Volume 006-5 - November 1952 (2 pages)

pany has a large and handsomely painted sleigh in which passengers are carried from Bope’s Ranch to Forest City with great expedition.” Arthur D. Foote, of Grass Valley, Civil and Mining Engineer, projected the Middle Yuba Canyon-Kanaka Creek entrance to Alleghany in 1912 to facilitate his mining operations in Alleghany. Fred Miller, Nevada County surveyor, was commissioned by Mr. Foote to make surveys from a point north of Columbia Hill to the water level a mile or so below Kanaka Creek. As early as the season permitted, construction started. The roadway was literally blasted out of the rock of the canyon wall 1500 feet above the stream bed. An artificial wall was constructed to sustain the outer side of the roadway. Large crews of Italians, Slavonians and Swiss laborers, many of whom were skilled. in rock work, were employed and the resulting walls built of native slate rock without mortar stand today perfectly intact. These walls extend downward from a few feet to 30 or 40 feet to secure a good rock footing against the wall of the canyon. In constructing the walls the workmen lowered staging over the sheer cliff such as a house painter would use. Workmen were suspended over the chasm. Eyebeams were driven into the rock walls of the canyon to afford support and in places the artificial wall had to be tied to the natural wall with iron bars. Most of the expense was borne by Arthur Foote, with some help from Navada and Sierra Counties, and mining companies. The original plan called for keeping the grade within the walls of Kanaka Creek, reaching Alleghany on an easy grade, but as the financial outlay had to be curtailed, Geo. Scarfe, Sierra County surveyor, surveyed the north wall road. It was meant to be a temporary route and is steep with a series of switchbacks and hairpin turns. Many colorful characters found their way into Alleghany. It was a very cosmopolitan population. Some men came to Alleghany to forget. One man drove tunnel far into the night to take his mind off the wife and child who died in a Coney Island boat tragedy. Some had characteristic names such as Bedbug Smith and Airdale George. Hoon, the last of the Chinese, was given a regal Chinese funeral, punks, perforated papers, and all the trappings by the men of Alleghany. One habitual drunk was put to bed in a coffin which Ray Hawkins kept in the attic of his store for emergency. The next morning the inhabitants were startled by the frightened and frantic yells from the drunk on finding himself in a coffin. One man bought stolen gold, and as he was a very religious fellow, had rosary beads made from the quartz. Chambermaids at the De Launey Hotel had trouble making the beds of the miners as the mattresses were so lumpy and bumpy with stolen ore. A washerwoman would watch the highgraders hide their ore, then steal it from them and hide it in her washtubs. The most famous charge ever given to a jury happened at Chipp’s Flat. The account of this charge is given in the Daily Transcript Dec. 27, 1860: “A trial came off at Chipp’s Flat between two companies for the possession of a valuable piece of mining ground. The companies agreed to have it tried before a Justice of the Peace and a Jury, and to abide by the decision without appeal. Justice Mac presided on the occasion, and a jury of twelve was impanneled. Trial commenced about ten o’clock in Whipple’s barroom. The court was so dignified it would not take a drink without adjourning, but would adjourn at every invitation to drink. At about dusk. all the evidence was in, and counsel on each side had argued the case. At that time the court had adjourned about thirty-four times to imbibe, so the judge thought he would deliver a charge to the jury. He commenced summing up the testimony, and laying down the law. He finally laid down something as law which one of the jurors thought very doubtful law, and so asked the court where it could be found. “What’s that?” inquired the court. “IT simply want to know where that law can be found,” replied the juror. “Gol darn you, sir!” said the insulted judge, reaching behind him, and drawing a revolver. “I'll give you to understand that when I tell you a thing is law, it is law!” As the revolver was being leveled at him, the juror broke for the door, and the other jurors not liking the look of the judge broke also. The judge followed. The jury started towards Minnesota, closely pressed by the Judge, with cocked revolver in hand. A fine foot race was the result, but on reaching the foot of the ridge that divides Chipp’s Fiat from Minnesota, the jury separated, calculating on the timber for protection. The anger of the judge had in a measure subsided, and the chase was given up. That charge to the jury was undoubtedly the most forcible ever known, and it settled the lawsuit. The parties met, took a drink, enjoyed a laugh and settled the rest amicably.” ~ ‘Nevada County Historical Society November, 1952 Volume 6, No. 5 ALLEGHANYTOWN By Doris E. Foley High on the side of a hill in Sierra County is the mining town of Alleghany. It holds a strange fascination for those who have lived there. It is in a world of its own. When the depression held its tight grip on the U.S.A., life in Alleghany moved prosperously. There were good salaries, comforable modern homes, and luxurious cars. A friendly family atmosphere prevailed among the inhabitants. Keen wits and a sense of humor made life bloom. Recreation was of their own making; sleighing, dancing, and amateur theatricals. A trip into the depression-hit areas was an experience in regal living. Nothing was too good for the man with an extra dollar. Being snowed in during the winter was not too difficult either. There was plenty of food in the larder, and wood piled high in the shed. The evening walk to the Post Office was always invigorating. The snow on the street packed solidly, and the electric lights illuminated the run way filled with bob-sleds and the happy laughter of children. To go for the evening mail meant a visit with the town family. Everyone was out, walking along “Plum Street,” so-called by Mayor Ray Hawkins because it went plumb through the town. Those of us who have left the security of this mountain retreat, and have faced the noisy pratter of an anxious world, often look back on those hushed snowladen evenings near the fire with a favorite book. At least in Alleghany one had time to think. The Nevada County Historical Society helped to institute the Sierra County group in Downieville, in 1949. This bulletin is therefore dedicated to our sister organization.

pany has a large and handsomely painted sleigh in which passengers are carried from Bope’s Ranch to Forest City with great expedition.” Arthur D. Foote, of Grass Valley, Civil and Mining Engineer, projected the Middle Yuba Canyon-Kanaka Creek entrance to Alleghany in 1912 to facilitate his mining operations in Alleghany. Fred Miller, Nevada County surveyor, was commissioned by Mr. Foote to make surveys from a point north of Columbia Hill to the water level a mile or so below Kanaka Creek. As early as the season permitted, construction started. The roadway was literally blasted out of the rock of the canyon wall 1500 feet above the stream bed. An artificial wall was constructed to sustain the outer side of the roadway. Large crews of Italians, Slavonians and Swiss laborers, many of whom were skilled. in rock work, were employed and the resulting walls built of native slate rock without mortar stand today perfectly intact. These walls extend downward from a few feet to 30 or 40 feet to secure a good rock footing against the wall of the canyon. In constructing the walls the workmen lowered staging over the sheer cliff such as a house painter would use. Workmen were suspended over the chasm. Eyebeams were driven into the rock walls of the canyon to afford support and in places the artificial wall had to be tied to the natural wall with iron bars. Most of the expense was borne by Arthur Foote, with some help from Navada and Sierra Counties, and mining companies. The original plan called for keeping the grade within the walls of Kanaka Creek, reaching Alleghany on an easy grade, but as the financial outlay had to be curtailed, Geo. Scarfe, Sierra County surveyor, surveyed the north wall road. It was meant to be a temporary route and is steep with a series of switchbacks and hairpin turns. Many colorful characters found their way into Alleghany. It was a very cosmopolitan population. Some men came to Alleghany to forget. One man drove tunnel far into the night to take his mind off the wife and child who died in a Coney Island boat tragedy. Some had characteristic names such as Bedbug Smith and Airdale George. Hoon, the last of the Chinese, was given a regal Chinese funeral, punks, perforated papers, and all the trappings by the men of Alleghany. One habitual drunk was put to bed in a coffin which Ray Hawkins kept in the attic of his store for emergency. The next morning the inhabitants were startled by the frightened and frantic yells from the drunk on finding himself in a coffin. One man bought stolen gold, and as he was a very religious fellow, had rosary beads made from the quartz. Chambermaids at the De Launey Hotel had trouble making the beds of the miners as the mattresses were so lumpy and bumpy with stolen ore. A washerwoman would watch the highgraders hide their ore, then steal it from them and hide it in her washtubs. The most famous charge ever given to a jury happened at Chipp’s Flat. The account of this charge is given in the Daily Transcript Dec. 27, 1860: “A trial came off at Chipp’s Flat between two companies for the possession of a valuable piece of mining ground. The companies agreed to have it tried before a Justice of the Peace and a Jury, and to abide by the decision without appeal. Justice Mac presided on the occasion, and a jury of twelve was impanneled. Trial commenced about ten o’clock in Whipple’s barroom. The court was so

dignified it would not take a drink without adjourning, but would adjourn at every invitation to drink. At about dusk. all the evidence was in, and counsel on each side had argued the case. At that time the court had adjourned about thirty-four times to imbibe, so the judge thought he would deliver a charge to the jury. He commenced summing up the testimony, and laying down the law. He finally laid down something as law which one of the jurors thought very doubtful law, and so asked the court where it could be found. “What’s that?” inquired the court. “IT simply want to know where that law can be found,” replied the juror. “Gol darn you, sir!” said the insulted judge, reaching behind him, and drawing a revolver. “I'll give you to understand that when I tell you a thing is law, it is law!” As the revolver was being leveled at him, the juror broke for the door, and the other jurors not liking the look of the judge broke also. The judge followed. The jury started towards Minnesota, closely pressed by the Judge, with cocked revolver in hand. A fine foot race was the result, but on reaching the foot of the ridge that divides Chipp’s Fiat from Minnesota, the jury separated, calculating on the timber for protection. The anger of the judge had in a measure subsided, and the chase was given up. That charge to the jury was undoubtedly the most forcible ever known, and it settled the lawsuit. The parties met, took a drink, enjoyed a laugh and settled the rest amicably.” ~ ‘Nevada County Historical Society November, 1952 Volume 6, No. 5 ALLEGHANYTOWN By Doris E. Foley High on the side of a hill in Sierra County is the mining town of Alleghany. It holds a strange fascination for those who have lived there. It is in a world of its own. When the depression held its tight grip on the U.S.A., life in Alleghany moved prosperously. There were good salaries, comforable modern homes, and luxurious cars. A friendly family atmosphere prevailed among the inhabitants. Keen wits and a sense of humor made life bloom. Recreation was of their own making; sleighing, dancing, and amateur theatricals. A trip into the depression-hit areas was an experience in regal living. Nothing was too good for the man with an extra dollar. Being snowed in during the winter was not too difficult either. There was plenty of food in the larder, and wood piled high in the shed. The evening walk to the Post Office was always invigorating. The snow on the street packed solidly, and the electric lights illuminated the run way filled with bob-sleds and the happy laughter of children. To go for the evening mail meant a visit with the town family. Everyone was out, walking along “Plum Street,” so-called by Mayor Ray Hawkins because it went plumb through the town. Those of us who have left the security of this mountain retreat, and have faced the noisy pratter of an anxious world, often look back on those hushed snowladen evenings near the fire with a favorite book. At least in Alleghany one had time to think. The Nevada County Historical Society helped to institute the Sierra County group in Downieville, in 1949. This bulletin is therefore dedicated to our sister organization.