Year: 1859

which 1t springs, form the head waters of
the South Yuba. The Lake Company's
fume can be seen for miles, winding around
the rocky cliff which divides the tive branch
es. Two miles above where the trail leaves
the creek are the far famed Eureka Lakes
that are to contribute SO largely to the sup
ply of water on this ridge. The manner in
which the Company dam these lakes and
draw from them into their ditch has been
frequently described before. The effect of
the late breakage in their large dam is yet
visiblein the creek The fiat from bank to bank
cannot be less than half mile wide, vet the
rushing flood attained here hight of seven
feet, lodging drift timber in the branches OF
the trees, and heaping up huge piles of 1t
when encountering anything strong enough
to resist the torrent The entire dam did
not give way, else its effects along the river
would have been far more disastrous.


Scenery near the Summit.


This is the spring time of year in these
high regions (middle of August. The wild
flowers that wthered in the lower part of
the county months ago, are here in full
bloom, making the air sweet with their per-
fume The grasses that are dried and
parched below, from the excessive drought
and scorching heat of summer, are here
green and luxuriant All nature, save the
snow-capped hills and rocky cliffs, present
the delightful appearance of the May month
in the lowlands. As we approach the Mid
die Yuba the face of the country changes.
Over the surface are scattered huge granite
boldcrs, with a thick growth of spruce and
one is reminded of the granite bills of New
Hampshire. Here and there, springing from
the mountain sides, are little brooks, whose
waters are as clear and transparent as crys-
tai and cold as the SHOWS near by which
gave them birth. At the crossing of the
river is located Jackson's Ranch, large
moist fiat covered with a luxuriant growth
of grass. We then proceeded up the mid
die fork six or eight miles, through granite
hills and spruce timber, until the summit
is reached, the ascent to which is so gradual
that it is hardly perceptiblc.


The Summit Meadows.


Near the summit in Utah are large mea-
dows covered with heavy growth of grass,
and these continue at intervals all the way
down the Truckee river to the Truckee mea-
dows, a distance of 40 miles, where cur
trail leaves the river. The flats near the
summit are occupied BY Dir. Webber, large
dealer in stock, who owns a ranch in the
Sacramento valley, and when the grass be-
low fails, that portion of the stock designed
for market is driven up here, where it is
kept until the middle of October, when it
is taken below to avoid the snow of winter,
which falls to the depth of from IL to Ia #.
In this manner cattle are kept in good
condition the year round, and all the upper
mining country is supplied with good fat
beef, during portion Of the year, from
these mountain meadows. Large quantities
of hay are cut here, and sent to the upper
mining towns, where it is sold at greater
profit than that brought from the valleys.
The few persons who reside here also carry
on a trade with the emigrants from the East
ern States, whose teams begin to fail, after
crossing the desert, when the owners are
willing to take almost any offer made them
for their failing stock. They are purchased
for small sum and turned out with the
herd, and by the time they are driven be-
low are in healthy condition.


The hills surrounding these fats are coy-
cred by the yellow pine, which attains a
growth offrom two to four feet in diameter, and
exists in sufficient quantity to supply the de-
mand ofthe ecountry forages. After passing the
first crossing of the main Truckee, the tim
Der gives entirely. out, and the whole sur
face of the country is covered with low
sage bush, almost the only green thing
seen from the summit of the highest noun
tain far out in the plains. 1t is here we
have the first evidence, in the appearance
of the country, Of the existence of gold
since leaving Eureka. Along the river for
mile or more in width was high washed
bar, into which occasionally high points ex-
tend, formed of washed gravel and sand.
The surface presents loose or soft appear
ance, and the foot at every stride sinks to
the depth of the instep. Detached pieces of
quartz are occasionally seen, but no defined
lodges are as yet met with.


Truckee Meadows proper is a strip of fer
tile land, running to the south, eight or ten
miles long and about two miles broad,
through which run several small streams of
clear water. There are FIVE or six houses
in the valley, one of which is of stone and
was built by the Mormons several years ago.
About three thousand head of American