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Resolution 1[n Support of the Feather River
Scenic Byway Designation and Dedication
Whereas, the need for an all-weather wagon route across the Sierra Nevada became
apparent with the westward expansion to California, and, in tact, a route was surveyed through
the Feather River Canyon by Arthur ~V. Keddie in l $67, and
Whereas, it was not until 1905 that a railroad was carved through the rocky chasm of the
Feather River and laid across the wide expanse of the Sierra Valley, and
Whereas, progress, and the advent of the automobile demanded construction of a
serviceable road to augment the railroad, and
Whereas, a group of county boosters advocated, lobbied and physically labored to begin
construction, resulting in state support in 1927, the booster's motto being "North Fork or
nothing," and
Whereas, after nine years of stupendous feats of engineering and construction, Governor
Frank Merriam dedicated the new Feather River Highway, designated Route 24, on August 14,
1937 amid much fanfare and celebration, and
VYhereas, the 78 mile road sporting three tunnels and seven bridges and costing $100,000
per mile to build, or a total of $8,000,000, has suffered disastrous floods levying millions of
dollars in repairs, it still remains the only "low-level, all-weather transcontinental connection
through the Sierra," and
Whereas, The Feather River Highway now stretches as route 70 from Marysville throu~~h
Butte and Plumas counties to Hallelujah Junction in Lassen County, a distance of 130 miles and a
in gain elevation from the valley floor at 158 feet to 5,221 feet at Beckwourth Pass, and
Whereas, its designation as a National Forest Scenic Byway from Oroville to Hallelujah
Junction is a fitting tribute to the vision, efforts and perseverance of those who developed this
important route through one of California's most beautiful recreational, historical, and natural
resource regions, and
Whereas, its man-made marvels -tunnels and bridges -blend with its beautiful natural
setting, providing one of the most remarkable drives in the state, luring motorists from near and
far, and bringing to this area "the transition of the Feather River Wonderland from a wilderness to
its rightful place in the community of California counties;"
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Butte
urges all constituents to join in the observation and commemoration of this important event in
California's history -the Feather River Scenic Byway Dedication, October 3 & 4, 1998.
Passed and Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Butte, State of
California, on the 22"`' day of September 1998 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Beeler, Dolan, l3oux, Josassen and Chair Davis
NOES: None
r1BSENT: None
NOT VOTING: None
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FRED C. DAMS, Chair, Butte County
Board of Supervisors
ATTEST` f~'. ~ ~ ~. ~~ i ~~~~< ~ ~ ~"
JOHN BLACKLOCK, Chief Administrative Officer
.And Clerk of the Board of Supe~-~~isors