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Show APPENDIX NN. . 1263 Bite of Old Fort Churchill. This was abandoned several years since; the adobe bnildings are still standing in part, but the wood- work has been all removed. The remainder of our party forded the Carson at the camp, and, passing by the west of Mount Raw, a few miles from the river came upon and followed the still excellent road that leads from Dayton to the old mining town of Como. This place, now entirely deserted, is situated at the summit and in the first saddle of the Como range, south of Mount Raw. In 1863 it was a flourishing town, and we were told two daily lines of stages were running between the town and Dayton. The mines proved unremunerative, and it was soon abandoned, the remains of two or three houses now alone remaining. Wood in small quantities is hauled from the vicinity to Virginia City. There are two springs, one on each side of the divide, and about a mile from the summit. Several more springs were fonnd along the eastern slope of Mount Lyon, being about the bead of Churchill Canon, that runs to east from the range, and then turns north into the Carson ; water flows only in the upper part of the canon. Mount Lyon was occupied September 8, and proved a most valuable station. This i s the highest peak in the Como range, and is distinctly visible from Carson City, from which it is about 16 miles distant, and bears nearly due east. Mount Raw is in the same range, 5 miles to the north. Every prominent point afterward occupied was - visible from Lyon. The Toyabe range to the east, 125 miles distant, the limit of our area in that direction, formed the horizon. Irregular low broken, and barren hills and desert flats seemed to extend to the great flat of the Humboldt, and Carson sink and lake; the Carson River, winding eastwardly through these, was marked by a line of cottonwood trees; and to the southeast, some 20 miles distant, appeared the north bend of the Walker River, where, according to report, ( except in Reese River Valley, away to the eastward,) we would find the only agricultural settlements, or country worth the farmer's toil. The rest was pictured as very barren indeed. Just beyond the great flat appeared the Sand Spring range, running north and south. The range is much depressed about the Sand Spring Pass, and this, depression continues to the next range, ( although the two are separated by the Fairview Valley;) there it is the wash flowing westwardly, through Middle and West Gate, into Fairview Valley that cuts the range through and leaves no summit to surmount. The Fairview Peaks rise abruptly on the south side of the wash ; while on the north several parallel ridges of low hills rise steadily higher, and converge to Grant's Peak and the well-marked range to its north. The Desatoya range, still farther east, rises abruptly across this low vista, aud gives the source of the drain through West Gate. Beyond the Desatoya could be seen the tops of the peaks in the Shoshone range, and beyond these the Toyabe, the highest of all, and running north and south with the others. The mountains looked, in the distance, barren enough, the valleys misty, and the whole doubly interesting to us entering it as almost entirely strange; for it was remarkable how little information could be obtained of it in Carson City. It was seen that our primary triangulation must depend almost wholly upon points, without our area, and a scheme was projected by Mr. Spiller which was afterward successfully carried out. From Mount Lyon to Buckland's, to join the party by a direct route, we passed over a plateau of igneous rock to the east of the divide. This is a good range for cattle, and a number were seen about. In the abrupt descent from this plateau to the Carson we found ourselves in a cafion where the intricate mass of bowlders aud the steep sides made the passage almost impracticable; finally, coming upon Churchill Cafion, which, toward its mouth, is a broad open drain, we followed to its junction with the Careon, just opposite old Fort Churchill, and thence about two miles along the south bank of the river, and crossed the bridge at Buckland's. Mr. Cowles came in late the same evening, having encountered a rough ascent over lava rock in occupying a station upon the ridge between the Carson and Walker Rivers. A low peak just north of old Fort Churchill was occupied by Mr. Spiller, and called Churchill Butte. September 11 we left this camp in two parties; the one to proceed by the wagon- road to Wadsworth, to occupy Tu- til Peak, near that place, aud to proceed thence to a rendezvous on the Carson at Ragtown; the other followed the road along the north bank of the river and camped at Gates's ranch. Here Mr. Cowles and myself forded the river and occupied a station in the low range south of it. This is a range of * barren hills in a desert; tbey have caused the river to turn away sharply to the north to find a passage for itself. Late at night we recrossed the river to camp, with the pack- train at the Log Cabin. The river was too deep for the packs to cross; they consequently moved along the north bank of the river, and had traveled about, ten miles. The next day we followed the river- bank and arrived at Ragtown. This is a rather dreary- looking place, containing only a couple of bouses; there is no cultivated ground. It is the first station and the first good water out from Wadsworth, on the freight- road south from that place to Belleville, Ellsworth, and loue. Ragtown was a station on the overland stage- road, which was running until the Pacific Railroad was finished. It is also the southern termiuus of the 40- mile desert of the emigrant-route via the Humboldt River. The desert road extended from Humboldt Lake to |
