Naturally it is not as easy to negotiate as a San Francisco boulevard, but with the wheel in the hands of a careful chauffeur there is perfect safety and a trip that need give not a moment's fear to the most timorous.
FROM TALLAC TO SACRAMENTO, BY THE PLACERVILLE ROUTE, 108 MILES This is practically the first historic route into California, for, as I have shown in the chapter on Fremont's Explorations, it was the one the Pathfinder practically followed on his memorable trip that led to the discovery of Lake Tahoe.
Hence, when the gold excitement attracted its thousands to California, many of the argonauts took this road, following the Humboldt River and turning south at the Humboldt "Sink," crossing to the Carson "Sink" and then ascending to the headwaters of the Carson River, over into Hope Valley and thence down to Strawberry Valley and on to the mines.
This was the origin of the road, and it was in steady and continuous use until the startling news of the discovery of the Comstock Lode in Virginia City aroused the mining world.

From every camp in California rude and stalwart men eagerly set forth to reach the new Camp.

It was a genuine stampede.

The chief question was: "Will the new Camp make good ?" It answered this question by transcending the expectations of the most sanguine.

Silver and gold were taken out in fabulous quantities.