[The Carson River Route, Sacramento Transcript, April 19, 1851]

 

The Carson River Route.

            We have given in another series the route, and a brief description of the country from the Sink of the Humboldt, over to Salmon or Truckee River, and from thence, followed through in detail the route to the western slope of the Sierra Nevada.

            After arriving at the Sulphur Springs, we proceeded some three miles to where the road forks—the right one being the Truckee road, and the left the Carson river route.— This was the case in 1849, but it is quite probable that the roads diverge at a different point now. The road between the Sulphur Springs and Carson River partakes of the same character as is found on the other road—being barren and sandy, without a single relieving quality.

            In order that our readers may be apprised of the general appearance of the country, we have obtained some definite information from L. Sawyer, Esq., of San Francisco, who passed over this route in July last.

            Carson river at the point where the immigrant trail first intersects it, is about 20 yards in breadth. Although it pursues a very devious course, it has a strong current and discharges a considerable volume of water.— At this point there was no grass last season, but an abundance was found on the bottom, upon the opposite side, some three or four miles further up. The road follows the river some 6 or 7 miles, then leaves it; passing to the right over deep sand plains and rocky ridges, a distance of eighteen miles without grass, to the river again. At this point there was no grass on the river in the early part of July last. The trail now follows the river a short distance, then passes over a sandy desert, with some rocky places, to the river, also without grass or water. Thence along the river six miles. Grass abundant. — Thence over a rocky, broken, and utterly barren country, sixteen miles to the river again. Thus, from the first intersection of the immigrant trail with Carson river to this point, some seventeen miles, the country, with the exception of a narrow bottom, is a barren, sandy waste, producing nothing but wild sage, and in most places very little of that. The broad desert valley is hemmed in on each side by ranges of high mountains, as bald and barren us the valley itself. The narrow bottom produces grass in some places, and a few cotton-wood trees. The grateful shade of the latter furnish an agreeable resting place to the weary immigrant, who has for many long days been suffering under the scorching rays of a desert sun.— The water of Carson river is comparatively pure and quite palateable to the traveller after having used for some time the water of the Humboldt.

            The trail now enters the valley of the upper Carson. This is a beautiful and fertile valley, from 15 to 30 miles in breadth, and 40 miles long. It is surrounded by lofty mountains, crowned with evergreen timber, such as the pine, fir, &c. In the month of July last the valley was covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, equalling, if not surpassing in quantity and quality, the best varieties of wild grasses on the prairies of the Western States. The valley is bountifully watered by hundreds of small rivulets coming down from the mountains, flowing in rapid, sparkling currents, over clear pebbly bottoms —their water as clear as chrystal, and as pure and cold as the mountain snow from which it is formed. It appears to be admirably adapted to grazing stock, and it will doubtless ere long be occupied by enterprising and intelligent settlers. At no distant day, this quiet and secluded and almost unknown valley will become the home of civilization—the scene of busy bustling life—its broad surface divided into fields of waving grain, and embellished with numerous farms, houses and rural cottages, reposing in the shade of ornamental shrubbery; while mountain and plain will be dotted here and there with lowing herds and bleating flocks. Then will Carson Valley be, indeed, a lovely spot. Even now, the contrast presented to the way-worn traveller from the desert, as he enters the portals of this delightful vale, is striking and agreeable in the extreme.