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Show 516 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF or sailed the air in clouds over our heads. Deer and antelope filled the plains, and their boldness was conclusive that the hunter's rifle was to them unknown. Nowhere visible were any traces of the white man's approach, and it is probable that our steps were the first that ever marked the spot. We struck across this beautiful valley to the waters of the Yuba, from thence to the waters of the Truchy, which latter flowed in an easterly direction, telling us we were on the eastern slope of the mountain range. This, I at once saw, would afford the best wagon-road into the American Valley approaching from the eastward, and I imparted my views to three of my companions in whose judgment I placed the most confidence. They thought highly of the discovery, and even proposed to associate with me in opening the road. We also found gold, but not in sufficient quantity to warrant our working it; and, furthermore, the ground was too wet to admit of our prospecting to any advantage. On my return to the American Valley, I made known my discovery to a Mr. Turner, proprietor of the American Ranch, who entered enthusiastically into my views ; it was a thing, he said, he had never dreamed of before. If I could but carry out my plan, and divert travel into that road, he thought I should be a made man for life. Thereupon he drew up a subscription- l~st, setting forth the merits of the project, and showing how the road could be made practicable to Bidwell's Bar, and thence to Marysville, which latter place would derive peculiar advantages fro'm the discovery. He headed the subscription with two hundred dollars. When I reached Bidwell's Bar and unfolded my project, the town was seized with a perfect mania for the .JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 517 openinO' of the route. The subscriptions toward the fund r~quired for its accomplishment amounted t_o five hundred dollars. I then proceeded to Marysville, a place which would unquestionably derive greater benefit from the newly-discovered route than any other place on the way, since this. must be the entre~ot or principal starting-place for ~m1gran~s. I ~ommuniCated with several of the most Influential residents on the subject in hand. They also spoke very encouragingly of my undertaking, and referred me, before a~l others, to the mayor of the city. Accordingly, I waited upon that gentleman (a Mr. Mil~s), ~nd bro~ght the .n:atter under his notice, representing 1t as bmng a legitimate matter for his interference, and offering substantial advantages to the commer?ial prosp~rity of the city. The mayor entered warmly 1nto my views, an~ pronounced it as his opinion that the profits resu~ting from the speculation could not be less than from SIX to ten thousand dollars; and as the benefits accruing to the city -would be incalculable, he would insure my expenses while engaged upon it. I mentioned that I should prefer some guarantee before entering upon my labors, to secure me against loss of what money I might lay out. . "Leave that to me," said the mayor; "I w1ll att:nd to the whole affair. I .feel confident that a subJect of so great importance to our inter~sts will engage the earliest attention." I thereupon left the whole proceeding in his hands, and immediately setting men to work upon the road, we~t out to the Truchy to turn emigration into my newly-discovered route. While thus busily engaged I was seized with erysipelas, and abandoned all hopes of recovery ; I was over one hundred miles away from .. |
