USA > California > El Dorado County > Historical souvenir of El Dorado County, California : with illustrations and biographical setches of its prominent men & pioneers > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
The prospect of still more competition to that one going on already by the Johnson Cutt-off road, and the advantages that were offered to the traveling peo- ple by using these roads, stirred up the settlers of Car- son valley and further along the Emigrant road, and made them afraid to loose the trade ; consequently they were called together in public meeting to take in consideration what steps should be taken to keep the immigration going that way. The meeting was held at Masonic station, on November 11th, 1854. Thomas Knott being called to the chair, in a few brief remarks stated the object of the meeting, when, on motion of
119
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. ROADS.
Hiram Mott, the following gentlemen were ap-
(Sacramento), pass through Carson valley, and thence pointed a committee of six to draft resolutions for the to Salt Lake. We learn from intelligent men who consideration of the meeting: John Oles, Israel Mott, Luther Oles, Daniel Woodford, James Gibbs, and William Wade.
The committee reported the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the old road leading from Carson val- ley to Hope valley, through the Big canyon, be a free road, and the company now claiming the right to col- lect toll be requested to relinquish its right on said road and bridges from this date.
Resolved, That John Oles be appointed superinten- dent to repair said road and bridges.
Resolved, That John Cary be appointed assessor and collector, to assess and collect taxes from citizens of Carson valley to be expended on said road and bridges.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published, etc.
THOMAS KNOTT, Chairman.
The first mentioning of a stage line to be run over one of these roads to make a communication between California and the States by the way of St. Louis, Missouri, was made at the time when the San Fran- cisco banking house of Adams & Co., about the first of December, 1854, dispatched a messenger on the steamer Goliah for Salt Lake City, via Los Angeles and San Bernardino, to establish a branch office at Salt Lake City, and to examine the route carefully, with special reference to the position of water, the practicability of the road for wagons, etc., the streams that could be forded and those that require to be bridged; and if his report should be favorable, and sufficient inducements offered, a stage line from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City was the greatest probability to be established. The hint was given by the Sacra- mento Union, referring to the railroad meeting of the citizens of Placerville, held November 16th, 1854, it says : "But we wish to call the attention of the enter- prizing citizens of that town, as well as of the 'Em- pire county' generally, to the importance of building a stage turnpike road from Placerville to Carson valley. It is a work that sooner or later must be done.
"The people of Carson valley are desirous of being incorporated into the State, and there is little doubt of their being included within her limits within the suc- ceeding six months." Reflecting on the advantages of an annexation of Carson valley to the State of Califor- nia, and an absolute necessity of a communication between the Capital and the Carson valley as a new county, it continues : "Should a line of stages be put on between California and Missouri, it should if pos_ sible, cross the Sierra Nevada due east of this city
crossed the plains this year, that a new and shorter route has been discovered from Salt Lake to Carson river, which avoids the Humboldt entirely, passes over a country plentifully supplied with water, wood and grass, is practicable for wagons, can easily be made a good stage road, and is fully three hundred miles shorter than the emigrant road down the Humboldt."
The citizens of Placerville readily took up the hint, so given, discussed the matter in some public meetings held in that place, and on January 25th 1855, D. W. Gelwicks offered the following preamble and resolu- tions, which were read, considered and unanimously adopted :-
Whereas, it has now become apparent that the present Legislature will vote an appropriation of money for the construction of an improved highway, leading from the interior of our State to Carson valley; and whereas, our local interest as well as our regard for the general convenience and economy of the State at large, suggest that such a highway be con- structed from the low-lands of the Sacramento, through the city of Placerville, and thence by the most feasible route to Carson valley ; whereasit, is desirable that such route shall be scientifically ascertained and its courses, distances and practicability be authentically repre- sented to the Legislature now sitting ; and whereas, the citizens of other localities are employing strenuous ef- forts to attract the prospective appropriation to them- selves by commendation and praise of routes in their several vicinities:
Therefore, Resolved :
I. That immediate steps be taken by the citizens of Placerville, to exhibit by survey and report, the su- periority of the route mentioned in the above pream- ble over all others that have been suggested in the State.
2. That for this purpose a qualified engineer be procured to survey and demark the easiest line of road from this place across the lines of the Sierras into Carson valley; and that an assistant, competent to fill the office, be provided to furnish our delegation in the Legislature with an ample report of all statistics connected with such survey, and that a copy of said report be forwarded to the Surveyor-general with a re- quest to lay the same before the Legislature.
3. That for such purpose the Honorable Mayor and Common Council of the city of Placerville be, and are respectfully requested to appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars to defray the expenses of said engineer and assistant, and that we as citizens, do fully endorse such action.
. 4. That a committee of one be appointed by the
120
HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
President of this meeting commissioned to present the above resolutions to the Council at its next sitting, and a committee of five be appointed and empowered to make the selection of the engineer and assistant above mentioned.
5. That in our estimation the route known as "Johnson's Cut-off," is, with slight deviations, already suggested by Col. Johnson, the explorer, infinitely preferable to all other inlets to Carson valley, and that we as citizens appreciate the energy and perseverance required in its exploration.
D. W. GELWICKS, Chairman of Committee.
This resolution was followed by the immediate ac- tion on January 30th, 1855, a competent surveying party accompanied by Mr. Henderson, County Sur- veyor, and Dr. Shober, a practical engineer, went up in the mountains for the purpose of surveying a route across the Sierra Nevada for the contemplated
NATIONAL WAGON ROAD.
And for this a bill was introduced in the Legislature in session in the spring of 1855. It passed the lower house without specifying a particular route, and as there were several petitions for some more routes, the matter was given into the hands of the Surveyor-gen- eral and the appointed Board of Commissioners to examine the different routes and select the one they may regard the best. An appropriation of $100.000 was fixed to beexpended for the purpose.
As a curiosity we mention here the original scheme a Yankee was proposing to establish a regular mail line between California and the Eastern States via St Louis. Mr. Wm. N. Walton, in April, 1855, pre- sented to the State Senate of California a memorial in which he makes the proposition that the State Leg- islature of California should by legislative act donate to him (Walton) right, title and interest of the State in and to certain quarter sections of land (not to ex- ceed five quarter sections) situated between the east- ern boundary of the State and the Pacific coast, as stations for the encouragement of an overland immi- gration by means of camels or dromedaries.
The above mentioned Board of Commisioners, after a thorough examination of the different routes in September 1855, reported in favor of the route along the South Fork of the American river, passing Slippery Ford, Johnson's pass, Lake Bigler, Luther's pass, Hope valley and Carson canyon to Carson valley. Under date of October 16th, of the same year, the Board of Commissioners advertised for sealed propo- sals for the construction of a wagon road over the Sierra Nevada by way of the above named places, ac- cording to plans and specifications, etc., but nothing was done against active work on the road.
From the report made by Geo. H. Goddard and presented to H. S. Marlette, Surveyor General, we take the following statements as the results established by the Boundary Surveying Company, in 1855.
BOUNDARY SURVEV.
I set up the altitude and acimuth instrument a little west of the 120th meridian in Red Lake valley, on the old Carson road, and took such observations as were available during my stay there, while Sherman Day measured a base line in the valley, and established by triangulation the relative positions of all the neigh- boring peaks with the station, and prolonged my me- ridian line over the Round Top ridge into Bigler Lake valley.
I then proceeded to Bigler Lake valley and set up the instrument on the south shore of the lake, near where the Truckee river falls into the lake, and a lit- tle east of the 120th meridian. Here I took such ob- servations as the weather permitted. I measured a base line and connected the former points of the Red lake triangulation with this station, and carried the triangulation over the mountains into Carson valley. The meridian of Red Lake camp, was by the last ob- servation, 120° o' 8,70". The meridian of Bigler Lake camp, 119º 58' 9". The difference by triangulation and the two meridians was 2 m., 1 ch., 18 links. The latitude of Bigler Lake camp was 38° 56' 27.6". These figures may be somewhat modified when the whole of the observations shall have been recomputed. As this camp was situated close to the south shore of the lake, and about two miles from its eastern side, it results that the initial point formed by the crossing of the 120th meridian and the 39th parallel falls in Lake Bigler, about a mile and a quarter west, and nearly four miles north of the station.
Assuming the longitude given by Capt. I. Sitgreaves, topographical engineer, of the point where the Colo- rado crosses the 35th parallel at 114º 40', the boun- dary line will form part of a great circle, uniting these two points, and at the 39th parallel and the 120th me- ridian, the line will make a spherical angle with the meridian of S. 48º 25sec E., and at the junction of 114.40th meridian, and 35th parallel of N. 45º 13' 5". W. These angles are uncorrected, for the earth's spherical form, which between those latitudes would affect them but little.
During the expedition I have collected a large amount of geographical information, as well as cor- rected the positions now determined with others ob- served during Lieutenant Moore's railroad exploration, so that combined they will form a very complete map of that region.
121
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. ROADS.
HEIGHTS OF THE OLD CARSON AND JOHNSON ROADS.
In conformity to your instructions I have kept a full barometrical register for heights throughout the whole journey from Sacramento through Placerville, by the old Carson pass, and back again by the Johnson road to Placerville. The heights of the following points I have calculated approximately, so as to include in this brief statement.
Heights above the sea.
Placerville, feet 1,755. I
Old Carson road, West Summit . .9,036. I
Old Carson road, Red Lake valley. 7,175.9
Old Carson road, East Summit. 7,972.9
Johnson road, West Summit. 0,743.4
Johnson road, Bigler Lake valley. 5,961.0
Johnson road, East Summit. 6,824.6
Carson valley, Mormon Station 4,337.0
Carson valley, Cary's Mill. . 5,032.5
Luther's pass 7,185.0
Hope valley, head of Carson canyon .. 6.488.7
From the above it will be seen that the highest pass on the Johnson route is more than 2,000 feet lower than that on the old Carson road. The latter road for a considerable portion of its distance passes over very elevated ridges, while the Johnson trail, following the southern exposed slopes of the valley of the South fork, soon enters a less rigorous climate. It is for this reason that during the winter months the latter is the only traveled road. When I crossed in the winter of 1853, the old road was utterly impassible, while the snow on the Johnson road, in its deepest place, did not exceed three or four feet, and for the greater part of the distance there was not more than six inches to one foot of snow. Both the hitherto traveled roads have had this great fault, while the ascent has been moderate on the western side, the descent on the east- ern has been most precipitous. By following the new pass, now called "Luther's Pass," from Bigler Lake val- ley to Hope valley, the descent is made easy, could the narrow valley between the Johnson pass and Luther's pass be bridged over by a lofty viaduct ; of all the routes yet. known, this would be the one for the Pacific Rail- road, as there need be no grade upon it exceeding one hundred feet to the mile. In concluding these hasty remarks, I wish to return thanks to Judge Hyde of Utah Territory, for his efficient assistance in carry- ing out the objects of the expedition, Col. Reese of the Mormon Station, Mr. Mott, Mr. Thornington, etc. I am very respectfully yours, GEO. H GODDARD.
October 5th, 1855.
survey and improvement of five wagon roads across the Sierra Nevada. The following routes were en- umerated in the bill :
A road through Noble's pass, to which it appropriates $20,000
A road through the Hennessy Pass, east of Forest City, for which it appropriates. . . 60,000 A road through Luther's pass and Carson can- yon, east of Placerville, and running along the north side of the South Fork, passing Slippery Ford, to which it appropriates. . . . 100,000 A road from the Big Tree, Calaveras county, through Grizzly Bear valley, Indian valley and Hope valley, and joining the previous named road at the head of Carson canyon, to which it appropriates. 40,000
A road through or near Cajon Pass, in San Bernardino county, and also a series of arte- sian wells on the route from San Felipe canyon, to which it appropriates 20,000
Total amount of appropriations $240,000
To be paid for in State bonds, running ten years, at 7 per cent. interest. Annual tax for interest and sinking fund, 3 cents on each $100 of taxable prop- erty.
The bill to be submitted to the people for their ap- proval at the next general election. The bill provides for a Board of five commissioners named in the bill, from the different counties and districts interested in the road. But no realization followed, partly on ac- count of the many petitioners who were all using tl:eir influence to agitate in the interest of their particular section of the country ; and on the other side the activity of the enthusiastic advocates of the Pacific railroad, who claimed that the appropriation for a wagon road would be spent unnecessarily, because there would not be use enough for it, as it would not take more than a few years to connect the Atlantic and Pacific by at least one railway, were retarding all progress of the wagon road over the Sierra Nevada.
An appropriation of $550,000 was granted by a bill of Congress in January, 1857, and approved by the President, for the construction of a wagon road from Fort Kearney, via the South Pass, over the Great Salt Lake valley to the eastern boundary of the State, near Honey Lake valley, or Noble's Pass.
This action was of some consequence, uniting at least two of the valley counties with El Dorado, to start the work of a wagon road on subscription inside the three counties.
The members of the Legislature from the counties of El Dorado, Sacramento and Yolo, recommended
Again a bill was introduced into the State Senate in March, 1856, by Senator Day, it provides for the to the citizens of said counties respectively, to meet in
I22
HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
convention at their county seats, on May 6th, 1857, for the purpose of electing delegates to a Wagon Road Convention.
They further recommended said convention of dele- gates to meet at Sacramento on the 1 1th of May, 1857, for the purpose of taking into consideration measures to insure the speedy completion of a wagon road from the city of Sacramento to Carson valley.
Dated April 27th, 1857.
S. M. JOHNSON, HENRY M. FISKE, J. G. McCALLUM,
Senators from El Dorado.
W. L. FERGUSON, JOSIAH JOHNSON, Senators from Sacramento.
S. BVNUM,
Senator from Yolo.
JOHN HUME,
G. D. HILL,
M. N. MITCHELL,
JONA CARPENTER,
SAMUEL F. HAMM,
GEO. MCDONALD, CHARLES ORVIS,
El Dorado Assembly Delegation.
A. P. CATLIN,
J. H. McKUNE,
L. W. FERRIS, ROBERT C. CLARK,
Sacramento Assembly Delegation.
J. S. CURTIS, Yolo County Assembly.
The convention was held, as proposed, in the court house at Placerville, May 6th, 1857. Lieut. Governor Anderson took the chair, and declared the convention organized for the transaction of business. Messrs. Johnson, Harvey, Conness, Springer, Tebbs, Cun- ningham, Larkin and Lee were appointed a commit- tee to draft resolutions, which were adopted, and, upon motion, one hundred and twenty-five delegates were nominated viva voce, for the convention to be held at Sacramento on May 11th. The following were elected :
A. H. Hawley, C. P. Jackson, L. T. Carr, J. M. B. Wetherwax, R. M. Anderson, M. Tebbs, H. Larkin, J. W. Sterling, E. C. Springer, B. F. Keene, B. R. Nickerson, Lyman Hoyt, F. F. Winchell, L. H. Par- ker, John S. Conness, J. G. McCallum, W. M. Cary, Dr. Baldwin, John Hume, J. E. Bowe, G. P. Morrill, R. T. Bruce, Geo. McDonald, S. T. Gage, John Bor- land, E. Willow, F. A. Bishop, T. Williams, T. H.
Hewes, T. Robertson. A. H. Taylor, A. A. Van Guel- der, Geo. Duden, Wm. P. Scott, A. St. Clair Denver, D. K. Newell, J. M. Douglass, John Cable, W. H. Bisby, Dr. Buttermore, J. M. Goetschius, C. M. Mc- Caniel, J. C. Johnson, O. Squires, Maj. Hoover, S. J. Frear, M. N. Mitchell, J. A. McDougal, Dr. Hamm, D. P. Talmage, S. Cornell, Maj. Hook, Col. Dickin- son, E. R. Ferguson, G. J. Carpenter, Col. Handy, H. C. Sloss, - Wheeler, H. Mott, J. L. Cary, Foster, R. E. Draper, D. Galbraith, T. Orr, Wm. Bart- lett. B. Brockless, Alfred Briggs, A. J. Bradley, -- Hartman, J. B. Post, B. Meacham, A. T. Lee, John Dorsey, E. Ferguson, John O'Donnell, B. F. Hunt, Alex. Hunter, Dr. Fiske, S. Ensminger, E. P. Jones, Dr. Edwards, I. P. Carpenter, - Graham, G. D. Hall, Wm. Bartram, Wm. Spencer, Wm. Hoag, E. Evans, W. F. Leon, L. Foster, - Shaff, O. Harvey, -- McClure, A. Seligman, Capt. Rolfe, Wm. H. Stone, A. Richards, C. Orvis, W. H. Smith, J. Newman, Dr. Chamberlin, L. B. Curtis, Wm. Roush, E. C. Cum- berwell, Wm. Gunn, N. H. Smith, G. L. Truesdale, A. H. Richards, R. K. Berry, A. C. Chouvin, E. P. Beard, Douglass, Charles Meredith, F. Tracy, John Swarts, J. H. Child, Geo. Searles, J. M. Knight.
The following resolutions were then adopted :
Resolved, That a majority of the delegates that may convene at Sacramento on the 11th of May, be, and they are hereby instructed to cast the vote of the county.
Resolved, That the secretary be directed to furnish a copy of the proceedings of this convention for pub- lication, etc.
R. M. ANDERSON, Chairman.
F. A. BISHOP, Secretary.
The Wagon R'oad Convention met at Sacramento on the proposed day, and adopted a number of reso- lutions, out of which number we give the eleventh, as concerning the most important part, the decision about the finances, wherewith to build the road.
Resolved, That it is expedient and necessary to ob- tain the sum of $50,000, of which sum El Dorado county shall raise $20,000, Sacramento $20,000, and Yolo $10,000.
A Board of wagon road directors were appointed, consisting of Messrs. Nevett, Stanford, Bradley and Huntington, of Sacramento, and Messrs. Wetherwax, Larkin, Hawley and Cary, of El Dorado. J. H. Ne- vett, of Sacramento, was chosen president of the Board, and Mr. J. M. Douglass, of Placerville, was appointed treasurer, and Benjamin R. Nickerson, sec- retary pro tem. The Board also resolved that the work on the road be commenced as soon as $5,000 be re- ceived in the treasury, and the first work be done between Slippery Ford and Lake valley. The Board
1
1.
-
`T.HARRIST
GROCERIES &
WELLS, FARGO&CO'S XPRESS, STORES AND RESIDENCE Of THOS . HARRIS. DIAMOND SPRINGS · ELD º, CO · CAL. .
123
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. ROADS.
of Directors, on June 11th, made a trip up in the mountains to reconnoitre the present condition of the road-they were accompanied by enterprising citi- zens of Placerville. Mr. Crandall took up the "first" of a line of stages to start a new stage line from the Sacramento valley to Utah; and arrangements were made first for a weekly stage to run regularly between Placerville and Genoa.
The contract for the first section of road was given to Mr. Brockless, who contracted to make the part of Slippery Ford hill a passable good wagon road, for the amount of $1,400.
Speaking about the wagon road over the Sierra Nevada, as an accomplished fact, the Mountain Dem- ocrat of July 11th, 1857, says: "The road is, how- ever, open between Placerville and Genoa, and from Genoa to Salt Lake. Col. J. B. Crandall has made it a stage road. He is the first man in America who has ever established a stage line to cross the Sierras. He is the pioneer stage man between the Pacific ocean and the great basin of the continent. He has made his mark in this respect, and the history of this coun- try cannot trace truthfully the events of this great re- gion of the globe without blending his name therein."
Mr. John Kirk was appointed superintendent of the wagon road, but only little work was done to improve the road, and a joint-meeting of the supervisors of El Dorado and Sacramento counties in January, 1858, to disscuss the wagon road matter, which seemed to become urgent at that time, on account of the arising difficulties with the Mormons, which, in case of a general Mormon war, would designate Sacramento and perhaps Placerville as a rendezvous for the troops, and the Carson road as the military highway. The Board of wagon road commissioners, W. B. Carr, and B. T. Hunt, of El Dorado, and G. N. Dong- lass, of Sacramento counties, under date of June 5th, 1858, advertised a "Notice to Contractors," to receive sealed proposals for the construction of the portion of road, including bridges, culverts, drains and turnouts between station forty-four (44), at the crossing of the old road near Brockless' bridge and station four hun- dred and forty-nine (449), about five miles west of Slippery Ford, on Day's survey across the Sierra Ne- vada mountains. The contract for this work subse- quently was awarded to Messrs. Cary & Johnson, who almost immediately went to work, but broke down in the very midst of it. This brought the work to a dead stand-still and produced a panic among the laborers-some of them, in a state of enragement placed the tools on a keg of powder and had blown them all into the river. The contract of Cary & John- son amounted to $24,800, of this $7,600 had been expended upon the work up to their failure, and their
securities assigned the same contract to Mr. J. G. Plummer, who undertook to finish the work for the balance from the original contract $17,200, and $1,500 extra, to be paid to him by the securities.
Thus, with an expenditure of $50,000, brought up by a special tax, the counties of Sacramento and El Dorado had completed almost one-half of the worst portion of the road. The situation, however, had en- tered another phase; from a mere local affair, benefit- ing both these counties, it had become a more national character since the Central Overland Mail was pass- ing over the road; it became an improvement in which the whole State was interested, and therefore the Legislature was asked for an appropriation of $50,- ooo for the completion of the whole mountain road; and as the objection made against the appropriation bill in 1855, that the State was unable to increase her debt over $300,000, except by vote of the people, did not exist then, it was expected that the bill would pass. But not from this side came the final push towards finishing the mountain grades and complet- ing the great mountain road across the Sierra Nevada, and no appropriation has done the work either, but so soon as the rich mineral discoveries of Washoe district became known, private enterprise undertook and fin- ished the work, and applications were filed by the different parties engaged on the different sections of the road to get the right of toll roads granted to them, which was complied with, and the proprietors realized fortunes out of this property up to the opening of the railroad. After that these toll roads have greatly depre- ciated in value, but little of any reduction has been made in the tolls since; and repeatedly the proposition has been made by the county and State to purchase all these toll roads. Only lately Senator Brown of El Dorado county introduced in the Legislature in ses- sion in 1877 to '78, a bill, No. 431, providing for the purchase of certain toll roads in El Dorado county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.