USA > California > Tuolumne County > A history of Tuolumne County, California : compiled from the most authentic records > Part 9
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" Tuolumne Lodge, A. F. and A. M., Sonora, meets on the first and third Saturdays of every month, at their Lodge room."
" ODD FELLOWS-
"Sonora Lodge, No. 10, Sonora, meets every Wednesday evening, at their Lodge room, corner of Washington and Dodge streets."
" SONS OF TEMPERANCE-
" Columbia Division, No. 18, Columbia, meets every Wednesday evening in the new M. E. Church."
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
" Sonora Division, No. 16, Sonora, meets every Thursday evening in the Methodist Church, South."
" POST OFFICES-
" Columbia Post office, open from 8 o'clock, A. M. to 8 P, M. On the arrival of the Atlantic mails, the office will not be closed until 11 o'clock, P. M.
A. A. HUNNEWELL, P. M."
Sonora Post-office, open from 9 o'clock, A. M. to 7 P. M Sundays, from 10 o'clock A. M. to 3 p. M.
H. W. THEALL, P. M."
" POST-OFFICES IN TUOLUENE COUNTY.
Columbia-A. A. Hunnewell, P. M.
Sonora-H. W. Theall, P. M.
Jacksonville-George B. Keys, P. M.
Jamestown-Colonel Donovan, P. M.
Curtisville-Peter Dean, P. M.
Big Oak Flat-Joseph W. Brittain, P. M.
Green Springs-James D. Tabor, P. M.
Horr's Ranch-G. D. Dickinson, P. M.
Oak Springs-G. D. Shoemake, P. M."
Additional matter relating to the progress of Columbia is to be gleaned from the advertising columns of the Gazette. There are to be seen the advertisements of Wells, Fargo & Co., who announce a daily express to and from San Fran- cisco, Stockton, Jamestown, Sonora, Columbia, Murphy's, and Mokelumne Hill, connecting with a daily express from Mount Ophir, Mariposa and all other prominent places south. Also, to all parts of the Atlantic States and Europe, as well as the Northern Mines. Wm. Daegener was the agent at Columbia, and the office of the Company was at the American Hotel.
Adams & Co. announce at the same time (February, 1854) the removal of their office to the building occupied by C.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
D. Brown, on Main street, where they had erected a fire and thief proof vault, "one of the best in California," and were prepared to receive gold dust and coin on deposit, paying also the highest rates for the former.
James Mills & Co., Bankers (Branch of D. O. Mills & Co., of Sacramento) did business on the corner of Main and Fulton streets, where they had "one of Herring's largest fire proof safes, enclosed in a commodious and secure vault." A peculiarity of this firm was that they were closed to business on Sundays, an additional evidence of the improvement in morality, before mentioned.
W. G. Vanarsdall, of the American Hotel, announces a new opening of his house, he having fitted it up in elegant style, incidentally mentioning that Kelty & Co.'s stages leave his doors four times a day, bound for Sonora.
The Trustees of the Tuolumne Water Company declared, at that time, a dividend of thirty-two dollars on each of their two hundred and seventy-five shares. This is signed by W. H. Clark, President, and R. A. Robinson, Sec- retary.
Others, whose business affairs appear in this and other issues of the Gazette, were T. R. Taylor, Counsellor at Law, office on Broadway, one door below old Court-room; J. T. Fish, Attorney and Notary Public, office corner of Broad- way and Washington streets; H. Stone, tin shop; Andrew Hochmouth, meat market; Gischel & Hildenbrand, " Boston Bakery;" Fleming & Hedden, blacksmiths and wagon- makers; John Leary, auctioneer, Broadway, four doors north of Columbia Exchange; Dr. Fields' " Columbia Drug Store;" John A. Cardinell & Co., St. Charles Restaurant, corner of Broadway and Washington streets; John G. Sparks, law office, Broadway, near Court-room; Messrs. Sotrr & Marshall, butchers, Columbia market, corner Main and Fulton streets; Eagle Cottage (boarding house),
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
William Odenheimer and Captain McLane ; Columbia Brewery and Syrup Manufactory, P. Rocher & Co.
Incorporation of Columbia.
In May, 1854, the town was incorporated, and town officers elected under the "General Incorporation Act." The first Board of Trustees was composed of Samuel Arnold, Sewell Knapp, F. F. Bartlett, Alden Sears and James McLean. Captain Haley was chosen Marshal, C. Brown, Treasurer, and P. G. Ferguson, Assessor.
The Fire of 1854.
On July 10, 1854, Columbia was ravaged by the most serious and extensive conflagration that had ever occurred there, and with the exception of the burning of Sonora, the most serious fire that Tuolumne county had ever wit- nessed. It broke out near Clark's hotel, on Broadway, and consumed nearly every house on Broadway, Fulton, Washington, State and Main streets, the only notable ex- ception being Donald & Parsons' fireproof building on the corner of Main and Washington streets, which escaped the general destruction.
The mails at the Post Office were saved, as also was the express matter of Adams & Co. and Wells, Fargo & Co.
Both printing offices (the Clipper had been established at Columbia, in May previous, by Heckeudorn & Gist) were burned, but the greater part of the material was saved, the Gazette press being broken.
The banking and express buildings, the Columbia Ex- change, Court House, Columbia House, American House, saloons, etc., were entirely destroyed.
The principal losses were as follows: N. Brown & Co.,
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
$25,000; Jackson & Stone, $18,000; Sauguet, $4,000; I. Shotwell, $5,000; C. J. Brown, $6,000; A. P. Hollister, $7,500; P. G. Ferguson, $8,000; Mrs. Levy, $5,000; H. K. White, $5,000; Storr & Marshall, $5,000; James Mills & Co., $4,000; W. G. Vanarsdall, $5,000; A. Farnsworth, $7,000. The above buildings were on Main street. On Broadway-T. N. Cazneau's Exchange Theater and other buildings, $20,000; McKenty & Co., $9,000; C. Cardwell, $7,000; Clark's Hotel, $10,000; O. Tower, $8,000; French drug store, $6,000; Columbia Brewery, $5,000; Brainard, $15,000; Joel Levy, $5,000. On Washington, State and Fulton streets-Eagle Cottage, $4,500; Boston Bakery, $10,000; O. P. Davis, $4,000; Raskell, $5,000. These, with minor losses, made up a sum total of half a million of dollars.
Although almost entirely obliterated by the devouring flames, the town did not remain extinct, but with true California enterprise, immediately began the work of re- building, while yet the smoke arose from the unconsumed fragments. By noon of the next day, thirty buildings were sufficiently far advanced to admit of occupancy, and many others were well under way. Quite a number of the new structures that were begun were intended to be fire- proof, and were of a very substantial character. Among them was a theater building, to be known as " Armory Hall," for use by the " Columbia Fusileers," a military or- ganization which had been formed in the preceding Janu- ary. The hall contained a stage twelve feet deep, while the auditorium was sixty-two by thirty feet dimensions. John Leary was the projector.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Montezuma and the Hydraulic Ditch.
Among other camps which had attracted attention pre- vious to 1853, Montezuma was one of the most prominent. Its period of greatest prosperity was during the above- named year. The Montezuma Flats, from which the town received its name, are nine miles from Sonora, and com- mence at the palisaded rocks of Table Mountain, which bound it on the north and west, and extend some six miles southward and three miles eastward. The ground is gently undulating, variegated with groves and clusters of trees, rendering it one of the pleasantest and most agree- able localities, hardly exceeded by any for family resi- dence.
Its mining interests were very important, although up to the last of 1852 the ground had hardly been more than prospected, as no streams passed through these flats, so they were only capable of being worked through a few weeks in the heaviest rains; yet during that period they proved at least ordinarily rich, and, what was of the great- est importance, the gold was found to be uniformly dif- fused through the gravel, over a very great extent, making the remuneration of the miner certain. No very rich strikes were made, but during the limited time in which work was prosecuted, the miners averaged ten dollars daily, and, in some cases, twenty-laboring, too, under the disadvantage of an inadequate supply of water.
As might be expected, the enterprise of the various water companies led to the immediate construction of ditches to convey the valuable fluid to the anxious miner on the Flats. The Tuolumne County Water Company, by the 1st of December, 1852, had their canal completed to the desired spot, and constructed a large reservoir for use in the dry season. The ditch carried a stream three and a
.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
half feet in width by two in depth, furnishing an abun- dant supply.
The Tuolumne Hydraulic Association, whose canal tapped the Tuolumne River some twenty-five miles east of Sonora, and at an elevation of five thousand feet, in- augurated even more extensive works, of which the main branch carried water to Montezuma.
This great work, the Tuolumne Hydraulic Association's ditch, merits a more extended description than it would be likely to receive in the terse accounts of camps and mining grounds to which its benefits extended; therefore, the following description of a trip made by Mr. Murray, of the Sonora Herald, to the Company's works, with an interesting and capitally written account of what he saw on the road, is included in this work:
"Being fairly fagged out with too much work, and having heard a great deal touching the mountain region of Tuolumne, we determined to shake the dust of Sonora from our feet and take to the hills for a day or two. Accord- ingly, one day last week we procured ourself a good horse and started off up country, with the intention of seeing a little of the far-famed mountain range, as well as inspect- ing the works of the Tuolumne Hydraulic Association, of whose operations the public have heard so much.
" In company with Captain Puckett, who kindly volun- teered to show us the way, we started up the hill overlook- ing Sonora to the eastward, and traveled over about five miles of the usual barren-looking, arid, dusty, up-hill and down-dale, until we reached the ranch of Mayor Dodge, on Sullivan's Creek, back of Bald Mountain. We should judge that this gentleman here has some five or six hun- dred acres of land, all highly susceptible to cultivation, level and easily irrigated. Most of it is fenced in, and there are an excellent house and out-houses, with other im-
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
provements, upon it. Timber is more plentiful here than around Sonora, and it is the most extensive piece of level ground that we saw on our journey.
" We passed along Sullivan's Creek for about five miles, encountering on our way some five or six ranches, very eligibly located, but all inferior to that of Mr. Dodge. All the way along we met a constant succession of wagons, bringing shingles, lumber, etc., into Sonora. The road . had more the air of the one running to Stockton than of that to the summit of the Sierra Nevada. About ten miles from Sonora, we ascended the spur which divides the head waters of Sullivan's Creek, and which forms the lower end of the great dividing ridge between the Tuol- umne and the Stanislaus. Two or three miles further on we ascended a succession of eminences, finally gaining a footing upon the main ridge. These two main ascents, which are daily traveled by wagons, are the only difficult places which we witnessed for thirty miles out of Sonora. The road, after reaching the summit of the ridge, passes along it all the way, and is as even and easy as the road to Stockton. After attaining this high elevation, we felt the atmosphere to be sensibly cooler, the weather, at two o'clock in the afternoon, being such as to almost justify the use of an overcoat. We found the dwarf oaks of the mining region to be getting scarcer and scarcer, and the pines and cedars to be looming up taller and taller at every step. The ridge expands, after awhile, into a strip of table land, displaying as fine a succession of little valleys as is to be found in the lower region we had left behind us. Ranch after ranch we found taken up, the buildings being found in great plenty and improvements in rapid progress. In several places we found extensive zig-zag fences going up, made of straight young pines, of which there are innumerable quantities. The soil there is of a
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
light color and sandy texture, and, we are told, is very fer- tile. From the fine growth of the trees, together with the green appearance which. the surface of the earth here presents, covered with ferns and other vegetation, we were led to believe we were not misinformed. We passed through a succession of some six or seven of these ranches, of from one to three hundred acres in extent, and all presenting the most eligible farm-sites, whether for pas- turage, agriculture or timber privileges.
" About twenty miles from Sonora we passed the last ranch and entered upon still higher ground, peculiarly fitted for shingle-making and timber cutting. The pines here are magnificent, and attract quite a large colony of shingle-makers, who camp out here in squads, and haul the results of their labor into Sonora for disposal. From time to time we passed blazed trees and notices, intimating that certain individuals had commenced locating their quarter sections of land upon this most valuable vicinity. Mile after mile of dense pine woods did we traverse-not alone the ridge, but the slopes on either side, being thickly covered with straight, tall trees. The hills on the opposite side of the Tuolumne present the same appearance. We were much struck with the peculiar capabilities which this region presents for the cutting of timber, and we are well convinced that from this part of the country will here- after be drawn the large supplies of that article, which will be needed within the section of country embraced within the rivers Tuolumne and Stanislaus.
"About twenty-five miles from Sonora we left the main road, called the Ice Trail, which continues on along the main ridge toward the Sierra Nevada, and descended a rather precipitous hillside to the store of Captain Puckett. This is beautifully situated, at the bottom of the ravine formed by Sugar Pine Creek. Although we had passed through
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many miles of a fine timber country, we were fairly sur- prised at the scene which here presents itself. Thick-set as are the pines on the summit and slopes of the ridge, be- low they are far more so. The whole bed of the creek is fairly choked up with vegetation. Pine and cedar trees, from the smallest size up to eight and ten feet in diameter, and of proportionate hight, spring up in serried ranks all around. No other shade is needed, for the rays of the sun can with difficulty find their way through the thick tops to the earth's surface. The ground is covered with a dense undergrowth of fern and other plants and bushes, and everything around is of a beautiful green, contrasting de- lightfully with the arid and dusty appearance of things nearer the plains.
" We found here some twenty or thirty men, who were at work upon the race of the Tuolumne Hydraulic Com- pany. The race is intended to cross Sugar Pine Creek at this place, with a flume some forty or fifty feet from the ground, supported by ample pillars, which are here to be found ready to hand, in any quantity and of all dimensions. We inspected the race on either side of the creek, and found it to be of large size, and well and securely constructed.
" We slept at Captain Puckett's one night, and early in the morning proceeded one fourth of a mile up the creek, to the house of Judge Ketchum, the contractor and engi- neer of the Company. Upon making ourselves known to this gentleman, he very kindly offered to show us over the works, and soon mounted his mule and accompanied us on the way. We traveled on a few hundred yards along the left bank of the creek, until we struck a beautiful bottom, which the Judge has taken up for a ranch. We were per- fectly delighted with this piece of ground, which is a very favorable specimen of the little valleys and creek bottoms that are scattered about in this region. It contains about
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
one hundred acres of the very best agricultural land, per- fectly level, and capable of irrigation in every part, and at all seasons of the year. This, however, is not necessary, as several springs rise in various parts, affording naturally all the irrigation that is needed, and preserving in the val- ley perpetual greenness of verdure. The valley is bounded by steep and lofty hills, which inclose it on all sides. It is nearly free from timber, but is fringed all the way round with thick ranks of bristling pines, which cover all the hill- sides and encroach somewhat upon the level land. We have never seen a more beautiful spot in any part of the world. It is just such a one as a lover of nature might well long to live and die in, and is quite unsuited to the coarse, matter-of-fact life inseparable from a sojourn in California. The Judge has cut, this year, quite a good quantity of hay on it, and intends to pay more attention to its capabilities next year. He assures us that higher up the creek, and on the Tuolumne, there are many other spots of similar and even of greater natural advantages, most of which, however, have been taken up for ranches.
" Leaving Sugar Pine, we ascended the ridge between the Stanislaus and Tuolumne, and proceeded along it some four or five miles, all the way observing the same natural features which we have above described. We then de- scended a gradual declivity and arrived at the headquarters of the Judge's working party, a few rods below the dam. Judge Ketchum very politely showed us over the works at this end of the race, and described to us all the arrange- ments he had made and intended making for the security and due completion of the great work upon which he is engaged. Wewill endeavor to give a fair and just descrip- tion of what we saw, so that the public may form some idea of what the company is doing.
" The dam at the head of the race is, at the highest ca l
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culation, about thirty miles from Sonora. It is built of strong, stout logs, set into the bed of the river in a slanting position, the upper ends resting upon a structure composed of logs, laid horizontally, one upon another, after the fashion of a log house. Other logs are planted so as to support the dam, being firmly braced upon the solid rock. The superincumbent water thus lies upon the dam, pressing it down and keeping it in its place. The winter freshets will pass over, leaving it undamaged.
" The race commences on the left bank of the river, con- sisting, for several hundred feet, of a strong flume, con- structed of six-inch timbers. This connects with a ditch dug in the side-hill, which conveys the water for several hundred yards further, when the side of the river becomes more precipitous and rocky, requiring to be flumed. Here commences the main fluming, and great care has been taken to construct a firm and solid grade upon which to support it. Much skill has been displayed by the engineer, in this
department. Huge trees have been felled, and firmly propped in their places to support the sleepers; rocks have been partially blasted so as to convert them from obstruc- tions into firm supports for the fluming. Gulches have been bridged, thirty or forty feet in hight, in order to avoid the curve which would be occasioned by following the side-hill round to cross them. We were gratified to see that upon this part of the race, extending for several miles, the principal part of the work has been done. Other com- panies have commenced at the easiest part of their labor- ditching and grading wherever practicable. Most of the route of the Hydraulic Company will only need ditching ; but Judge Ketchum has wisely left this part of the work untouched, taking the bull by the horns and attacking the hardest part of the work first. What work has been ex- pended has been of a most substantial character, and has
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been aimed at those very portions of the route which per- sons skeptical as to the success of the Company would be likely to point out as most insurmountable.
" The distinguishing feature of the Hydraulic Company's route appears to be that most of it is of an extremely easy character, only a few miles presenting any serious difficulty. This portion of it is now nearly half overcome, and a corps of forty or fifty men are in full activity, providing for its completion. Furthermore, the whole of the route is now under contract to practical men, who will immediately pro- ceed to the construction of the ditching, by far the longest, but the easiest portion of the work. Judge Ketchum as- sures us that there are now, in all, about eighty men em- ployed on the race, and that the whole of the work will be completed by three months from date. We give this upon the Judge's authority. We were much pleased with the undertaking, and believe that it will prove of immense benefit to the country. We have heard the Tuolumne Hydraulic Company's race often sneered at as being alto- gether too large for the purpose aimed at, but we are well convinced that the mining resources of this county are of sufficient extent to exhaust more water than all the races yet projected will be able to supply.
" It has been supposed by some that the volume of water found in the North Fork of; the Tuolumne will be insufficient to supply this race all the year round. This is the only adverse circumstance that we have yet noticed ; but it is only of a partial, and we trust not irremediable character. There is, at this moment, an eight or ten tom stream running through the Company's dam, which, if the race were completed, could now be used. Furthermore, we learn that an expedition has been sent up, within the last fortnight, to survey the ground, and inquire into the prac- ticability of turning the water of the Middle Fork into the
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North Fork, so as to increase the supply in that branch. We learn that the exploring party have made a very favor- able report, and that an expense of only thirty thous- and dollars will be incurred in the undertaking. Be this as it may, nothing is more certain than the fact that the race, as originally projected, will be capable of afford- ing a large and abundant stream of water during at least NINE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, and all who have had experience in these undertakings will need no assurance from us to convince them of the immense advantage which it will confer upon the mining population of the county, or the large profits which must accrue to the projectors.
" We were particularly pleased with the lasting, substan- tial character of the work which has been done upon this race. The timbers are all heavy-the supports, of what- ever kind, ample and secure. Great care 'has been taken to avoid unnecessary curvature, and the Judge contem- plates being enabled to use the race as a medium of float- ing timber to Sonora. If this be done, the race will become doubly valuable.
" The dimensions of the race are three feet in width at bottom ; three feet in depth, with a slope at the sides of one foot to each foot in depth. The fluming is to be eight feet wide, and two and a half feet in depth.
" Leaving the Tuolumne behind us, we again ascended the hill, and traveled on our road home until we reached the Judge's ranch. Here we ascended the ridge between Sugar Pine Creek and the Stanislaus, and undertook to de- scend the other side, with the intention of striking the Stanislaus race. We had no trail to guide us, but errone- ously concluded that we should be sure to find a trail run- ning parallel with the race. The descent soon became so precipitous that we were compelled to dismount and lead our horse, and even then proceeded with great difficulty.
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At length, after half an hour's painful descent, we struck the flume of the Stanislaus race, but found no facility of any kind for traveling up or down it. Accordingly we hitched our horse, and attempted by scrambling, climbing, and other gymnastic evolutions to follow along the course of the race to the dam. We struggled along in this man- ner for over a mile, hoping every minute to arrive at our destination, until at length, reaching a wide bend of the river, we saw more than half a mile of fluming still stretch- ing before us, and no sign of a termination. It was getting late in the afternoon, so we judged it best to return.
" We cannot convey to the reader any idea of the depth of solitude which reigns in this region, or of the extreme difficulty which exists in the way of progression. We were unable to divine how men could even have traveled along this route, much less construct the extent of grading and woodwork which has been accomplished. We admired very much the ingenuity with which the flume has been di- rected along a side-hill which is almost impassable to the foot of man. Sometimes it rests upon the top of a huge rock ; at another time it runs beneath an overhanging mass of the same material, and again leads along the side hill, inside of some projecting, rocky promontory. All sorts of angles and curves have been made; rocks of all kinds, and stumps of trees, have been taken advantage of, and all sorts of manoeuvres have been made to carry on and com- plete the work. The general aspect of this part of the route is unpromising in the extreme, the bed of the stream being choked up, and the side-hill being impeded on all sides with jutting and loose rocks, of all sorts and sizes. A scrubby chapparal is the only vegetation, which adds to the desolation of the scene. We were glad to get out of the gully, and could not but admire the energy and perse- verance of the men who had completed such an unpromis- ing and apparently impracticable work.
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