Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-29
Putnam Valley and Vicinity.

EDS RECORD UNION: Putnam valley, the
terminus of what is called the steam wagon
road, is situated one mile and a quarter
from the town of Emigrant Gap, and in a
direct line about two miles from Blue Can
yon, over quite high and mountainous
country. Putnam valley is named after
Samuel Putnam, the founder of the first
sawmil erected in these mountains. and
who lust previous to his death run saw
mill in this valley. The valley lies between
two high mountains. The latter in summer,
or the greater part thereof, are dotted with
large punches of snow, which remain the
greater part of the season, and thereby
causes an ever-running stream of ice cold
water, and what is known as the north
branch of the north fork of the American
river which heads about three miles above,
in Wilson's valley, one mile and half
above Emigrant Gap. Before the settle
ment of the valley by the Steam Transporta-
ton Company ofSacramento, it was wholly
unknown to the outside world; but by their
making this the terminus of their road,
and also the landing and shipping place of
all lumber and material hauled by them,
has had the tendency of building up quite
| village, and at this writing promises to be
the largest and most busy place in the
mountains.
J. J. Woodbury., who formerly kept the
| Woodbury. Hotel at Tunnel Siding, has
erected large and commodious hotel in
the valley for the accommodation of tour
| lists and those connected with the different
companies. The different mills making
this the shipping point of all their lumber
are the Tunnel mill, Friend & Terry, pro-
prietors, situated about 81 miles from this
place; Texas mill. Towle Bros, proprie-
tors, distant p miles; Cy Carlin's mill,
about miles distant. The different COM
panies have erected large warehouses on
| the switch of the Central Pacific Railroad.
| The latter were constructed by these COM
panies for their own particular use, com
mencing ut No. y woodshcd and extending
| for a mile and Il quarter into the valley.
| The steam wagon, of which so much has
| been said. and which was intended to haul
all the lumber manufactured by the differ
ent companies. has about failed of being q
| success They have now been about two
months at work steady with a large crowd
of Cinnamon draining and thoroughly
macadamiZing the road, but so far the
work has been in vain, as during the
stormy steason the ground was so wet as
| to allow the steamers to keep sinking from
| their weight OH apparently solid ground F.;
| but after the ground got hard enough to
allow hauling the steamers kept breaking
| by running into rocks and other hard ma
tcral. and also by the sudden jars and jolts.
| The Steam Wagon Company insist that it
will do the work intended for it, and say
that, Notwithstanding the bad luck they
have encountered, it still will be success.
At this writing both wagons are broken
down and the broken parts have been sent
| to the city for repairs
| The road is one of the finest in the noun
tains, and would make fine drive from
the valley to the mills. A number of
teams have already been placed at hauling
on the road, owing to the inability of the
! wagons, and will continue until the steam
wagons are repaired. The mills have great
quantities of lumber on hand, and more
accommodating every day. At most mills
the wards are so full that no room is left for
piling it away.
In the valley is also situated the Daha-
| lonaga quartz mine. and work is prose
cuted with vigor and considerable pros
pecting is going on. Mr.. Hoagland, an old
prospector and merchant of Clipper Gap
who is now rusticating in these parts for
his health, came in from prospecting
tour this morning with several quartz
powders, of which he is very reticent, and
| only says: see those mis-; that Is where
the prospects came from
| We have had at different times number
of Sacramento people in our midst. n. l..
Drew is now residing here among our tour
lists and says he intends to spend the whole
summer Mr. Doan, the inventor of the
steam wagon, together with his wife and
daughter Mamie, are also residing in the
valley. The are number of tourists now
holding out in the valley, too numerous at
this writing to mention, but which shows
well for a summer resort established but a
year since. b.
! Emigrant Gap, July 26. 1884.