Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-21
A CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE
SIERRa.
The Last Of the Forest.

yesterday. As all old Carsonites know,
there has remained q crown piece or
scalp lock Of timber on the summit Of
the mountains to the westward of our
city. Some years since the sides Of the
hills were denuded and made barren.
That patch Of pines belonged, until
within a few months. to Mr.. George
Tuhy. At length he yielded to persua-
-ions and sold it to the energetic firm Of
Yerington 4 Company. This associa-
ton Of wood-dealers having need OF
quick and effective work in reducing
this standing timber to cord wood. and
in having the same brought to the line
Of the v. / T. Railway, contracted with
Mr.. John MeTarnahsn, the chief OF the
soodmeu in these parts. to undertake
tho laying Of it at the side Of tho track.
It was to see what Mr.. AcTsrnshAn WAS
doing toward the fuldllment Of his
rather sad task Of finishing the demoli-
ton Of the noble forests which have
gone down before tho necessities OF the
Comstoek Lode that We made our visit.
We don't know how far it is up to Mr.
NcTasnahan's camp. but it is . long.
hard climb; and once there the view is
grand and commanding. The point Of
sight embraces Washoe Lake. Carson,
Empire, Carson Valley and tho far
stretch Of solemn mountain scenery to
the north and east. It is = magnificent
panorama.
The road which takes one to the sum-
,ait. running through the grades and
terraces where once dark and moaning
forest stood, presents saddening sight
Of stumps in all directions and the
ground strevn with fallen pines and drs
and cedsrs, destroyed in mere wanton-
ness and left to rot into cumbersome and
ugly worthlessness. As you ascend the
mountain side which brings you in sight
Of the rushing waters Of the fume where
McTarnahan is a. work. you see great
procession of trees uprooted by some
storm which ragged in fury through the
forest in days long gone. Also here and
below are the fresher marks of the cloud
burst of last year.
We hitched our tired horses to q
voodsman's corral and went prospecting
for McTarnahan's camp. We got there
in time for O borpfao,,. v,or,ta;r, 1;n,a~
served BY the deft and hospi.able hand
of Mrs. McTarnahan. The meal over,
We went to look at the sights.
Last May. MIR. McTarnahan made
camp hsrs and prepared to execute his
contract. The so-called Tuay tract en-
braces $50 acres and has yielded 1900
cords of wood. This wood was oil split
and corded. ready for Tuning. con-
part Of the wood lay in posi-
ton from whence it could be run to the
main f1ume through the aume which
runs down Tuhy Canyon. The greater
body, however, lay in such a position
that the construction Of q new f1ume,
two miles in length Was necessary.
This was done. forthwith Also q ditch
was dug. two miles long. to Snow Valley.
This ditch runs ten inches Of water and
'upplies the principal dume now oper-
,ted. Going to the head of this fume,
which dives down mountain side at An
'ngle of 30 degrees. we witnessed the
operation Of throwing in the wood. The
Eood is brought to the hume by means
# wagons and pack animals. The work
ng force consists Of eleven wagon teams,
line mules. two sleds and seventy five
nen. These are worked eleven hours q
lay. Work is begun at half past in
he morning. and closes at half past 5
n the afternoon. We timed the unload
ng of three or four wagons. These each
lad load Of abou: two cords. In two
minutes time. by the watch, the big
ticks were tossed into the flume and
zero on their rapid descent to the dump. ]
his is putting in the wood at the rate
( one cord per minute. OF course this ,