USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 90
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As the demand for eut granite steadily increased with the progress of the State, in 1864 Mr. Griffith located a quarry at Wildwood, on the line of the Sacramento, Placer & Nevada Railroad, and when this road was destroyed he moved to the Penryn Quarry, upon the line of the Central Pacifie Rail- road-thus seeuring most advantageous shipping facilities. This location being nearly in the center of the granite belt, the stone is here found to be of a superior quality to that lying nearer either the eastern or western edges of the zone, in that it is entirely free of iron, and, therefore, never changes color from atmospherie effects, nor, where polished and placed in position in buildings, or as monuments, can Time's corroding tooth mar the beauty of its glassy and faultless surface. In appearance, the Penryn granite is beautifully mottled in white and black, equally proportioned, and in larger spots than that of the granite from quarries nearer the edges of the zone, while oceasional dark-gray .. knots " of varying sizes and form occur to relieve the block or column of monotonous color.
Besides the mottled granite principally wrought, there are several other kinds at the Penryn works equally susceptible to finish, and quite as durable. One of these is a beautiful black granite, polished columns and ornaments of which can be seen in most of the important business buildings and pri- vate mansions of the State.
Samples of the several kinds of granite were sent to the Centennial Exhibition, as a part of the Cen- tral Pacific Railroad Company's cabinet exhibit, and were pronounced to be the best in the world with reference to freedom from iron, and liability to stain or abrade. This fact brought it to the notice of the officials of the Interior Department, at Washington, whose duty it was to report upon the building mate- rials of the United States, who wrote to Mr. Griffith for samples, which were sent.
And yet, with such quarries as these in Placer County, to the derricks of which are laid the rails of a commercial highway; where there is no difficulty in procuring all the building material necessary for
the wants of the whole Pacific Coast, in as large blocks as any contraet ever ealled for; when the present United States mint at San Francisco was built, the architect saw fit, for some reason the outside looker-on cannot divine, to only proeure a portion of the rock used therein from the California quarries, obtaining the rest from British Columbia, a sort of sandstone in which there is iron, and which being laid above the California granite, sends down upon it, from its own discolored surface, unsightly stains which nothing but the chisel and hammer can efface.
In 1874 Mr. Griffith erected at the Penryn quarry a large polishing mill, the first and only one of the kind in the State. This building is 200 feet long by 40 feet wide, with a polishing capacity of 100 feet per day. A fifty-horse power engine is the motor. There are two stone-polishing carriages for flat sur- face work, 26 feet long by 6 feet wide, worked by a spring wheel driven by two belts. A block of stone weighing upward of ten tons can be polished with ease upon these carriages. There are also two polishing pendulums in the mill, as well as eight vertical polishers, so arranged that the operator can readily handle them for the smallest and most intri- cate portions of his work, either upon flat surfaces or moldings. Two large and powerful lathes oceupy spaee in the building, upon which are placed, and turned, and polished, granite columns of ten tons weight. Railroad tracks are laid in the building, and cars run immediately under each of these pol- ishing and turning machines to deliver the rough granite, and again receive the polished block or column.
The granite of Placer County is steadily gaining favor, and this industry must increase as the years go by, as a feeling of permanency obtains among the population, and those of other generations appear npon the seene, who know no other home but Cali- fornia. Then will wood be discarded as the principal material for building, and the eternal granite, 60 easily obtained, more generally substituted.
Other extensive granite quarries besides those at Penryn are also in operation in Placer County. Mr. Griffith has one at Rocklin, also; and A. D. Hath- away and J. N. and J. W. Taylor have large, fine quarries there, with steam hoisting apparatus, and many men constantly employed. At Pino there is also a good quarry opened.
ELISHA GRANT
Was born in the town of Prospeet, Waldo County, Maine, February 24, 1815, and for the succeeding thirty-seven years was a resident of that State. He was married in November, 1850, and in 1852 he fell into the big column of immigration and started for California, via Cape Horn, on the 12th day of Feb- ruary.
His first halt was made in the harbor of Rio Janeiro, where his vessel was detained for eighteen
L K
G. Griffith
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TOWNS AND LOCALITIES.
days. Leaving Rio Janeiro on the 8th of April, he arrived in San Francisco July 12th. He left at onee for the mines, where he spent the first four years of his California life in " seeking the golden fleece." In 1856 he located at Rich Gulch Flat, in Calaveras County, where he formed a partnership with Tunis Sylvester Bever, for the hotel business, the firm being known as Grant & Bever. After remaining together for twelve years the partnership was dis- solved, and, in 1868, Mr. Grant removed to Railroad Flat, in the same county, where for six years he continued in the same business. In 1874 he sold out, and removed to Penryn, where he is at present engaged in his old oceupation, that of hotel-keeping. The character of his place will be best learned from the fine engraving which accompanies this volume.
In politics Mr. Grant is a staunch Republican, having always voted the Republican ticket, and has never had cause to change his views. He is a mem- ber of Independent Lodge, No. 158, Independent Order Odd Fellows, and Placer Lodge, No. 52, Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Grant was married in November, 1850, at his native place, Prospect, Maine, and, in 1856, Mrs. Grant joined her husband in California, making the journey via the Isthmus of Panama.
ROCKLIN.
This is a thriving village on the line of the Cen- tral Pacific Railroad, fourteen miles southwest of Auburn, 249 feet above the level of the sea, in Town- ship No. 9, and has a population of 624. Here is a rouud-house of the Central Pacific Railroad, where the extra locomotives are kept which are necessary to attach to trains ascending the mountain. Here also are large granite quarries, giving employment to many people. The history of the village dates from the construction of the railroad. The water supply of the railroad company is brought a distance of six or seven miles, from Secret Ravine. Wells are sunk in various parts of town, and fair water obtained at depths varying from fifteen to forty feet-all in granite. Well water is used for animals and many domestic purposes, but all the drinking-water is furnished free by the railroad company, from Blue Cañon, from the tenders of the locomotives. These all come down from the mountains filled with the most delicious water, and as there are always several locomotives in the round-house, a syphon is always kept attached to the tank of one of them, and all who wish go there and take away all they have a mind to; therefore the wells are not depended upon for water for drinking. All Rocklin people have the best of mountain water to drink, and to this fact do they attribute their immunity from intermittent fever, which is so prevalent upon all sides of them. It is also the boast of its citizens that not a single case of diphtheria has ever occurred there. Not a Chinaman is to be found at Rocklin. The round- house is capable of accommodating about thirty engines-not as large now as before the fire that
partially destroyed it. A great deal of wood is con- sumed by engines, there sometimes being as much as 25,000 cords piled there at onee. '
W. DANA PERKINS.
Of the pioneer residents of Placer, none are better or more favorably known than Will Dana Perkins, of Rocklin. Mr. Perkins is a native of the "Old Granite State," New Hampshire, where he was born in 1831. For many years he was the proprietor of the Pine Grove House, on the Auburn and Sacra- mento road. This house was distinguished as pos- sessing one of the finest and most capacious dancing- halls in that part of the State, and the grand parties there held are among the most pleasant reminis- cences of the people. The genial Perkins, as well as being a very popular host, has always taken a prominent part in politics, being one of the leaders of the Democratic party in Placer County, and has held several offices of honor and responsibility, as has been previously noticed in these pages.
ROSEVILLE.
The railroad name of this place is Junction, as here the Oregon Division joins the Central Pacific. It is eighteen miles southeast of Auburn, at an eleva- tion of 163 feet above sea level, is in Township No. 1, and has a population of 288. The town plat was laid out in 1864. Cyrus Taylor was the first resi- dent; Van Trees built the first hotel, and W. A. Thomas opened the first store. A good farming and grazing region surrounds the town, giving it a sub- stantial and increasing business. The name is derived from the neighboring ranch of Rose Spring, formerly the property of Judge James McGinley.
TODD'S VALLEY.
This charming and prosperous village lies on the southern slope of the divide, between the north and Middle Forks of the American River, twenty miles northeast of Auburn, on the line of road reaching to Forest Hill, Michigan Bluff, etc., in Township No. 5, and has a population of 226, as returned by the census of 1880. Previous to the time that the coun- try was overrun with gold-seekers, and before they had begun to searify the beautiful ridges and seam up the gently sloping vales that were occasionally found nestling upon the park-like plateaus, with the unsightly gashes necessary to the pursuit of their occupation, there were few more inviting places than Todd's Valley. Beautiful streams, with broad flats; meadowed slopes abundant with grass; clear, cold and deliciously sweet water; fern-covered hills; towering pine and other trees, and the various foli- age of maples, dogwood and indigenous shrubs of many sorts, waving to the song of passing zephyrs, combined to form a panoramic scene of wondrous beauty.
The first settler there was Dr. F. Walton Todd, in June, 1849, and whose name this place has since borne. He built a log-house, for a store and tavern,
398
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
about three-fourths of a mile from the present town- site, and there, in the fall of that year, drove a lively trade with passing miners who were in need of his commodities, at good round prices-his rice, not first-class, selling in December at $1.50 a pound; flour, that upon 'Change would have been rated as " sour," $2.50 a pound, and other articles at propor- tionate rates. The station being upon the main trail, over which the wandering prospectors from the mining camps further south traveled toward the upper portion of Placer County, in 1850, became a general stopping-place for travelers, as well as a trading-point for the mines upon the river, and the few men who had then begun to work the shallow diggings upon the ravinc, near the head of which Dr. Todd's buildings stood. As the ravines were found to pay well, it occurred to some of the men who had been working upon the main one leading out of the valley, that a shaft sunk in the flat itself might develop good-paying ground. This fact caused Joseph Swasey, Mark E. Hubbell, and Joseph . Simmons, in the winter of 1850-51, to begin the work of sinking
THE FIRST SHAFT IN TODD'S VALLEY,
That ultimately led to the opening of the deep dig- gings there. Just below the valley, or the little stream near the doctor's house, a company had located a claim which was called Long Island-the uppermost one on the ravine. Above this, in the flat, Swasey, Hubbell, and Simmons located and commenced their shaft. Deep mining, at that time, was to these three men an untried mystery, but they were willing to attempt to fathom it. They sank down into the gravel to the depth of twenty feet, and at that point encountered a soft, whitish sub- stance, which yielded to their shovels-the " pipe- clay," so called, now so well known to all hydraulic miners. Continuing to sink in this stratum some four or five feet further, and not reaching any other material, they decided that the substance they were working in was either the bed-rock itself, or that it laid upon it; at all events, they had gone to the bottom of the gravel. The gravel they had thrown out, though containing gold all through, would not pay as well as that of the more shallow diggings they had left in the ravine; and as the quantity of water met with in sinking the shaft was then to them a formidable obstruction to the further working in the flat, they abandoned the shaft and went back to their old claim on the gulch.
The succeeding spring two men-brothers-came into the valley from the lead mines of Illinois, both of whom had had experience in deep mining, and seeing the abandoned shaft, thought they would bail out the water and explore it. They did so, and then went further down into the bottom stratum, not knowing what it was, nor the nature of gold placers. Fortunately they had but a little depth to go until the pipe-clay was penetrated, under which another
stratum of gravel was found, that prospected much better than that above. This stimulated them to greater efforts, and they continued working, with more favorable results as they went deeper, until they reached the bed-rock. Here the extreme bot- tom stratum was found to be very rich, not infre- quently yielding a half ounce to the pan. The two men, in the meantime, having kept their own coun- sel, sought Swasey and his companions, whom they informed of the find, and generously offered to share the discovery with them. At that time, Swasey and his partners happened to be doing remarkably well in the old claim, where the gravel was shallow and the work easy and in the open air. He and his associates, upon consultation, concluded that, as the shaft was wet and deep, and they inexperienced in underground work, that if they went there, they must of necessity endure many discomforts, and that there was more danger in that method of working than that in which they were now engaged, they would decline the offer tendered, which they did, telling the two brothers to keep the ground in the flat all to themselves. In this manner was deep mining begun at Todd's Valley. Before a year passed, the two brothers owning the ground had realized 820,000 each, when, becoming satisfied with their accumulations, and desiring to return to their former home, disposed of their claim, and left for Illinois.
From that time mining at Todd's Valley has con- tinued. In 1867 the principal mines were purchased by Mr. Alfred A. Pond, who has continued the pos- sessor with fine success. But this pleasant locality is not dependent upon mining alone. The altitude is 2,738 feet, which is usually regarded as too high for the semi-tropical fruits which flourish so well in the western part of the county, but this valley is peculiarly favored in location, and most of the fruits grow to perfection. Dr. Todd, at an early day, planted fruit trees and vines, and in 1865 made a large quantity of wine, which was regarded as of an excellent quality.
DESTROYED BY FIRE.
Todd's Valley, like other villages of California, has had the sad experience of fire. On the 25th of September, 1859, the whole business part of the town went down before the terrible flamnes, leaving only the store of A. A. Pond, the Masonic Hall, the store of Read & Hall, and a butcher shop, all of brick and fire-proof. The loss was estimated at from $150,000 to $200,000. The fire originated in the Pacific Saloon, in the center of the village, and as it had not been occupied for some months, the conflagration was undoubtedly the work of an incendiary. The work of re-building commenced immediately, and in December following the burned district presented a better appearance than before the fire.
399
TOWNS AND LOCALITIES.
ALFRED A. POND
Is the second son of Jonathan and Charlotte Pond, natives of New England. Alfred A. was born on the 6th of January, 1830, in Essex County, Massa- chusetts. His first recollections are of the " Old Bay State," but at the age of nine years he removed, with his parents, to Scott County, Illinois. In the latter State he received his education, and at the early age of nineteen years we find him among the hardy pioneers wending his way toward the land of gold. In Mr. Pond we find a real '49er, he having arrived in California in the fall of 1849, after spend- ing about six months in making the trip across the plains. His first location was at Weaverville, Trin- ity County, where he engaged in mining for four months. In the spring of 1850 he came to Placer County and located at Todd's Valley, and since that time has been a permanent resident of that place. Mr. Pond has for many years been extensively engaged in mining and merchandising, and has the largest mercantile establishment in the town. In early times he had all his goods packed upon mules from Sacramento, there being no wagon road to the valley. He is interested in some good paying mines, one of which is being worked by Pond & Co. This mine has been worked since 1854, and has always paid well. He was married July 1, 1855, at Diamond Spring, El Dorado County, to Miss Olive Constable, a native of Pennsylvania. Their union has been blessed with eight children, three girls and five boys.
NICHOLAS QUIROLO
Is a native of "Sunny Italy," having been born at San Ambrosia January 1, 1834. The first twenty years of his life were passed in his native land, and on the 11th day of July, 1854, he sailed from Genoa in the bark Angel for New York. During the sue- ceeding two years he followed the calling of a sailor, and on the 17th of January, 1856, landed in San Francisco. He went immediately to the mines in Calaveras County, where for two years he was engaged in search of the precious metal. He then engaged himself as a clerk at Campo Seco. From that point he went to Jenny Lind Camp, and conducted a store for one and one-half years. He came to Todd's Valley in 1861, where he has since made his home. IIe has a store in which he keeps a full stock of miners' supplies. A view of his busi- ness house will be found in this work.
WISCONSIN HILL
Is situated on the Iowa Hill Divide, thirty-eight miles northeast of Auburn and opposite Iowa City, the two places being separated by Indian Cafion. The first settlement at Wisconsin Hill was made in Juno, 1854, and as the reports of the rich hill dig- gings gained circulation the camp began to increase, so that in a few months many families were located there, and the place had a population of about 700 inhabitants. At that time the people were support- ing some half dozen saloons, several restaurants,
dry goods and grocery stores, and two hotels. In the spring of 1856 the tunnels that had been work- ing began to reach the center of the hills, and no rich deposits being struck the claims were " laid over " to wait for future developments. The popu- lation then began to dwindle, but soon again the hopes of the business men and property holders were revived by the completion of a turnpike road across Shirt-tail Canon, connecting the place with Yankee Jim's, and another across Indian Canon, connecting with Iowa City. But instead of these roads tending to increase the population, by render- ing the place easy of access, they furnished the peo- ple with an easy mode of transit to some more favored locality, and the place began to decrease in population and importance.
YANKEE JIJI'S.
About eighteen miles northeast of Auburn, in Township No. 5, is the ancient mining town of Yan- kee Jim's. This town is situated on the northern side of Devil's Cañon, which stream forms a junction with Shirt-tail a mile or so above its entrance into the North Fork. Among the first permanent settlers there were Nicholas F. Gilbert, Geo. W. Gil- bert, Benjamin F. Gilbert, and Thomas Farthing, from Missouri; Thomas Adams, of Massachusetts, and Samuel W. Bowman, of Pennsylvania, who all reside there now but Mr. Adams, who still lives in Placer County. The Messrs. Gilbert were the pioneer wagoners into town, arriving there with a team in the fall of 1850. Thomas Adams was one of a firm that established the first trading-post the same fall.
In March, 1851, the diggings on Georgia Hill, on the opposite side of Devil's Canon from Yankee Jim's, were discovered by a party of Georgians. The discovery of this rich deposit of gold was purely accidental. While lying upon the ground to. rest, one of the party saw some particles of gold upon the surface. Taking some of the dirt to the cañon and washing it, a fair prospect was obtained, but it was believed that it was gold that had been spilled there by some one. However, they contin- ued, and thus opened, probably, the richest surface diggings over found in the State, and soon loaded their mules with clean gold-dust and departed for their Georgian home.
During its history Yankee Jim's has been one of the largest towns of the county, and the leader in many enterprises. Here was one of the first ditches in the State, made by H. Starr and Eugene Phelps; here Colonel McClure introduced the hydraulie in 1853, and here he planted his large orchard in the same year, having purchased 500 trees in Philadel- phia in the fall of 1852.
The Mountain Courier was established at Yankee Jim's in 1856 by Parker & Graves, and in 1857 E. B. Boust published the Placer Courier. The place was of such importance that the Democratic County Convention of 1857 was held here.
400
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
In June, 1852, a fire broke out in the lower part of town, and before it could be checked had consumed over half the entire number of buildings, embracing more than half the business portion. The loss was estimated at 855,000, leaving several of the most enterprising citizens penniless. The town is off the main road of travel up the divide, and bears little of its former importance, the population, according to the last eensus, being 150.
CHAPTER XLVII.
RIVER BARS, VALLEYS, LAKES, ANIMALS, ETC.
The Old River Bars-Old Time Improvements-The Rivers in their Purity-Along the Southern Boundary-The Hunter's Home-Tahoe City-Lake Tahoe-Lake Tahoe's Name-The Georgetown Snag-Mountain Lakes-Mountain Peaks- Mountain Valleys-Squaw Valley-French Meadows- Picayune Valley-Soda Springs Valley-American Valley- Animals-An Amphibious Mouse-Unclassified Big Trees -Mining on Bear River in 1849.
A HISTORY would be incomplete that did not men- tion the old river bars, once so full of life, thronged with speculative humanity, so productive of gold, and the scene of so many queer incidents. Time was when they were the only places where towns were located, and where community congregated. The ridges adjoining the rivers were where the roads ran, over which freight was hauled to the bars, and the wayside taverns were there for the accom- modation of teamsters and travelers en route for the mines; but the mines were all on the river, at the bars, consequently the little stations along the roads owed their existence to the fact that there were bars upon the streams where all the gold was dug. No one then had begun to investigate the capabilities of mountain land, if, indeed, they had ever thought of anything else but to accumulate a " pile " and go to " the States." and consequently no further idea than temporary occupancy claimed the attention of the squatter upon the foot-hill domain. The river bars were " worked out " in a few years, that is, the gold- bearing strata of gravel they were composed of were washed off, and they were gone. And now, alas, all that is left of them are black sand flats, stretches of bare, white, sun-heated cobbles, or, perhaps, a cosy little vineyard or orchard. A description of one will suffice to depiet the general characteristics of all.
A rapid stream on one hand, curving around a peninsular-shaped, or a rectangular plat of land, with a sharp hilly background, down which eame trails and roads, the surface of the plat being elevated but a few feet above the level of the water in the river. Next to the high ground which formed the border is the street-the main one-narrow and crowded, and upon one, or each side, are the buildings. If large enough, there may be a few square feet allotted for the plaza, near which stands the round tent where all sorts of games of hazard are played and liquors dispensed; and perhaps adjoining that is the danee- house, with squeaking violins, dark-skinned senori-
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