Plumas County, CA History

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta Jul 2009

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Illustrated History of PLUMAS, LASSEN & SIERRA Counties
with CALIFORNIA from 1513 to 1850, Farriss & Smith , 1882, San Francisco.



TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION 
    
  
           The demand for routes of travel, caused by the sudden opening and 
rapid development of the mines in what were then considered remote mountain 
wilds, was imperative. Supplies had to be brought to the thousands who flocked 
into this unexplored region. Those who came in 1850, knowing they were about to 
plunge into the wilderness, generally came supplied with sufficient provisions 
to last until winter, and as the storms began to set in, with but few exceptions 
they turned their faces to the west, and found their way out of the mountains. 
Coming back again the next spring, accompanied by hundreds more, they again came 
well supplied with provisions. These were brought on the backs of mules and 
horses, which were with great difficulty, and not without frequent disastrous 
accidents, conducted into the deepest recesses of the mountains. A few 
speculative individuals engaged in the business of packing goods to the mines, 
which they sold at trading posts owned by themselves, or disposed of to other 
merchants who had opened trade emporiums in shake shanties, brush houses, or 
canvas tents in nearly every infant mining camp that has sprung up. This was for 
several years the only means for transporting heavy articles into the county. 
        There were two routes of travel into this section: one from Marysville, 
through Strawberry valley to Onion valley, and the middle fork of Feather river, 
and thence on to American valley; and one from Bidwell's bar to Buck's Ranch, 
Spanish Ranch, American and Indian valleys, and the mines on the north fork and 
was east branch. The former was the first one opened, but the latter has been 
the most important. Pack-trains varied in size from two or three mules to half a 
hundred, a few even greater. Three hundred pounds were considered a good load 
for a mule; but occasionally such articles as safes, printing presses, pianos, 
etc., weighing several hundred morel were brought on the back of a lusty mule. 
The constant passage of these trains over the mountains made a trail that was 
soon after, by a little work, made passable for wagons and stages, especially on 
the lower route as far as Onion valley. It was not, however, until toll roads 
were built by private enterprise, and the county had spent considerable money on 
public highways, that the freight wagon and stage succeeded the old-pack mule 
and mounted express.