[The Immigrant Route, Sacramento Transcript, April 17, 1851]

 

The Immigrant Route.

            Believing that a glance at the different routes to California, commencing at the slough on the Humboldt, would be of interest, we have gathered a few facts from gentlemen who have passed over the road, which together with our own experience, enables us to publish a somewhat satisfactory account. In order that immigrants coming over the present season, may learn something relative to the two main routes we propose to consider, in several numbers, first the Truckee and next the Carson River Route.

            We would premise by saying, that some eighty miles above the slough, a road makes off to the right, which will take the immigrant by the way of Lawson's [Lassen's] Rancho, which is situated about one hundred and forty-five miles above this city on the Sacramento river. From all we can learn concerning this route we would advise all immigrants to avoid it, as much as they would "Meek's cut-off," were they going to Oregon. The route is represented as very much longer than the others, and over a sandy and barren waste. From all we have heard then, we would say avoid what is termed the "Lawson Route."

            The two routes, both the Truckee and the Carson, change each year in several particulars. Where wood, water and grass are to be found one year, they may be scarce the succeeding year.

            The devious ways of the Humboldt River are such as are difficult to describe. In1849, the principal route lay along the northern side, with an occasional crossing to the south side. Late in the season, even, the river was so high that it frequently became necessary to swim stock over to the south side in order that they might obtain good pasturage.

            Deeming it mainly important to give a sketch of the route from the Big Meadow on the Humboldt, to this City, we shall commence at the former point, taking the sketch of this part of the route from that furnished us by Capt. Littleton, who arrived there on the 17th of September last.

            The Big Meadow lies on the east side of the river, where the bottom widens out for several miles with quite a number of sloughs. Some of these are very muddy and the water partakes of a strong alkali nature.—  Stock may be driven a mile or two over the sloughs to grass.

            On the 18th, the party traveled seven miles where they laid by for the purpose of making hay, previous to crossing the desert. — Immigrants had better supply themselves with water from the upper part of the meadow, as the water is more pure. This point, seven miles below the head of the meadow has good grass, but the water is impure.— The meadow referred to stands out like a green spot to the distressed traveller, for a sufficiency of forage cannot be had for several hundred miles up the river, where the stock was compelled to subsist to a great extent on willows. The sloughs extend some ten or twelve miles, very miry, and full of high flags.

            19th Sept. Left at ten o'clock, traveled ten miles to the lower extremity of the grass and sloughs, near the head of the lake, a bad place for encamping, it being miry, and no water or grass.

            20th Sept. Left at 9 o'clock—ten miles brought the party to the lower end of Humboldt Lake, which is from five to seven miles wide, making a large bend near the mountain on the left. The shores here are firm and hard. Here is what is called the last slough. The immigrant crosses and comes down on the east or what is called the south side, if he desires to take the Truckee route. If the Carson, you do not cross the slough. Capt. L.'s party took the Truckee route, the road coming down on the north side meets the other and they cross each other. In taking the Truckee road after the slough is crossed, you go over a small ridge and come down into the bottom, taking a northerly direction, around some small lakes. This party started on the road at 4 o'clock, P. M., kept down or around the lake, taking all right hand roads. Some of those leading to the left take into the Carson route again. Ten miles around this lake you come to where the road leaves the lake. From here the course is nearly west for ten miles when you turn to the south. There is some little grass around the lake after leaving the last slough, but the water is very bad.

            At this point the traveler will find he is commencing the most fatiguing part of the trip. An extended and arid waste lies before him until he reaches the Truckee. The distance over the desert is variously estimated. It is put down at fifteen miles to the Boiling Springs. The water is boiling, and woe to those who have not laid in a full supply of good water at the Big Meadows. By cooling the water, the stock will drink it, though it is by no means good. Thirteen miles from the Springs brings the traveler to a heavy sandy waste extending eight miles, up to the Truckee River. This latter is the heaviest sand on the road. Grass is abundant some two or three miles down the Truckee.