AUTO TOUR 



109 



tion project developed by the Bureau of 

 Reclamation. It operates from Shasta 

 Dam in northern California through the 

 great Central Valley to the southern part 

 of the San Joaquin Valley, carrying 

 much-needed irrigation water to the 

 thirsty farm lands of this part of Cali- 

 fornia. 



(2.3 miles) 



JUNCTION HIGHWAY 145 AND 



41 — From this point on, Highway 41 is 

 known as the "Yosemite Discovery 

 Road." On nearby Table Mountain 

 stands a 3 3 '-high cross erected by pub- 

 lic-spirited citizens of Madera County 

 in connection with Easter sunrise ser- 

 vices. 



Great Flume of the Madera Flume and 

 Trading Company — abandoned in 1932 



(2.0 miles) 



SAN JOAQUIN EXPERIMENTAL 

 RANGE — Beyond the junction of High- 

 way 145 and 41 is the 5000-acre San 

 Joaquin Experimental Range operated by 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 and the University of California. Range 

 and cattle improvements are the primary 



purposes of the station. The U. S. Forest 

 Service has developed grasses here which 

 increase range capacities. The Univers- 

 ity of California Department of Animal 

 Husbandy studies hereditary character- 

 istics and herd improvement. 



CHUCKCHANSI INDIANS — 



The area around Coarsegold was settled 

 originally by the Chuckchansi Indians. 

 As white men came into the area Chief 

 Black Hawk was instrumental in keep- 

 ing the tribe friendly. After several 

 years the Chuckchansi tribe became do- 

 cile and lazy, and the Indian women 

 would marry white sesttlers to be as- 

 sured of food. This was a help to settlers 

 who wanted women willing to "rough 

 it," and who would do without con- 

 veniences. Black Hawk Mountain, which 

 is the butte to the right of the road, is 

 named after the Chuckchansi Chief. 



(15.5 miles) 



CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF FOR- 

 ESTRY — The State Division of Forestry 

 has a headquarters near Coarsegold. Its 

 main purpose is fire control to save 

 grazing lands and stop soil erosion. This 

 headquarters is unique because it is op- 

 erated under the joint control of the Di- 

 vision of Forestry and the California 

 Youth Authority. Approximately 120 

 men 18-23 years in age are sent from 

 various institutions throughout the state 

 to this "honor camp" for rehabilitation. 

 From here they assist in fire control 

 and man fire lookouts in the area ap- 

 proximately 100 mile radius in cooper- 

 eration with the U. S. Forest Service and 

 the National Park Service. 



(1 mile) 



COARSEGOLD— The gold rush of 

 1849 brought many prospectors to this 

 area. The town was named for the type 

 of gold found here. By 1850 the com- 

 munity boasted 10,000 inhabitants. One 

 nugget found by two Texas brothers 

 was worth $15,000. It is reported that 

 $18,000,000 in gold was taken from 

 here in a four-month period. By 1866 



