1877 - An Explosive Time In History
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 44° 26.246 W 118° 10.969
11T E 405868 N 4921139
History Sign about the Eldorado Ditch at Unity, Oregon.
Waymark Code: WM2GHC
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 10/30/2007
Views: 25
This sign is located on Hwy. 26 at the city park in Unity, Oregon
Marker Name: 1877 - An Explosive Time In History
Marker Text: ”Those dad-blasted ranchers done blowed up the trestlel”
Getting water from fire...
Baker county ranchers who needed water were furious when Malheur County miners diverted it for their own use. A few sticks of lighted dynamite was all it took to free up the precious resource.
The fight for water became serious as guns and dynamite got involved. The miners had built a ditch, flume and trestle to carry the water to the mines. The immense ditch meandered from the mountains, traveling over 100 miles. This was the Eldorado Ditch and it was attacked several times; blown up one time and burned another. Armed guards stood watch over the trestle day and night, but clever ranchers attacked from afar. Hiding upstream, they floated sticks of dynamite down the water with fuses timed precisely to blow up as they reached the trestle. The guards stood unaware of the danger until it was too late.
Historic Topic: Pioneer
Group Responsible for placement: Forest Service
Marker Type: Roadside
Region: Eastern Oregon
County: Baker
State of Oregon Historical Marker "Beaver Board": Not listed
Web link to additional information: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Include your thoughts and observations pertaining to this location and your visit. Provide any additional history that you are aware of that pertains to this location. If the marker commemorates a historic building tell us what it is used for now or share with us the circumstances of an earlier visit to bring this locations history to life.
Please upload a favorite photograph you took of the waymark. Although visiting this waymark in person is the only thing required of you to receive credit for your visit, taking the time to add this information is greatly appreciated.
Be creative.