Year: 1860




time that would do so, but when | arrived,
there was so much to attract my attention,
that neglected to write to my most intimate
friends and of course, in that case, YOU could
not expect letter Having since my arri-
val plenty of time, and as there is nothing in
to distract one, l thought would
do now what l ought to have done before.
viz: give an account of things as found
them.


On the morning of the 9th of May we left
Camptonville with much pleasure, not be-
cause we were dissatisfied with that interest.
ing town. but because we were desirous of
reaching as soon as possible famous Washoe
The sky was clear and the wind gentle, yet,
for all that, the warm rays Of the sun did us
but little good, as they we're unable to pene-
trate the dense forest we had entered, imme-
diately on leaving the town. The previous
rains and the melting of the recent snow
made the road very disagreeable for the
snow and mud would stick to the bottom of
our horses feet, often causing them to fall or
70 travel very uncomlortably. The snow in
some places was ten inches deep while in
others only three or four We had no trouble
in keeping the road for the stage had pre-


ceded u.s. One would suppose we were now


free from snow storms but far from it, The


sun oosed the snow on the tops of the tall
mines and then it would rattle down making
more noise than forty boys sliding down the
winding bannisters of six story house This
was anything but pleasant, especially when
the snow would take one on the top of the
head. Once young icicle dropped down
the back of my neck causing sensations to
come over me, like those which come over
the nervous system on hearing the high notes
of Jenny Lind Only, the sensations which
Jenny would cause would start from the bot
tom of ones boots and shoot to the TOP of his
head while those produced by the icicle
would start from the ears and run to the bot
tom of the boots. At one time, when riding
under a huge pine an avalanche from its top
struck me on the head and knocked my hat
over my eyes. don't know what my horse
thought had bounced him, but this do know
that he never made such good time before or
since. You wouldn't have mistaken him for
old Boreas, but you would certainly have
concluded, in seeing and hearing his efforts to
extricate himself from the imagined danger.
thot old Boreas was in him.





We got out Of the snow much sooner than
l anticipated for there was scarcely any on
the eastern side of Goodyear's hill and the
hill opposite. do not know the reason, un-
less the clouds were afraid to go too near the
gabbed Yuba, that runs grumblingly at the
base of this hill. The roads grew better as
we approached Goodyear's Bar and from
there on to Downieville.


1t is really surprising to see the immense
amount of mining that has been done and is
now going on there. The whole bed of the
river has been rooted up in the search for
gold. Let any observngperson travel in the
any length of time, and he must
confess that in them resides the greater part
of the energy and genius of the State The
lengthy aqueducts, the large reservoirs, the
graded roads and the great tunnels are proof
of what say.


We reached Downieville in time TO go
fishing with an old friend had very good
success considering it was my first attempt to
catch trout. caught more than my COM
panion. who being an old hand at the bust
ness was much chagrined at my beating him.
The next morning we went again to fish
but | won't impose on you with another fish
story. After breakfast we left for Jamson.
The trail took up the north fork of the Yuba
Here, as below Downieville, there is mining
on either side Of the river. The stream for
many miles, in fact nearly its whole length
is fenced with large fumes. One in travel
ing from Downieville to the Summit scarcely
loses sight of houses The greater part of the
trail leading from Downieville to the Empire
Hotel. distance of five miles, believe, is
very dangerous The path is so narrow that
it is absolutely impossible for two animals to
pass each other. 1t is far above the bottom
OF the canon, and the hill so steep that if an
animal should slip he must inevitably go to
The bottom, Besides, some of the most diff
cut places are poorly supported by logs
which are rapidly deeoying. The day pre-
Flous German had his horse killed by fall
ing from the trail l saw the honest German
afterwards; he was lamenting the untimely
death of his poor horse / could see no rea-
son for so doing, seeing that he had fallen
heir to nearly all his load. Had you seen
him toiling up the hill with the load on his
shoulders you would have thought his sorrow
was hard to bear


Near the Empire Hotel are some gardens
which supply the miners with vegetables
The soil would not be very apt to strike
Yuba- bottom farmer very favorably nor
would the price of vegetables suit one of our
three bit houses There is more clear money
made off one those little gardens than there
is off twenty-five acres of our richest soil


After we left this would be rural district,
the road was not SO dangerous, but still very
rough. We continued on our journey with
out interruption till the middle of the after
noon when we stopped at the foot of the
Summit, finding it was not safe for packed
animals to go over the snow while it was
warm. Every one who has Travelled knows
the value of an open hearted landlord; one
who will make you comfortable without
making you aware or letting you know that
he is after your money. We were happy in
finding Mr.. Adams. the proprietor of the