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Volume 050-3 - July 1996 (6 pages)
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Page: of 6
A Race Over the Sierra, June 1911
by Edwin Tyson
Severat CITIZENS OF GRASS VALLEY in the first
decade of this century became interested in alternative forms
of transportation to the horse-drawn vehicles that had served
them since the 1850s. There was, for example, Richard E.
Jeffery, who built the area’s first steam powered automobile,
actually a modified carriage powered by a small steam engine
which he constructed in 1900.
But a real aficionado of the new gasoline-powered automobile was Arthur B. Foote, who registered his first car with
the California State Automobile Association on January 4,
1908. This first auto was a Ford Model S which was shipped
in parts to the railroad station in Colfax. Upon taking
delivery, Foote read and reread the accompanying manual,
then assembled his new vehicle, and drove it safely to Grass
Valley. His only complaint about the journey was the poor
condition of the wagon road with its deep ruts and high
center.
Until the first service station was built, Foote bought his
gasoline at a drug store and filled his car by carrying jug after
jug of gasoline.
Many years later, in the 1950s, Foote attended a “‘horseless
carriage” show at the local fairgrounds. There he found an
early Model S Ford just like one he had once owned. When
talking to the owner it turned out to be his old car. The
current owner had a list of all previous owners, and Foote’s
name headed the list.
In the early spring of 1911, the Tahoe Tavern, on the lake
26
shore near Tahoe City, offered a silver loving cup to the first
car to be driven over the summit after the winter snows of
that year. Although there was an all-weather rail line over the
pass, the impassable motor road meant less tourist business
for the Tavern. Of course the promoters envisioned that the
trophy would be claimed by some socially prominent San
Franciscan, and the news of his exploit would be featured in
San Francisco’s newspapers along with the name of the
sponsoring resort.
Foote, at the time assistant superintendent of the North
Star Mines Company; George Starr, managing director of the
Empire Mine; Charles Scarfe, chauffeur of the North Star
Company; attorney John Larue, and Dr. Carl Jones decided to
accept the challenge. The car chosen for the task was a Model
T Ford belonging to Foote.
On June 2. 1911, according to Foote’s diary, “Packed stuff,
took off windshield. Mr. Starr and I left for Emigrant Gap at
4 p.m. with shovels, tackle, etc. Passed Em. Gap about 6:30,
got stuck in snow 22 miles further on. Walked to Cisco, got
there 10:30 p.m.”
Notice the cables
attached to Arthur
Foote’s car, and the
runner device leaning against the front
axle. (All photos accompanying this article are from the
Searls Historical
Library.)
The distance from Grass Valley to Emigrant Pass was 394™
miles, and above that point snow drifts blocked the road, and
they had to stop for the day. The next day, Foote and Starr got
an early start and surveyed the road ahead. They walked to a
bridge that was out, and then went back to Crystal Lake. Here
they were met by Carl Jones and Charles Scarfe, who had