The national wagon road guide, from St. Joseph and Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River, via South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, to California

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130 NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. not sulphur are not very pleasant to the taste, even 'vhen cooled. No grass here. The road is now level and good to where SANDY ROAD BEGINS.-.. . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . ....... 16 You now pass over a heavy sandy road and ridge to TRUCKEE RIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 8 Water good; grass abundant after crossing the river. Between this and the second ford arc two or three miles of barren country. At this point you are about five miles above Py. ramid Lak~. SECOND FORD. . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • ....... 5 After crossing here you will continue up the river, cross­ing it at intervals of two or three miles, till you have passed the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh fords ; then in about one mile you pass around a steep, rocky spur of a mountain, and on three miles further, to where the road TURNS UP A RAVINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ... 10 Now up the ravine, over a divide, and down to . RIVER AGAIN ..................................... 3 Now along near the river for seven miles, then up a ra­vine, over and do,wn a very steep ridge and bad road to RIVER AGAIN ............................... ~ ..... 12 EIGHTH FORD . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... 2 You will find it bad getting dovvn to this ford. MEADOW CREEIC .........................•...... 3 You have now reached the great Trurkee Meadows, re­markable for their extent and fertility. Thousands of acres are here found, covered 'vith the most luxuriant growth of indigenous grasses and clover, of the finest quality ; and it is here that the emigrant recruits his stock, for days or weeks. There are s~ttlers here, and from this point the emigrant can easily make his way into California, by whichever route may best please him; we therefore J>Qint out the way or guide him no further, NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. 131 but leave him to continue hi~ journey along the meado,vs and valley of the Truckee River, finally to cross the Si­en ·as by the Truckee Pass, direct to Nevada City, in Nevada County, and on to Marysville ; or through a more northerly pass to Downieville, in Sierra County ; or by the Beckworth Pass and route into Plumas Co. The Truckee route from the ~ink of the Humboldt is without doubt the shortest and best route by which to reach Nevada, Placer, Yuba, and Colusi Counties. Or from the Truckee River and 1\feadows you can pass along the eastern base of the Sierras, through the valleys of Washoe and Carson, and cross the mountains by the new wagon road and stage route, from Carson Valley to Placerville, in Ell)orado County. SUMMARY OF DISTANCES. ltOU'rE TO NOR'fHERN CALIFORNIA. Total F Miles. Mile$. rom St. Joseph to Fort l{earny ................. 288 " Fort l(earq.y to South Fork Platte l~i ver ..... 121 409 " South ]"ork of Platte to Fort Laramie ...... 209 618 " Fort Laramie to Upper Platte F erry ......... 137 755 " Platte Ferry to Independence l~ock. . . . . . . . . 49 804 " Independence I~oek to South Pass ........... 100 904 " South Pij,SS to Soda Springs, on Bear River .. 219 1,123 " Soda Springs to Junction of Salt Lake Road, near City Rocks ..............•.......... 143 1,266 " Junction to Itumboldt Ri vcr. . . . ........... 126 1,392