Humboldt County CA Archives History - Books .....Railroad Enterprises 1890 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com December 6, 2005, 8:26 pm Book Title: History And Business Directory Of Humboldt County Railroad Enterprises OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY RAILROADS must have some objective points of permanent resource to go to, or they will not be built. When Eureka is placed on an equal footing with other seaports of large commercial importance, by the work now being actively prosecuted by the Government for the improvement of our bar, railroad enterprise will not be slow to make an advance to Humboldt Bay. Judged by the results of similar undertakings on the Pacific coast, the success of the experiment is assured, and the advantages likely to accrue to our harbor cannot be overestimated. With a situation practically central on the coast line between San Francisco on the south and Portland on the north, with a harbor capacity for deep sea vessels of heavier tonnage, and made accessible to the marine of a foreign as well as a domestic commerce, an array of facts is presented that not only justifies the important work now being carried out, but also warrants the expectation of responsive enterprise in railway extension from the interior to the bay, as its most natural complement. Commanding an unbroken line of communication for trade, seaward and landward, with the gates of her commerce swung open to the east and the west, Eureka might be pardoned if she began to feel endowed with some of the attributes of a seaport town, in fact. The significance of these enterprises in joint operation must exceed any estimate of heretofore applied agencies in adding to and establishing an advanced position to industrial and commercial progress, and place our city and county foremost on the grand threshold of a new future, pregnant with possibilities of which our past has given but the faintest indications. Perhaps not an equal area in the United States can match that of our littoral belt of territory in the material elements of an export commerce. FIRST IN THE FIELD. It may be news to some to know that the first railroads constructed in the State were built in Humboldt county in 1854. At that date about 25 miles of well graded and substantially constructed roads were in full operation conveying logs to tide-water. Since then iron rails and modern improved locomotives have been substituted. HUMBOLDT AND MAD RIVER RAILROAD. John Vance, an active and enterprising man, desirous of being abreast of the times, in the early '50's asked the people of Eel River Valley and others who thereby would become beneficially affected, for the right of way and a small subsidy, as a guarantee, in return he agreed to construct and equip a railroad from Eureka up Eel River Valley. The offer was rejected on account of the diametrical opposition to granting subsidies. While others owning land along the route displayed a willing desire to be damaged, for the narrow strip necessary for a roadbed, to the full amount their entire property was valued at. Mr. Vance was thus compelled to forego a great and beneficial enterprise. A railroad project, however, was not abandoned by Mr. Vance, for in 1874 he commenced to build the HUMBOLDT AND MAD RIVER RAILROAD From tidewater to his mill on Mad River, a distance of about six miles. It opened up a large and beautiful section of farming, grazing and fruit land. This road cost Mr. Vance about $80,000 equipped, etc. Some years ago Mr. Vance constructed and built an extensive wharf and warehouse, and opened the road to the public. In 1875 the South Bay R. R. Co. laid a track from South Bay (Field's Landing) to Milford, a distance of about six miles. This road was built entirely for logging purposes, standard gauge, forty-pound T iron. Constructed and equipped it cost nearly $15,000 per mile. J. W. Henderson was the superintendent, The directors of the S. B. R. R. Co. three years later, when the supply for railroad purposes was practically exhausted, proposed extending the road up Eel River Valley. In this enterprise they met with no better result than did Mr. John Vance. The Board of Directors decided to move the rolling stock, track, and all the appurtenances, and invest it in the HUMBOLDT LOGGING RAILWAY CO. This road runs from tide-water up Freshwater creek, a distance of about five miles. The road is graded, substantially built and well equipped. It has about five miles of branch roads connecting the different logging camps of the Bxcelsior Redwood Co., which does one of the largest lumbering business in the county. ARCATA AND MAD RIVER RAILROAD. This road was incorporated July, 1881. It is a single track, narrow gauge road, running from the main ship channel at the northerly end of Humboldt Bay to North Fork via Arcata and Blue Lake. It extends up Mad River about fifteen miles into the heart of the redwood timber belt. The A. & M. R. Railroad occupies a prominent position as a productive factor of northern Humboldt prosperity. The road is extensively equipped for both freight and passage, and runs on schedule time, meeting stage and water craft arrivals. JACOBY CREEK R. R. Messrs. Dolbeer & Carson constructed and equipped this road. It was a standard gauge, built of T iron, with the grade in favor of the loaded cars, which enabled them to reach tide-water by their own momentum. TRINIDAD MILL CO. R. R. This corporation extended their road into the redwood belt at a cost of about $15,000 per mile. Josiah Bell, then of Trinidad, was the Superintendent. It is calculated there will be a timber supply to the mills for over twenty years. A road of nearly forty miles will be necessary to reach the end of the redwood belt. BUCKSPORT AND ELK RIVER RAILROAD CO. This road was constructed and first incorporated October 27, 1882, as the Elk River Railroad Co. It was built as a narrow gauge road with only 25-pound T iron. It was soon discovered that the strength and capacity of the road was insufficient for the amount and kind of work to be performed. At a meeting of the Directors on July 18, 1884, it was decided to incorporate the road under the name of the Bucksport and Elk River Railroad Co., and secure for the road a broader field of action and superior carriage power. The company uses the road to transport logs and lumber. Dolbeer & Carson and the Excelsior Redwood Co. are equal owners. There are about 12 miles of well equipped and substantially constructed road, costing $146,284. Josiah Bell is the Superintendent of the road, with the office at the Pioneer Building, Third street, between G and H Eureka. RYANS' SLOUGH R. R. Is a private line, owned and operated by McKay & Co., proprietors of the Occidental Mill. It is about six miles in lenghth, from tide-water to a magnificent belt of redwood, and the valley through which it passes is very fertile. The valley lands are cultivated by the company with great success. The road was first built by the late Allen McKay, who was in his time one of the most energetic and enterprising lumber manufacturers of Humboldt. J. J. Loggie is the Superintendent of this corporation. EEL RIVER AND EUREKA R. R. The Eel River and Eureka Railroad enters the valley of Eel River by a tunnel through Table Bluff about 2,000 feet in length, and reaches the north bank of Eel river near Singley's Ferry, traversing up the valley to Burnell's station. The entire length of the road is 25 miles. This road is principally owned and operated by the Hon. John Vance, and was first built and equipped by the company November 14, 1882, with Mr. Vance as President. Mr. Wm. S. Riddell is the efficient secretary of the road. This road is the best equipped and most systematically managed in the county. It passes through one of the most fertile valleys in the State, and it has been through the energetic efforts of Mr. Vance that Eel River Valley enjoys its present prosperity. PACIFIC LUMBER CO'S. RAILROAD. The Pacific Lumber Co's. R. R. connects with the E. R. & E. R. R. at a point a short distance below Burnell's Station, continuing up the South Fork of Eel river to a point opposite Rio Dell. This road is used almost exclusively by its owners for the transportation of its lumber product. However, within the last year a passenger train has been added, with two service trains daily, between Alton and Scotia. In consequence the people along the South Fork of Eel River have been considerably benefitted. There is no doubt in the minds of those best acquainted with the geographical situation of the county, about this being the key to an overland railway. The music of the steam horse, whose accompaniments are the ax and saw, awakens the echoes of the once uninhabited fastnesses of the hills and valleys. How magical is the touch of labor! How beautiful are the results! The vicissitudes of time, and the presence of enterprise and energy have placed Humboldt in the front rank of local railway facilities. It can be truthfully asserted that no other county has equal local rail communication. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History and Business Directory of HUMBOLDT COUNTY DESCRIPTIVE OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES DELIGHTFUL CLIMATE PICTURESQUE SCENERY BEAUTIFUL HOMES THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE CONTAINING NO CHINAMEN LILLIE E. HAMM, PUBLISHER (COPYRIGHTED) EUREKA, CALA. DAILY HUMBOLDT STANDARD NOVEMBER, 1890. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/humboldt/history/1890/historya/railroad155ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 9.8 Kb