Volume 002-7 - December 1949 (2 pages)

December, 1949 In order to shorten the annual business meeting in favor of the program tobe given by the Nuggeteers, the following committees . reported at the November meting. The Centennial Committee planned and promoted a float in the July Fourth parade in Grass Valley. It featured the first automobile made there by Richard Jeffrey in.1900. Passengers in appropriate attire waved to the amused crowd on the streets. This committee included Jerry Brust, Chairman, Edna Sampson, Elza Kilroy, Harold Biggs, Mary Bibbs, John Tremewan, Ernest Hocking, Gilbert Tennis, Mrs. Frank Rowe and Gene Ingalls. The Historical Sites Committee erected seventyeight redwood markers throughout the county. The committee would appreciate the cooperation of the public in protecting them. Two were taken down in the Nevada City area during Halloween. The committee includes John Tremewan, Chairman, Herb Nile, George Hansen, Forest Varney, Isabel Hefelfinger, Ann Whiting, Vere Hansen, Lorraine Keast, Warren O'Dell, Frank Rowe, Carl Tobiassen, Frank Loehr and J. Coughlin. The Museum Committee added two new cases to the Historical Museum located at 214 Main Street, Nevada City. One for a Chinese display, and the other for a Neveda County minetal exhibit. The expenses for the museum which included painting and the framing of pictures came to $235.22. Mrs, Martha Dillon faithfully carried on as curator after the death of William H. Wayman, and the Society greatly appreciates her work. Over 3000 people visited the museum during the open months, from May through September. The Secretary-Treasurer, Junies Chase reported a balance of $75.00 in the treasury. The finance Committee included Gene Ingalls, Judge James Snell and George W. Hallock. The Program Committee had varied and interesting programs at each meeting. Good speakers, a dinner and a pageant, and an excursion to the North San Juan Ridge with Bob Paine as guide. Members of this committee are Gene Ingalls, Chairman, Herbert Nile, Dorothy Dyke, George Hallock, Judge Snell, Doris Foley, Gertrude Goyne, Edna Sampson, William Durbrow, Mrs. George Legg, Vere Hansen, Dr. and Mrs. Evans, John Tremewan,.° Forest Varney, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Ingalls, Robert Paine and Helen Chapman. The Publicity Committee wrote interesting articles throughout the year about the activities of the Historical Society which appeared in the Union, the Nugget and the Sacramento Bee as well as the Historical Publication issued to members. This committee includes Edmund Kinyon, Chairman, Robert Paine, W. W. Kallenberger, Eileen Mair, Eugene Ingalls, Doris Foley and Axel Gravender. The Library Committee added the following books to the Grass Valley and Nevada City Historical Society Bookshelves as a memorial to William H. Wayman, the Nevada County Museum’'s first curator. ‘Wells Fargo,” by W. ” Hungerford, “Gold is the Cornerstone,’ ., Cuaghey, “The Virginia and Truckee,” by Beebe and Clegg, “The Big Bonanza,” by Glasscock, and “The Wake of the Prairie Schooner,” by Irene D. Paden, The Research Committee includes Mrs. Audrey Welselsky, Chairman, H. P. Davis, Mrs. C. Ludwig, Mr. and Mrs. George Legg, Olive Kallenberger and F. A. Austin. Mrs. Welselsky's interesting article on the Ridge Road Telephone appears in this issue. The Indian’ Research Committee has done a great deal of work in collecting material which is being compiled into a scrapbook for the Museum Library. Committee members are Genevieve Kent, Chairman, Marie Knight and Herbert Nile. Manuscripts for publication on Nevada County history should be sent to Mrs. Doris E. Foley, 538 Main Street, Nevada City, California. Cover photograph taken by and courtesy of Frank and Harriet Jakobs, Grass Valley. Another First for Nevada County by AUDREY WELSELSKY in these days of radio and television, with tne exception of a few old-timers, Nevada County has forgotten one of its first © nists" — ane Ledge Letepbone Line— sixty miles in length, 1c extended trom krencn Corral, in INevada County to Milton in Sierra County, with a branch to Foucharie; it was successtuluy operated until the beginning ot 1900. ‘Lhe line was built by tnree large hydrauiic goldmining companies operating on the Ridge. Needing instant communication tor the regujation ot water in the ditches during the late summer when water was scarce, the news of the invention of the telephone solved this problem tor the early miners. Quick communication to the higher ditch camps allowed them to conserve water and prolong the operating season. The companies formed the Ridge ‘Velephone Company and the sixty-mile line was built. There were thirty instruments on the line when it was opened for service, approximately twen' of these were in toll offices, usually in post vfices. The Western Union Telegraph Co. had a direct line from Nevada City to North San Juan, where interline arrangements were made with the Ridge Telephone Co., thus putting the most distant community on the Ridge Line in communication with the rest of the U. S. The “speaking telephone” was an immediate success. The Daily Transcript, dated March 8, 1878, carried this item, headed “Talking Through a Telephone.” A telephone intended for use in the Blue Tent Gravel Mine, was on exhibition in this city yesterday afternoon, and excited considerable interest, The instrument was attached to either end of the private telephone line which extends from the Western Union Office to the residence, nearly half a mile distance, of Mr. A. Nevens, Jr. A conversation was carried on with ease between parties located at either end of the road, and the practicability of the invention was demonstrated to the satisfaction of all who witnessed its successful operation." The original rules of the Company governing the use of the telephone indicate that it was closely connected with telegraphy and its operation. ‘Lhe telephones could not be used except by those in charge of the office. A message, called a “dispatch,” was written on a regular form by the sender, and the operator “sent” it. Kegular charges were scheduled, such as are used for telegrams. An interesting rule was “Persons in charge of offices will be allowed to use the line for their own business free of charge, but as the use of the line exhausts the battery power, it is not to be used for idle talking.” Mr. James Norris, who resided in old Sebastopol, near North San Juan, was in charge of the line. Every morning he called each battcry station, (a battery unit was called a station) to see how the bell was ringing. When hydraulic mining was stopped by the Anti-Debris Law of 1884, a new use was found for the Ridge Telephone Line. As a result of debris coming down into the valley, ‘‘Slickers’’ or ‘‘Spys” as they were _ called, were sent up by the government to. investigate the mines. As they passed through North San Juan or French Corral local inhabitants, or mine employees, promptly ‘phoned the mines, “The slickers are coming,” and immediately all water was shut off, everyone returncd home, and the mines were dead. Result—no report. But the passing of the Anti-Debris Law marked the beginning of the end of the pionecr long-distance telephone line, though parts of it remained in use for many years. An old square pole made from heart cedar may still be found along the line buried deep in cround litter and brush, Material for this article was taken from an atlicle by J. L. Wolff, published in a 1934 Standard O# Bulletin, from gona & West's History and Directory of Nevada Connty, and information given by Mr. W. E. Moulton of French Corral, Nevada County.

December, 1949 In order to shorten the annual business meeting in favor of the program tobe given by the Nuggeteers, the following committees . reported at the November meting. The Centennial Committee planned and promoted a float in the July Fourth parade in Grass Valley. It featured the first automobile made there by Richard Jeffrey in.1900. Passengers in appropriate attire waved to the amused crowd on the streets. This committee included Jerry Brust, Chairman, Edna Sampson, Elza Kilroy, Harold Biggs, Mary Bibbs, John Tremewan, Ernest Hocking, Gilbert Tennis, Mrs. Frank Rowe and Gene Ingalls. The Historical Sites Committee erected seventyeight redwood markers throughout the county. The committee would appreciate the cooperation of the public in protecting them. Two were taken down in the Nevada City area during Halloween. The committee includes John Tremewan, Chairman, Herb Nile, George Hansen, Forest Varney, Isabel Hefelfinger, Ann Whiting, Vere Hansen, Lorraine Keast, Warren O'Dell, Frank Rowe, Carl Tobiassen, Frank Loehr and J. Coughlin. The Museum Committee added two new cases to the Historical Museum located at 214 Main Street, Nevada City. One for a Chinese display, and the other for a Neveda County minetal exhibit. The expenses for the museum which included painting and the framing of pictures came to $235.22. Mrs, Martha Dillon faithfully carried on as curator after the death of William H. Wayman, and the Society greatly appreciates her work. Over 3000 people visited the museum during the open months, from May through September. The Secretary-Treasurer, Junies Chase reported a balance of $75.00 in the treasury. The finance Committee included Gene Ingalls, Judge James Snell and George W. Hallock. The Program Committee had varied and interesting programs at each meeting. Good speakers, a dinner and a pageant, and an excursion to the North San Juan Ridge with Bob Paine as guide. Members of this committee are Gene Ingalls, Chairman, Herbert Nile, Dorothy Dyke, George Hallock, Judge Snell, Doris Foley, Gertrude Goyne, Edna Sampson, William Durbrow, Mrs. George Legg, Vere Hansen, Dr. and Mrs. Evans, John Tremewan,.° Forest Varney, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Ingalls, Robert Paine and Helen Chapman. The Publicity Committee wrote interesting articles throughout the year about the activities of the Historical Society which appeared in the Union, the Nugget and the Sacramento Bee as well as the Historical Publication issued to members. This committee includes Edmund Kinyon, Chairman, Robert Paine, W. W. Kallenberger, Eileen Mair, Eugene Ingalls, Doris Foley and Axel Gravender. The Library Committee added the following books to the Grass Valley and Nevada City Historical Society Bookshelves as a memorial to William H. Wayman, the Nevada County Museum’'s first curator. ‘Wells Fargo,” by W. ” Hungerford, “Gold is the Cornerstone,’ ., Cuaghey, “The Virginia and Truckee,” by Beebe and Clegg, “The Big Bonanza,” by Glasscock, and “The Wake of the Prairie Schooner,” by Irene D. Paden, The Research Committee includes Mrs. Audrey Welselsky, Chairman, H. P. Davis, Mrs. C. Ludwig, Mr. and Mrs. George Legg, Olive Kallenberger and F. A. Austin. Mrs. Welselsky's interesting article on the Ridge Road Telephone appears in this issue. The Indian’ Research Committee has done a great deal of work in collecting material which is being compiled into a scrapbook for the Museum Library. Committee members are Genevieve Kent, Chairman, Marie Knight and Herbert Nile. Manuscripts for publication on Nevada County history should be sent to Mrs. Doris E. Foley, 538 Main Street, Nevada City, California. Cover photograph taken by and courtesy of Frank and Harriet Jakobs, Grass Valley. Another First for Nevada County by AUDREY WELSELSKY in these days of radio and television, with tne exception of a few old-timers, Nevada

County has forgotten one of its first © nists" — ane Ledge Letepbone Line— sixty miles in length, 1c extended trom krencn Corral, in INevada County to Milton in Sierra County, with a branch to Foucharie; it was successtuluy operated until the beginning ot 1900. ‘Lhe line was built by tnree large hydrauiic goldmining companies operating on the Ridge. Needing instant communication tor the regujation ot water in the ditches during the late summer when water was scarce, the news of the invention of the telephone solved this problem tor the early miners. Quick communication to the higher ditch camps allowed them to conserve water and prolong the operating season. The companies formed the Ridge ‘Velephone Company and the sixty-mile line was built. There were thirty instruments on the line when it was opened for service, approximately twen' of these were in toll offices, usually in post vfices. The Western Union Telegraph Co. had a direct line from Nevada City to North San Juan, where interline arrangements were made with the Ridge Telephone Co., thus putting the most distant community on the Ridge Line in communication with the rest of the U. S. The “speaking telephone” was an immediate success. The Daily Transcript, dated March 8, 1878, carried this item, headed “Talking Through a Telephone.” A telephone intended for use in the Blue Tent Gravel Mine, was on exhibition in this city yesterday afternoon, and excited considerable interest, The instrument was attached to either end of the private telephone line which extends from the Western Union Office to the residence, nearly half a mile distance, of Mr. A. Nevens, Jr. A conversation was carried on with ease between parties located at either end of the road, and the practicability of the invention was demonstrated to the satisfaction of all who witnessed its successful operation." The original rules of the Company governing the use of the telephone indicate that it was closely connected with telegraphy and its operation. ‘Lhe telephones could not be used except by those in charge of the office. A message, called a “dispatch,” was written on a regular form by the sender, and the operator “sent” it. Kegular charges were scheduled, such as are used for telegrams. An interesting rule was “Persons in charge of offices will be allowed to use the line for their own business free of charge, but as the use of the line exhausts the battery power, it is not to be used for idle talking.” Mr. James Norris, who resided in old Sebastopol, near North San Juan, was in charge of the line. Every morning he called each battcry station, (a battery unit was called a station) to see how the bell was ringing. When hydraulic mining was stopped by the Anti-Debris Law of 1884, a new use was found for the Ridge Telephone Line. As a result of debris coming down into the valley, ‘‘Slickers’’ or ‘‘Spys” as they were _ called, were sent up by the government to. investigate the mines. As they passed through North San Juan or French Corral local inhabitants, or mine employees, promptly ‘phoned the mines, “The slickers are coming,” and immediately all water was shut off, everyone returncd home, and the mines were dead. Result—no report. But the passing of the Anti-Debris Law marked the beginning of the end of the pionecr long-distance telephone line, though parts of it remained in use for many years. An old square pole made from heart cedar may still be found along the line buried deep in cround litter and brush, Material for this article was taken from an atlicle by J. L. Wolff, published in a 1934 Standard O# Bulletin, from gona & West's History and Directory of Nevada Connty, and information given by Mr. W. E. Moulton of French Corral, Nevada County.