Volume 008-2 - March 1954 (2 pages)

The Magenta Flume By MRS. W. W. KALLENBERGER The construction of this flume showed what might be considered a characteristictic of the Latins as a race. The engineer who designed the structure was a Frenchman, Benoit Fauchery, and all in all it was a magnificent piece of engineering not only in the design of the undertaking itself but the skill in erecting the same. The beautiful architectural] wonder of the Italians and of the French that so excite our admiration of the day, the magnificent gothic structures exemplified in their cathedrals which stemmed from the Normans of France and their influences felt in England and Italy. The ruins of the Roman Empire and long preceding it the Arc de ‘Triomphe and the Eifel Tower show the propensity for constructing on a grand scale. The Panama Canal fiasco was grand even in failure, the Suez canal greater still. There was no particular need for the great height and length of the structures known as the National aqueduct eignteen hundred feet in length and sixtyfive feet in height and close by what we call the Magenta Aqueduct one hundred twenty-six feet in height and fourteen hundred feet in length. The flume was used for only a matter of eight years, when the height was reduced to forty feet and the length of this flume, a scarce five hundred feet, was built as a replacement. Nevertheless, the uselessness of the grand enterprize cannot detract from the great engineering feat accomplished, and in no wise can it detract either from the fine genius shown by M. Fauchery in its construction. This aqueduct was built in 1859 to span the gap between Cherry Hill and Eureka South. The flume was seven feet wide and sixteen inches high. The grade was one foot in a hundred. The sides were low to avoid the force of the wind. The timbers used were hewn from trees in the vicinity, no splicing was needed. Each section of flume was completed and raised as a unit. One of the tragedies that occurred before the tlume was entirely finished was told in the Nevada Democrat of July, 1859. A chisel became loose and fell from its handle while being used by a workman on top of the flume. It fell, striking another workman named Franklin in the back, the force causing the chisel to penetrate the man’s body. The men pulled the chisel out and as a Dr. Hunt was near by, he was called to attend the injury. Mr. Franklin lived ten days. When the work was finished great was the rejoicing by the French who shouted “Vive Magenta,” commemorating a great victory won by the French in their home land. People came from all parts of the county to attend the celebration put on by the Eureka Lake Co. The French and American flags were raised simultaneousiy over the flume while the band played, and salutes fired from the cannon by the French and Americans. Just before the sunset the more daring of the ladies joined the gentlemen and marched across the flume two abreast led by the band playing martial music. When the center of the flume was reached all stopped to look out across the country. Three cheers were given for the builders of the flume, for the ladies and for California. When they reached the ground again they all enjoyed a fine meal prepared by the Eureka Lake Company. There was a fine display of fire works, and dancing was enjoyed on a_ platform built for the event. Over two hundred people danced until the wee small hours. According to the Nevada Democrat of Aug. 1859 a man, David Warwick, rode his horse across the flume, tradition has it as a mule. Secretary, Mrs. Rogers, Rough and Ready, California Treasurer, Mrs. Helen Sawyer, Nevada Street, Nevada City, California. Nevada County Historical Society March, 1954 Vol. 8, No. 2 The French in Nevada County's Early History By W. W. KALLENBERGER In browsing through the mass of writings pertaining to California and _ its hectic Gold Rush years, the unique glamor of the period provided such a fertile field, in its brawlings, wildness, feverish haste, “the greener pastures just beyond” complex, that, for prolific writings and unnumbered yarns to be had in the making, is quite remarkable. It was no more than natural that, due to these conditions of the time, we do not read, extensively at least, of the foreign element that flocked to the shores of our wondrous state. What parts did they play in the drama? Joaquin Murietta, whose very name at the time occasioned the phrase “Murietta has been here” on a par with our more recent cliche, “Kilroy was here,’’ has made us conscious of the Mexican element, and makes for romantic reading. And there was the skirmish or two in Calaveras County involving Chileans in the rich placers of Chile Gulch, providing “Border Ruffianism” to be transplanted here by Missourians, Kentuckians and Texans. Again, the robbing of the Frenchmen of their rich strike on French Hill near Mokelumne Hill, and when the French armed themselves for protection of life and property, nearly precipitating a civil war thereby. These incidents were infamous since it was purely greed on the part of the Americans in both events. An excuse to preempt property of value belonging to no one particular “vace, color, religious belief or previous condition of servitude”’ as to that of any other. For, let it be asked, far and wide, the question: Just how did the U.S.A

The Magenta Flume By MRS. W. W. KALLENBERGER The construction of this flume showed what might be considered a characteristictic of the Latins as a race. The engineer who designed the structure was a Frenchman, Benoit Fauchery, and all in all it was a magnificent piece of engineering not only in the design of the undertaking itself but the skill in erecting the same. The beautiful architectural] wonder of the Italians and of the French that so excite our admiration of the day, the magnificent gothic structures exemplified in their cathedrals which stemmed from the Normans of France and their influences felt in England and Italy. The ruins of the Roman Empire and long preceding it the Arc de ‘Triomphe and the Eifel Tower show the propensity for constructing on a grand scale. The Panama Canal fiasco was grand even in failure, the Suez canal greater still. There was no particular need for the great height and length of the structures known as the National aqueduct eignteen hundred feet in length and sixtyfive feet in height and close by what we call the Magenta Aqueduct one hundred twenty-six feet in height and fourteen hundred feet in length. The flume was used for only a matter of eight years, when the height was reduced to forty feet and the length of this flume, a scarce five hundred feet, was built as a replacement. Nevertheless, the uselessness of the grand enterprize cannot detract from the great engineering feat accomplished, and in no wise can it detract either from the fine genius shown by M. Fauchery in its construction. This aqueduct was built in 1859 to span the gap between Cherry Hill and Eureka South. The flume was seven feet wide and sixteen inches high. The grade was one foot in a hundred. The sides were low to avoid the force of the wind. The timbers used were hewn from trees in the vicinity, no splicing was needed. Each section of flume was completed and raised as a unit. One of the tragedies that occurred before the tlume was entirely finished was told in the Nevada Democrat of July, 1859. A chisel became loose and fell from its handle while being used by a workman on top of the flume. It fell, striking another workman named Franklin in the back, the force causing the chisel to penetrate the man’s body. The men pulled the chisel out and as a Dr. Hunt was near by, he was called to attend the injury. Mr. Franklin lived ten days. When the work was finished great was the rejoicing by the French who shouted “Vive Magenta,” commemorating a great victory won by the French in their home land. People came from all parts of the county to attend the

celebration put on by the Eureka Lake Co. The French and American flags were raised simultaneousiy over the flume while the band played, and salutes fired from the cannon by the French and Americans. Just before the sunset the more daring of the ladies joined the gentlemen and marched across the flume two abreast led by the band playing martial music. When the center of the flume was reached all stopped to look out across the country. Three cheers were given for the builders of the flume, for the ladies and for California. When they reached the ground again they all enjoyed a fine meal prepared by the Eureka Lake Company. There was a fine display of fire works, and dancing was enjoyed on a_ platform built for the event. Over two hundred people danced until the wee small hours. According to the Nevada Democrat of Aug. 1859 a man, David Warwick, rode his horse across the flume, tradition has it as a mule. Secretary, Mrs. Rogers, Rough and Ready, California Treasurer, Mrs. Helen Sawyer, Nevada Street, Nevada City, California. Nevada County Historical Society March, 1954 Vol. 8, No. 2 The French in Nevada County's Early History By W. W. KALLENBERGER In browsing through the mass of writings pertaining to California and _ its hectic Gold Rush years, the unique glamor of the period provided such a fertile field, in its brawlings, wildness, feverish haste, “the greener pastures just beyond” complex, that, for prolific writings and unnumbered yarns to be had in the making, is quite remarkable. It was no more than natural that, due to these conditions of the time, we do not read, extensively at least, of the foreign element that flocked to the shores of our wondrous state. What parts did they play in the drama? Joaquin Murietta, whose very name at the time occasioned the phrase “Murietta has been here” on a par with our more recent cliche, “Kilroy was here,’’ has made us conscious of the Mexican element, and makes for romantic reading. And there was the skirmish or two in Calaveras County involving Chileans in the rich placers of Chile Gulch, providing “Border Ruffianism” to be transplanted here by Missourians, Kentuckians and Texans. Again, the robbing of the Frenchmen of their rich strike on French Hill near Mokelumne Hill, and when the French armed themselves for protection of life and property, nearly precipitating a civil war thereby. These incidents were infamous since it was purely greed on the part of the Americans in both events. An excuse to preempt property of value belonging to no one particular “vace, color, religious belief or previous condition of servitude”’ as to that of any other. For, let it be asked, far and wide, the question: Just how did the U.S.A