Thomas Houseworth & Co., San Francisco.

Thomas Houseworth & Co., Photographers, 9 Montgomery Street, under Lick House, San Francisco, Cal.

"VIEWS along and adjacent to the Central Pacific Railroad.

Along the line of that portion of this work leading over the Sierra Nevada mountains are numerous localities presenting what may justly be pronounced prodigies of engineering skill and manual labor. For miles, as we approach the summit of this range, we encounter a continued succession of immense tunnels bored through the solid granite; deep excavations cutting across the points of projecting ridges; high embankments and lofty viaducts, the latter constructed of massive timbers, thrown over the ravines that at short intervals deeply furrow the sides of the mountains. If the exhibitions of nature are majestic in these Alpine regions, the works of man are at least herculean. The more prominent spots along, and the scenery in the vicinity of this road, some of the former invested with tragic interest, have been amply, and it is needless to say, truthfully illustrated by our artist, who has not failed to select his points with taste and judgement. Here are exhibited miles of continuous cascades along the streams that flow from the Sierra, while hid away in its recesses are clusters of beautiful lakes no wise inferior to those of Savory and Switzerland, the transparency of whose waters is attested by the faithfulness with which they reflect surrounding objects as shown in the pictures of them taken by our artist. Here situated on the eastern slope of the Sierra, is shown the site of "Starvation Camp," the spot where the Donner party perished from hunger in the [winter of 1846], having been overtaken by a terrific snow storm while on their way overland to California. The depth to which the snow fell at that time is shown by the stumps of the trees cut by these unfortunate people, which still stand some sixteen or eighteen feet high. Of the eighty persons composing the party, 37 perished from famine, the survivors preserving their lives by feeding on the flesh of their deceased companions. In this group is also shown the method of traveling on Norwegian snow-shoes, the avalanches or snow-slides that descend with fearful velocity from the mountains, and some of which nearly every winter proved destructive to human life, the snow-sheds, built of massive timbers to protect the deep cuts and other exposed points along the Central Pacific Railroad from being filled up with snow, the snow-plow, constructed of heavy iron plates, to clear the track of snow during the winter, together with many other sights and objects peculiar to this great work and the mountainous regions through which it runs.

Thomas Houseworth & Co. 317 and 319 Montgomery Street, S. F.

97. Rattlesnake Mountain and Cascades on the Yuba River, near Cisco.

99. Cisco, Placer County. 92 miles from Sacramento.

107. New Hampshire Rocks, looking down the river.

109. Summit Valley, Altitude 6,960 feet. Emigrant Mt. and Railroad (R.R.) in distance.

114. Scene at Lake Angela. Altitude 7,300 feet.

121. Grant's Peak and Palisade Rock, from Western Summit.

133. Stumps cut by Donner Party in 1846, Summit Valley.

[A. A. Hart, titled "128. Boating Party on Donner Lake"] - probably Hart negative. ... Chief engineer Strobridge and family.

93. Black Butte and Crystal Lake. 91 miles.

Dutch Flat, Placer County-General view, From the West.

Scene in Dutch Flat, Placer County–The Pack Train.

Scene in the Ravine below Dutch Flat, Placer Co.

Polley's Station, Crystal Lake.

Crystal Lake–Breaking up of the Ice.

View on Crystal Lake.

New Hampshire Rocks, Yuba River.

New Hampshire Rocks, Yuba River.

The Summit House.

Dutch Flat and Donner Lake Wagon Road–The Summit House. in the Winter.

Method of Traveling on Snow Shoes.

Snow Shoe Traveling—The Bear Trap.

View on the Summit-The Palisade Rocks.

View on the Summit-The Palisade Rocks.

Donner Peak-Western Summit Sierra Nevada.

Donner Lake from the Summit.

Donner Lake and Eastern Summit-From the Road on the Western Summit.

Donner Peak from the Road.

Reflection-Donner Lake-View from Pollard's Hotel. Eastern Summit in the distance.

View on Donner Lake-Pollard's Hotel-The Summit.

Reflection in Donner Lake-Mount Lincoln, Donner Peak.

Reflection of Mount Lincoln and Donner Peak in Donner Lake.

View on Donner Lake-Coldwater Gap.

Spearing Trout on Donner Lake, Nevada County.

Spearing Trout by Torchlight, Donner Lake, Nevada County.

59. Hornet Hill Cut, West of Gold Run, 50 feet deep.

76. Giant's Gap, American River, 2500 feet perpendicular. 72 miles from Sacramento.

Green Valley, American River, from the Central Pacific Railroad, 4 miles above Alta, Placer County.

77. Green Valley and Giant's Gap. American River 1500 feet below Railroad.

American River, from the Central Pacific Railroad around Cape Horn. Bridge and Road to Yankee Jim's, Placer County.

38. Canyon of American River from West (near Colfax), Cape Horn and RR on left.

91. Owl Gap Cut. 900 feet long, 45 feet deep. 80 miles from Sacramento.

90. Bank and Cut at Sailor's Spur. 80 miles from Sacramento.

11. Bloomer Cut and Embankment, looking East.

Town of Dutch Flat, from the South-east, Placer County.

63. Dutch Flat, Placer County. 67 miles.

"CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD–It seems clear that railroad views were added to the Houseworth line at intervals. However, it is unknown whether these were recently taken views or merely an acquisition of earlier works. Dating is uncertain; however, they were most likely taken prior to 1870."

[1222-1248; 1289-1351; 1408]

44. Am. River and Canyon from Cape Horn. River below R. R. 1400 feet. 57 miles from Sacramento.

Willumson: Variant ... published by [A. A. Hart], titled:

35. Depot at Colfax, 500 feet long, 55 miles from Sacramento.

Winter View in Upper Cisco. Altitude 5911 feet.  Central Pacific Railroad.

Central Pacific Railroad Freight Train leaving Cisco, Placer County.

Upper Cisco in Winter. altitude 5911 feet. Central Pacific Railroad.

217. All aboard for Virginia City, and the Overland Mail.

184. Cisco. Rattlesnake and Ragged Mountains.

David Spahr: Shows a long snowshed.

Upper Cisco Placer County–Central Pacific Railroad.

Upper Cisco, from the Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Depot.

210. Loaded teams, from Cisco.

(also Houseworth 1286)

239. Snow Plow, at Cisco.

Cement Ridge near Crystal Lake, on the Central Pacific Railroad. Old Man Mountain in the distance.

167. Emigrant Gap, looking East. Yuba Mountains in distance.

165. Emigrant Gap, West from tunnel.

188. Castle Peak, a Western Summit, 10,000 feet altitude.

189. Summit of Castle Peak, 10,000 feet altitude.

South Yuba River and Cañon, from the Central Pacific Railroad.

Old Man Mountain. near Meadow Lake. Altitude 7,800 feet–Central Pacific Railroad.

179. Old Man Mountain, Altitude 7500

French Lake. Nevada County, near Meadow Lake–Central Pacific Railroad.

French Lake, Nevada County, near Old Man Mountain, Central Pacific Railroad.

208. Coldstream Valley.

209. View from Crested Peak. 8,500 Altitude. Donner Lake and Railroad.

260. Mist rising from Donner Lake. Early morning View.

A Full Team on the Sierras–From the Central Pacific Railroad.

210. Loaded teams, from Cisco.

(also Houseworth 1261)

Tim McIntyre: Moderately close view of 2 large covered wagons stopped in front of stage station, small house a little further back. This is the same spot as Hart negative #210 (Loaded teams from Cisco).

Central Pacific Railroad from the foot of Donner Lake, Nevada county.

"CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD–It seems clear that railroad views were added to the Houseworth line at intervals. However, it is unknown whether these were recently taken views or merely an acquisition of earlier works. Dating is uncertain; however, they were most likely taken prior to 1870."

[1222-1248; 1289-1351; 1408]

Houseworth: Houseworth, Thomas, San Francisco, Ca., Catalog, 1869. "Additional Views. Central Pacific R. R." {11289-1296}

Willumson: Variant ... published by [A. A. Hart], titled:

261. Railroad around Crested Peak. View from foot of Donner Lake

Second Crossing of the Truckee River, 140 miles from Sacramento, Central Pacific Railroad, Nevada.

Bridge at the Second Crossing of the Truckee River, Nevada, Central Pacific Railroad.

Truckee River at Verdi, east of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Nevada, Central Pacific R.R.

193. Summit Station, Western Summit.

213. Snow Covering, below Cisco

(also Houseworth 1299)

213. Snow Covering, below Cisco

(also Houseworth 1298)

9. Bloomer Cut, 800 feet long looking East.

61. Hydraulic Mining, at Gold Run, Placer County.

"CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD–It seems clear that railroad views were added to the Houseworth line at intervals. However, it is unknown whether these were recently taken views or merely an acquisition of earlier works. Dating is uncertain; however, they were most likely taken prior to 1870."

[1222-1248; 1289-1351; 1408]

"WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD–As Houseworth continued to expand his railroad holdings it became difficult to distinguish between the various routes. He eventually referred to these views collectively as 'Trans-continental Railroad views.' Dating is uncertain, but probably no later than 1871."

[1466-1560; 1565-1566; 1568]

Winter: Light spot on the back of the left seat above the reflection is in the negative.

John Saddy: Central Pacific Railroad (Series). Also seen in earlier, Western Pacific Railroad series. Wonderful interior! Two couples are seated for dinner with wine, a waiter, and perhaps the maitre de stand by. Cuspidor.