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Ukiah City Press, A.O. Carpenter, Editor
Ukiah City, California, Friday, February 28, 1879
THE EEL RIVER BRIDGES
So much having been said of the bridges built over Eel river the past summer, we concluded to go and see them, and set at rest any dispute in our own mind as to their efficiency or worthlessness, and last week we went accompanied by L. Van Dusen.
The chief cause of complaint has been the northern one of the two bridges, that spanning middle fork of Eel river. Rumor said it had settled four inches on one side; quick upon the heels of this report came another that one cable had dropped 18 inches below a level; and this before anything but a footman had crossed it.
We found the report true. The upriver or eastern cable supporting the bridge had pulled its anchorage sufficiently to drop that side of the bridge at least 16 inches below its proper level, and the walking of a footman across it, caused it to oscillate sensibly.
The bridge is light and cables strong, but being built between two sharp points of sandstone rock, on either side the river, the anchors which hold the end of the cables have not been properly set, and one of them has given to the extent spoken of. The rocks are seamy sandstone, with crevices in all directions, filled with dirt and the ledge at best but little wider than the bridge.
Instead of setting the iron bedplates, into which the cable fastenings are bolted, down in solid rock level with the floor of the bridge, the contractor had sunk into the loose boulders compasing the surface of the points a short distance, set their irons in these and filled them up with cement masonry. In three instances, to cover the irons the masonry had to be carried up two or three feet above even the loose rock of the point. The other one is covered with dirt of the grading so that we could not tell whether it was sunk in gravel, dirt or rock.
The approach on the south side has been built under the superintendence of the. bridge company's mason, and passes to the left of the anchor that was started, and under the cable leading to it. The winter rains and strain on the cable, together, have loosened the precarious sandstone to such an extend that a few hours' work with a pick would expose the entire masonry in this anchor-well to view, and it is our belief that a heavy rain would do it unaided except by the strain of the bridge on the cable.
It astonishes beyond expression that the Pacific Bridge company should have rested their reputation upon so insecure a foundation as these anchors have. It is still more a matter of surprise that the Hoard of Supervisors should have accepted such work. If the board were not experts, they should have employed one to either superintend and closely scan the work being done, or to pronounce on its character when offered for acceptance . . . It is said the company asked the board to level the points down and make the approaches before they built the bridge, and that failure to do so is reason enough for their placing the anchors so insecurely high and loosely. This, if so, is no excuse for the contractors, but adds to the culpability of remissness of the board, who should have at once understood that the contactors were thereby laying the foundation for a defence on noncompliance with contract. Had the anchors been placed down to a proper level, good solid rock could have been found, and the grading, or the approaches, or the rain would not have effected them . . .
Of course it cannot be once been nearly completed, but have now caved in. A thousand dollars will perhaps repair it, or rather put it in the condition it should have at first been in order to render it acceptable on the contract. We understand the company have signified their willingness to do whatever seems necessary to put the bridge in order, and trust they mean what they say.
The South Eel river bridge is a good one, except for pine timber put into it, and its being about four feet too low. Both bridges ought to have a coat of coal tar. This should have been applied to the joints when the. bridges were put together, to preserve the fir timber from rot.
Mendocino Dispatch Democrat
Ukiah, California,
May 2, 1890
Money in Hogs.
The raising of hogs in Mendocino county is like picking up nuggets of gold worth $50 a piece. There is no labor or expense, apparently, in rearing porkers for market in that part of the country; they take care of themselves, require no looking after and when the time for marketing arrives they will have paid their owner $2 or $3 a piece for the privilege of living on his premises and enjoying their youth in pastoral freedom. J.B. Hunt, of Boonville, tells of a case in point. A man turned out a lot of hogs to roam over the hills, which weighed in the aggregate 4,400 pounds. They were left to themselves four months and were not seen by their owner more than two or three times during that period. When brought in for market the lot, minus eleven which were left for a nest egg, weighed 9,000 pounds. What did the swine subsist on? Acorns, and nothing else. From Anderson Valley during the last few months the proceeds from the sale of hogs amounted to nearly $10,000.
Santa Rosa Democrat
San Francisco Call, San Francisco, California
June 29, 1896
CAPE MENDOCINO DISASTER
The Schooners Mary Buhne and Jennie Thelin Collide
Both Are Badly Damaged
Eureka, Cal, June 28--While in the vicinity of Cape Mendocino, the schooner Mary Buhne, returned empty from a southern trip last night, collided with the Jennie Thelin, bound for San Francsico, ehavily loaded with lumber. The Thelin was struck amidships and immediately filled with water. The lumber prevented it from sinking. Both vessels were badly damaged. The Buhne's bow was injured, and the Thelin's side caved in. The tug Ranger towed them into port this afternoon.
The crew of the Buhne claim that no side lights were exposed to view on the Thelin, and it was not seen until only a few yards away.
San Francisco Call, San Francisco, California
August 24, 1902
Through School of Sharks
The steamship George W. Elder arrived yesterday from Portland. Captain Randall reports that off Cape Mendocino he ran through a large school of sharks.
Los Angeles Herald, Los Angeles, California
July 27, 1905
STEAMER TOTAL LOSS
Norwegian Ship Tricolor Still Ashore at Cape Mendocino
By Associated Press
EUREKA, Cal., July 26 -- With a fair chance of holding together many days yet, despite the fact that breakers are pounding over her, the Norwegian steamer Tricolor, which went ashore in the fog at Cape Mendocino at 3 o'clock yesterday morning, still lies hard and fast on the rocks.
Captain Wold states that the steamer was fully insured. He is very bitter in his comments of the lightship stationed on the Mendocino coast, to whose failure to give good service he attributes the loss of his vessel. He stated this morning that the lightship was inactive when he passed her and that no sound was heard from her until 5:30 a. m., when she started blowing. This was after the steamer had gone ashore.
