Year: 1859

data, and estimating the price of passage
on the branch OF S1,5O per passenger
and freight at ore-eigbth of one per CEN
per pound, the total receipts of the
Branch would not fall short of s40O, 900
per year. This estimate to those who
are unacquainted with the resources of
this section of the mining region may
appear large. But when we reflect on
the large amount of money now paid for
freight on wagons, it will be seen the
estimate is reasonable, If we estimate
the amount of freight now coming into
Placer county, at 10000 tons per year,
and that it costs. on an average, twenty
dollars per ton, we find that $500 900
per year is now paid to teamsters in this
county alone: When we consider that
nothing is raised in the mines, and large
amounts of heavy articles for working
claims, mills, &c, are constantly passing
up from the cities, we see the reasonable.
ness of the estimate This road when
constructed could tap the richest mining
region in California and that it would be
one Of the most profitable in the United
States, considering its length and cost
we have no doubt.


The pernanence and continued pros
perity of the mines are now established
facts and that their population will con-
tinue to augment as it has hitherto in
creased is also reasonable to infer-This
Branch when completed to Auburn will
be on tue direct route TO Nevada, by
way of Portcr's bridge across Bear River
and may be extended on to or near to
Grass Valley on a route equally feasible
with that between Auburn and Folsom
There is no other route between Auburn
and Folsom. There is no other route
by which Nevada can be reached. A
road which would strike directly into
the foot hills from the Sacramento Val
ley would have too steep grade to rise
to the elevation required to reach that
city. The proposed route avoids this
by following the American river to Fol-
som, and then winding along the foot hills
northward.


Besides this, road has been construc-
ted from Georgetown intersecting the
Placerville road to Carson Valley, and
which IS said to be of better grade
than the one leading to Placerville. -
Georgetown is only fourteen miles from
Auburn. Now, if Railroad were con-
structed to Auburn, the passenger travel
and freight to Utah Territory would
most likely pass over the road, as it
would save a wagon carriage of about
forty miles. The population of Carson
Valley, is rapidly increasing and a trade
is also springing up between Salt Lake
and the Pacific coast.


In addition to the above. it is well
known that the upper portion of El Do
RADIO, Placer. Nevada and Sierra coun-
ties, are covered with a dense growth of
pine and that large number of mills
have already been constructed for its
manufacture.


This lumber has never, to any great
extent reached the Sacramento and
San Francisco market owing TO the cos;
of "a riage. Were the road built, millions
of feet of lumber would yearly be trans
ported below, the country through which
it passes is also covered with oak timber
aud would furnish a supply of fuel for
the Sacramento market. With the
above data to so upon. your committee
are Of opinion that the construction of
this road would be profitable invest
mcnt to the stockholders, and would
increase the value of property in the
counties above named by developing
their resources and increasing their pop
ulation.


Your committee believe that there is
capital sufficient in Placer, Nevada, and
the northern part of Ell Dorado to carry
the work through, if public attention can
be awakened to the subject. Nevada
and Grass Valley are partcul arly inter-
ested as it woild be the beginning of
road on the only practicable route for
reaching those places Your committee
recommend the appointment of COM
mittee to solicit subscriptions and that
immediate steps be taken to effect an
organization and commence the work.


VIM. T. HENSON,
JAS. E. HALE,
S. W. LOWELL,