Litchfield enquirer., 1877-08-02


 noon frost will be deposited by midnight. This daily range of temperature of about forty degrees is great strain on the hu- man constitution, and it is only persons in vigorous health who endure 1t with im- punity.
 Leaving the Silver State our route lay through the Carson canon across the east ern summit. The scenery in this canon is very picturesque Steep walls of rock rise on either side to height of five hun dred feet, and are covered here and there with the dark green manZanita and clus- ters of evergreen trees. In some places the rocks have been much denuded. and isolated crags and pinnacles stand out like sentinels guarding the roadway, which winds along the roaring torrent at the bottom of the ravine. Upon reaching Hope Valley, camp was pitched on Stevens Ranch. .s.ssss s--s.asa.es The next day side party started out to ascend Freel's Peak, which is one of our main triangulation stations. A short distance south of this mountain is an ele- vated grass patch wedged in between two spurs, which was formerly the resort of band of horse thieves. sentinel on the mountain top would watch for emigrant trains, and during the night the outlaws would descend to the valley, steal the hotses and lead them to their fastness ln the rugged hills. If pursued the marau- ders could easily escape by the north slope, leaving their plunder behind them. In the early days the penalty for such off ences was hanging, and many horse thief has met his fate on the bough of neigh ing tree.
 The gigantic corporation known as the Bank of California is gradually gaining possession of large part of the Sierra Nevada range by buying out for mere song tramps, discharged soldiers and ''hoodlums," who pre-empt six hundred and forty acres of the public lands, under the pretext of being bona tide settlers. If there were faithful and efficient district attorneys in California and Nevada this little game would soon be stopped.
 There is silver mine at the head of Hoge Valley. It was discovered in 1850 by some Mexicans. Ten years later MT. Edward Barnes bought the property. Hoisting works have been built, and a shaft one hundred and sixty feet deep has been sunk, but Mt present no work is done. During our stay in this valley we obtained plenty of milk and butter, those inestimable luxuries to the explorer. The ranchman, supposing that the gov ernment paid for these articles of diet, charged us the high price of fifty cents 8 gallon for milk, but upon being told that this article was an extra, and paid for out of our own pockets, he replied tbat we could have all we wanted at half that price. had similar experience in hav- ing @ camp lantern repaired at Carson. When asked whether the government paid for it, answered, No, but that did ''Then," said the tinsmith, II won't charge you anything" The western peo- pie seem to act on Colonel Sellers's prin- ciple, "What's the government for, if it isn't for us?"
 Travelling west from Hope Valley we followed the Amador road post the beau- tiful lakelet at the foot of Red Mountain, SO named on account of the color of the trachytic rock, and camped at Twin Lakes. These waters are we'll stocked with trout, which are caught extensively by Indians, who spear the fish at night. We biyouacked near an encampment of Washoe Indians, and had an unexpected visit after dark. The next morning the cook discovered that a noble child of the ham. The following morning our pack CTS inspected the Indian lodges in hopes of finding the stolen property. The sava- Res were very unwilling to have their things oeerhauled, and said constantly, 'No heap steal" While most of us admit that it is wise policy for the govern ment to feed the red men, we all object to having him ted in this way.
 Some of the party ascended Silver Era Peak from Twin Lakes. The trail at first traverses a dense forest, interspersed with many bowlders of granite. and then leads over 6 lofty plateau on which the snow had not yet entirely melted. We rode oul mules to within quarter of a mile oi the top, but it was not without some dii fcult rock-climbing that the summit was. gained. Each man had an instrument te . carry-either a transit, or theodolite, ol barometer-and it was no trifing matter to wend our way over jagged masses oi rock with such encumbrances. In one place we scaled wall of rock with pro jecting points about three inches square for our hands and feet. The main differ. ence between the Swiss mountains and those of the Sierra Nevada is that if you down from two thousand to three thou sand feet, while if you slip in scaling the latter you will slide only few hundred. The view from the summit of Silver Era Peak is one of the grandest in the West In my travels over the Continent of Flu ropa and in this country have never seer a more varied landscape. The view com. pines snow-clad peaks, fertile valleys, ser rated ridges, densely wooded foothills and azure blue Alpine lakes, Monte Dia blo, near San Francisco, ,Iiis easily seen The Coast Survey has built stone circu lar wall on the top of Silver Era Peak It IS covered over with canvas, which af lords good shelter to the observers, who occupy these lofty mountain stations fol week at time Food and fire wood are carried up on mems backs. As rule the explorer in the West rides his mule a, near the top of a mountain as possible but in our party there are two young ath letas. memberssof rival New York rowing clubs, who vie with each other to SCI which can make the best time in walking up the Californian Alps.
 California piety: ''Oh my dear" sh, sighed. s'wasn't it beautiful sermon However people can be worldly after be ing absorbed by that rushing cataract O grace don't know" This was uttered by an estimable lady to a friend as sh, was passing out of fashionable sanctua " and squeezing the thin end of hlipu tear on to delicate lace handkerchief
 So spiritual and heavenly" she continu. ed. as they walked away; "It was reall, melting. And oh. my dear" she added ''I hear positively that they've struck i at last in Mexican, real rich ore: and i you can buy 1t tomorrow for twelve get , hundred. Its bound to go up. Goodbye God bless you. darling.
 As General Tcheromthlemolsemiheadof l0nNy ySSafp &f&rs kk& | s. /