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Volume 075-1 - January 2021 (8 pages)
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Page: of 8
Early Road History
in Nevada County
By Maria E. Brower
In the Beginning
Prior to the Gold Rush, California was a vast area
with a very small population that was served
primarily by waterways from which primitive
roads and trails (probably used by native peoples
for millennia) lead to settlements, missions,
ranchos and eventually to the early placer gold
discoveries. The early land routes had been located
so as to avoid natural obstacles, often detouring
many miles to reach the best passes over hills
and streams. While natural topographies of the
terrain influenced the location of routes across
the mountains, their development and relative
importance were influenced by events that took
place and conditions that arose.' The biggest event
in California’s history was the Gold Rush.
Old turnpikes, stage and wagon routes in Nevada
County were planned and built by early individuals or
by companies, often consisting of family and friends,
incorporated in the county from approximately 1853
to 1870. Many routes bear their company’s name,
but many were identified by a common name such
as “road from Marysville” or “road to Washington.”
Although original routes have usually been modified
over the years, the endpoints remain the same.?
In 1895 the California State Legislature created
the State Bureau of Highways of the Department of
Public Works, and acquired the Lake Tahoe Wagon
Road, an early pioneer toll road, as the first state
highway. From this humble beginning the California
State Highway System developed. Under this
system every taxpayer in the State contributed to
the construction of the main highways as laid out
by the agency. The agency lasted until the California
Legislature of 1897 dissolved the Bureau of
Highways and created the Department of Highways.
As California’s population grew, along with the
popularity of automobiles and motorized trucks,
the function of the agency was to construct and
maintain the State Highway system to the highest
‘Nevada County Historical society
Bulletin
eee 75 NUMBER 1 JANUARY 202 i,
Eras of Development
of the California Road System
The Pioneer Era (1850-1875) was marked by
extension of the system of unimproved roads for
pack train and wagon, and bridge building by
private enterprise using native materials to carry
light loads.
The Railroad Era (1875-1915) was marked by
the expansion of the railroads to a position of
economic and political dominance; railroads
built the major bridges and made eastern steel
available.
The Highway Era (1915-1950) was marked by
construction of highways by public enterprise
as the automobile supplanted the horse and the
truck challenged freight; accelerated by discovery
of petroleum, growth of population, two world
wars and progressive prosperity.
possible degree with available funds. For the new
agency three commissioners, Richard C. Irvine,
Marsden Manson and Joseph L. Maude, were
appointed to serve for two years. At the end of
that time their offices automatically ceased, and
the powers attached to them were to be vested in
one man, who must be a civil engineer, appointed
by the Governor who would hold office for four
years. During their terms Irvine, Manson, and
Maude traveled a total of 7,768 miles throughout
California in the first year. During the second year
Mr. Irvine traveled over the northern portion of
the state, covering 3,500 miles. Mr. Manson made
a tour of Europe to observe the methods followed
by England, France, Germany, Russia and other
countries. The highway system recommended in
their report mapped out highways up and down
and across the state. Two sections affected, and
would go through, Nevada County, a Northern
California route, and a Lateral Highway route: