The Reign of the Lumber Barons: Part Two of the History of Rancho Soquel Augmentation (The Secret History of Santa Cruz County)

THEY CAME WITH AXES. THEY CAME WITH OXEN. THEY CAME WITH GREED. In the forests along Aptos, Valencia, Corralitos, and Soquel Creeks in Santa Cruz County, California, miles of wilderness sat untouched by humans, a relic of Mexican land grants long neglected. But entrepreneurial and ambitious men saw in the endless tracts of coast redwood something valuable and ripe for exploitation. From the 1860s, they sent legions of fallers, peelers, sawyers, and lumberjacks into the hills above Aptos. Skid roads gave way to railroads as labyrinthine paths were carved through near-impassable terrain to reach the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. This was the domain of the lumber barons, self-made aristocrats such as John Brown, Charles Ford, the Doughertys, the Grovers, and Frederick A. Hihn. Their activities in the late nineteenth century led to reckless deforestation, but they also sparked life. Rugged mountain towns arose in Loma Prieta and Valencia, communities with their own schools, businesses, and cultures. This is a chronicle of their lives and the golden age of the lumber industry in Rancho Soquel Augmentation.
ASIN: 1953609414
VSKU: GBV.1953609414.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Powell, Ronald G.|Whaley, Derek R.
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: This book is in acceptable condition and may have highlighting and or writing throughout. The actual cover image may not match the stock photo, dust jacket may be damaged or missing. Book may show internal and or external wear on spine or cover and may be slightly skewed or have creased pages. This is a used book so codes may be invalid or accompanying media may be missing. May be an Ex library book with stickers and stamps.