Pescadero Memories

From the San Mateo Times & Gazette:

In January 1882 a wealthy Chinese company purchased 400 acres of timber land near the old Gazos mill property and they were getting ready to fill a heavy contract for railroad ties for the use of a railroad company. The ties are to be hauled to Pigeon Point and shipped to San Francisco.

In February 1882 the Chinese company known to buy land near the Gazos Creek secured transportation by a stage company for 300 laborers to go down there. The first group arrived last Sunday and more are to follow day by day as needed. They are to construct a tramway or a railroad down Gazos creek to the county roat or to the Pigeon Point chute. The cost of the road is to be shared with the parties about to open up the old Gazos mill property. MicKinley of San Francisco is the principal to the last named enterprise and propose to re-establish the old Gazos and to build a new mill up Bear Gulch where the timber has been little used. The mills are to manufacture shingles, lumber and sawed railroad ties. The Chinese company is to make ties for the Stanford roads and firewood. A white man acts as superintendent and general manager but the principal members are Chinese. The tract of land bought by them is sometimes said to be as high as 4,000 acres but the truth seems to be 2,900 acres.

In February 1882 20 wood choppers and laborers from Santa Cruz went to the new lumber capt to be opened near Pigeon Point by C.H. Miller and Charles R. Hoff. Others are to follow and a boom will commence up the coast. James McKinley of San Francisco obtained a stumpage lease from Wm. B. Carr of 1740 acres of land on Gazos Creek and has also Gazos Mill and 800 acres of adjacent timber from Captain Jordan and J.S. Story. From both tracts he plans to cut timber, wood and railroad supplies. He intends to remove all timber, leaving nothing behind. McKinley plans to build two new mills on land and the present Gazos mill will run day and night, using gang edgers and turning out 50,000 to 60,000 feet per day. Chas. R. Hoff and C.H. Miller do all the logging and sawing by the thousand. Tramway of five miles in length is to be built from the mills to the landing at Pigeon Point where the lumber will be shipped to San Francisco.

In June 1882 the Gazos lumber company has a new post office with Hobbs as the postmaster. Will be quite a town there. It now has a lumber mill, whiskey mill, a store, pos office, all in just a few months.

In July 1882 Miller and Hoff at Gazos Mill sold out their contract to James McKinley. Miller stays as managing agent for McKinley while Charlie Hoff hunts the world for a job.

In July 1882 the Gazos Creek railroad company filed articles of incorporation with the secretary of state to construct, operate and maintain a narrow gauge railroad for transporting passengers and lumber from a point on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, at or near the mouth of Gazos Creek to the Gazos Mill, a distance of five miles. The principal place of business is San Francisco. Directors: William Irvine, J.B. Reinstein, James McKinley, Thomas F. Barry. Capital: $25,000 in 250 shares.

In July 1882 two monstrous land frigates or prarie schonner wagons drawn by 16 mules came here from a Nevada quartz mine last Saturday. They are destined to haul the lumber and railroad ties from Gazos mill to the landing.

In July 1882 the large prarie schooner wagon had an upset when the mules and the wagon rolled down a steep hill: the wagon and the tam are too big and unwieldy for the narrow mountain roads. The Pescadero and Santa Cruz stage makes stops by way of the new post office at Gazos mills.

In September 1882 James McKinley assigned his interest in the Gazos mill property to Cronsen Smith for the benefit of his creditors. Parties are settling accounts. Hope to resume business in 7-10 days.

In June 1883 the post office at Gazos was discontinued by the postal authorities and all mail must be addressed to Pescadero.

In November 1883 P.E. Bowles of San Francisco bought the Gazos Mill property, including the claim of Tai Wing & Co.

In March 1884 Loren Coburn bought from S.J. Story his entire interest in the Gazos Mill property, including the mill and the buildings as well as the timber land. The sale was subject to McKinley’s lease which hasn’t expired yet.

In September 1884 James S. Story, once the owner of the famous Gazos Mill, was in Pescadero to survey a government claim for J.P. Johnson—who located near Gazos Creek.

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In April 1882 Taft & Garretson will have a stage station at the mouth of Waddell Creek.