its peculiar characteristics Lake Ia
hoe has no equal.
It nearly maintains its equilibrium,
never freezing except in some sheltered
and shallow Spots and is always cold
enough, in depth of a few feet, for pala-
table and healthy drinking at any
time of the day in summer; while the
numerous rivulets which empty into it
have almost an icy coldness in the warm
est weather.
There are no swamps or marshes in the
region of the lake to create malaria; it is
one of hills, mountains, pine and fir tim
Der, rocks, gravel, sand, and occasional
spots of productive soil, yielding in root
crops and cereals abundant returns; and
natural meadows furnish nutritious grIs-
ses for horses and cattle.
The name-Tahoe. Fremont first saw
this lake in 1874, probably first among
the white men. He is silent as to the In
dian name. He named it Mountain Lake.
In region abounding with lakes the ap-
pelation was too general and therefore it
did not adhere. Some one succeeded in
getting at the Indian name, and In his eff
fort to communicate the pronunciation
succeeded in spelling 1t as 1t Is now writ
ten. Trying "how-not-to-do-ip he was
decided success, And now we have peo-
pie running around everywhere squeak
ing out Lake Tayhoe. If we must affect
to admire the aboriginal let us consistent
ly follow him and pronounce the word or
words, for the.name is a compound, as
he dOes--Tah-O-and 80 write it. HwOuld
be superhuous; the + is abominably 80.
The genius who caught the name proba-
bly, thought he had something hidden and
mystical in it, a Ia Lonqfeiiow, etc, and
that it must be retained for poor Los
sake. There are many euphQniOus and
musical Indian names, but Tayhoe or.
Tah-hoh are not Of that order. While
that pet Of the old line DenngTats, John
Bigler, was Governor Of California, his
tooE'fefSent friends in the Legislature
passed an Act changingthe nameto Lake
Bigler. HisOppOnentss Onafter coming
into power, abhoring what they deemed
a deseeration, repealed that Act and re-
stored the name Tahoe.