Year: 1862

other portion OF the party appear to have taken
the north ridge OF the stream, ascertained the
altitude of Peayine and other points. down to
Bidwell Bar-for what purpose We can hardly
eonceive-for no sane man ever yet suggested
that ridge as a railroad route The result is
that this party found al excellent route down
to 4 certain point, and then selected the rough-
est and most impenetrabe portion Of the coun-
~ to finish it out with. We do not mean to
say that this was designedly done, for the par
ties, being entire strangers 10 the country and
witout guides, were as likely TO take a wrong
as right course; out We do mean TO say this,
that what was done n the matter is not even
an approximation TO a thorough reconnaissance,
to say nothing of survey.


We have heretofore endeavored to correct
the misstatements of the Union in regard to
this route-not because we believe it to be the
best route, but, because We believe it to be a
far better route than the Dutch Flat one. for
the reason that its - pass is 1000 feet lower
and, therefore. less liable TO interruption by
snow, and its approach is made by lower
gradients. The route We believe to be the
best is that known as the Honey Lake route
aud We say it on the authority of the late Gen.
Lander, whose skill as an engineer none will
question, and whose thorough familiarity, not
only with this but with the other routes, iusti-
fed him in emphasizing it as 4" the best route
across the Sierras, for the Pacific Railroad,
that existed" Had he lived, his voice would
now be sounding, strong and clear, the right
the great public have, that this route be used
for this all important national work. 1t has
long been known to the emigrant, as the most
facile of the approaches to this State from the
East, and for years past has been regarded as
the most feasible, and, in fact, almost as the
adopted route for the Pacific Railroad, until
the direct route between Sacramento and
Washoe was invented since which time the
Union calls all other routes " local jealousies.
Be that as it may, we pitt our two " local
jlealousies agaiDs the Unions direct route, -
insisting that they have less snow, lower grad
tents and less curves, and, upon careful survey.
will be so determined.


What We ask is simply this: That these
routes be surveyed, and that small portion of
the gift OF the nation be appropriated for that
purpose in order that the public interests may
be suOserved, by locating the Continental
Railroad upon that route least liable to OBJ
struction and without dangerous grades ard
curves that in the expenditure of the bequtst
of the nation il may be kept in view that the
road traverses the continent; and if the route
we indicate be adopted, it will be the direct
route" between San Francisco and New
\ ork, as the map accompanying the report Of
the chief engineer demonstrates. That it will
carry the commerce of two hemispheres That
its benefits are 10 accrue TO the whole nation
That when Congress gave the charter, and
lavished the wealth of the nation upon it, it
was not expected to culminate in the direct
route between Sacramento and Washoe, nor
to be limited in its benefits TO the trade be-
tween Sacramento and Washoe.