Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-06-28
ADAY's RIDE IN THE SIERRA.

! and mountain scenery, by request makes @
| few notes of his trip yesterday: By the 8
o'clock morning train we went to the wood
dump near Mill Station, where we met a
riding companion with strong, fast-walking,
saddled horses. Going nearly west, past
Musgrove's old mill, we turned to the leftand
| followed good road up the canyon. This
road affords a fine view of Washoe Valley and
Lake. A distance of four miles brings one
! to Marlettes lumber mill in Little Valley.
| The road to the Tunnel of the Virginia and
Gold Hill Water Company crosses Franktown
Greek about an eighth of a mile below the
mill Following the road mile and quar-
! ter further brings one to the Washoe end of
the Tunnel, at which there are a few build
| ings and telegraph station. 1t is a slightly
place, high up On the side of the mountain,
overlooking the Lake and Valley, and in the
pine forest. To the east and south the
mountains have been nearly denuded of tim
Der. Our companion, in 1859, ''blazed" the
first tree in the Valley The forest was then
dense and so shady as almost to exclude the
direct rays of the sun. The Water Company
now supply their f1ume and pipes from Frank
town creek. Good, pure, spring and snow
water it is. The only need is of more
abundant supply. To effect this by obtaining
water from Marlette Lake on the Tahoe slope,
The Tunnel has been constructed. 1t passes
directly west under and through the noun
tain, we should say twelve hundred or more
feet below its summit, and a distance of
about mile through. This tunnel is seven
feet across on the bottom, FIVE feet on the top
and six and one-half feet high. A consider
able portion of the way it is strongly tim
bered. The solid granite through which it
passes for a considerable distance seems not
to require this precaution In its construc-
ton a railroad track about eighteen inches
wide was laid, upon which cars are drawn by
mules A considerable stream of water is
obtained from the tunnel, which flows along
its grade of two and one-half inches to the |
rod. The constant falling of water from the |
top is showery. lantern is suspended from
the neck of the car mule, and five persons |
can ride in one of the cars. For the !
novelty of the trip many parties |
have passed through the tunnel in this way.
OF course they dress in rubber coats, hats |
and boots provided at the station, and have |
a covering to the car. AS we stated before, |
the distance is about one mile. Our reporter
walked through, alone, wading in the water,
holding his hand over lighted candle, una
bic to prevent its occasional extingushment,
which necessitated its being relighted with
damp matches in a shower, and the distance
seemed much greater. In the construction
of the tunnel some holes were found in the
rock through which quicksand would flow
and forced along by the water would fill the
space sometimes for forty feet and exhaust
itself. A passing car caused the pedestrian
to Icing tight to the rock " Emerging
from the Tahoe end of the long bore We
:ound the forest there almost undisturbed in
is native wildness and beauty. Tahoe Lake
S seen thence through the pine tree tops,
wo and half or three miles distant There
5 boarding and lodging house for the
yorkmen here, and we saw about thirty men
It work on the tunnel and fume. The din
Ter hour was welcome, the hospitality cor ,
lial and generous. The 1ume from Marlette
AXE winds around the mountain five miles
descending one hundred feet to the vicinity
( the tunnal. Then there is precipitate a
escent to the tank Of about as much more
ALL From Mill Station to the tunnel and
yer the summit to the west end there is
air wagon road, sandy, rough and steep, but
afe. The view in crossing the summit is
ne of mountain, forest and lake. The tun =
ell and hume are nearly completed. By the
rst OF next month, if not by Saturday next,
is thought the water will be turned therein.
is probable a lumber fume will be con- (
,ructed through the tunnel. The valuable
mber it would render OF easy access to the 4
lines will insure this. 1t is well known the
'ater Company carry their supply across the
wide between Washos and Eagle valleys in
70 lines OF iron pipe ten and twelve inches
diameter-inverteds yphons-a distance of
We or more miles, with a fall of sixteen hun
red or more feet. The whole distance
hich water is carried in fume, tunnel and
pes from the lake to Virginia City is about
irty miles. The elevation of Marlette q.
AXE above Virginia City, we are informed,
about fifteen hundred feet. From the
mmit road-crossing we passed twin lakes,