The Delta independent., 1915-07-02

rounded and side bitches furnished,
the drainage will be excellent.
Very little timber is encountered in
crossing the summit, which is here
only a little more than 5000 feet ele-
vation.
Wherever such occurs the light of
way should be cleared at least 100
feet wide in order to admit all the
sunlight possible for l apprehend that
here the SHOWS of winter attain their
greatest depth, and remain for the
longest period in the spring, espec-
tally on the northarly slope.
l am told that the snow settles here
to depth of four to six feet. This
means that extra care will have to
be given in the construction and drain
age of at least a mile section along
here, and some mud must be expected
in the spring.
However as the traffic under fairly
prosperous conditions must be quite
heavy, it may be fairly supposed that
the accumulation of snow in the track
will not be great, and that the road
bed should dry out long before the
snow on either side shall disappear.
From this summit at present broad
but rather difficult trail leads south
erly down sharp ridge on the east
side of a small creek, to the valley of
the Tabegauche, thence southeasterly
through the basin to connect with
wagon road which reaches the upper
cow-camps from Nucla.
A horseback trip over this trail pre-
sents to the observer a very doubtful
road proposition from almost any view
point; and it was only after spending
more than three days in reconnais-
sance that / was able to find what
seems to be the best possible selec-
tion; which, after all, proved to be
dry and entirely practicable route
with easy grades which attain the
lowest possible crossing of Tabe-
gauche creek at the point where it
dips into canyon; and reduce the
distance to a minimum.
The main exposure is to the south,
and about half a mile of six per cent
grade will be required to avoid rock
side-cut of perhaps 200 feet; other
wise four and one half per cent only
would be required.
For the balance of the distance
along the south hillside to the bottom
of the main slopes l used five per
cent; thence to the grades are inter
mittent, and route winds about the
southerly slopes of lower oak grown
benches to the creek.
A few small streams are encount-
cred through this section.
| From the Tabegauche, southwest
erly to connect with present wagon
hill. the rise will be about four per
cent along dry and an almost open
country, thus avoiding the muddy con-
ditions seen along the present road
under the ditch.
The grade out of Tabegauche basin
on the south is a thing OF felicity
two to four per cent and no trouble
to make.
| estimate this distance from IN
compahgre summit on north to sum
NIT on south side OF basin to be about
seven miles, or forty miles from Delta
This section through the basin, or
from summit to summit, should be
or FULLY constructed over a proper
8 .ent laid out by instrumental sur
vey; and no cut-offs or deyiations by
contractors be permitted.
Accompanied by Mr.. Kenshol ex-
amined a route down along the west
erly side of Bucktail gulch, a distance
of three or three and half miles, to
its intersection with the present Nucla
road near the old sawmill setting at
foot of saw-mill hill.
With the exception of about 300 feet
of seven per cent grade through rim