The people of Oroville, early recognizing the necessity of an organized resistance to the inevitable attacks of the fire-fiend, formed an association, called the Butte Engine Company, in the summer of 1857. A subscription-paper was circulated, and liberal donations made to purchase a hook-and-ladder truck, together with the necessary accompaniment of buckets, etc. Many of the early residents of the place belonged to the company. This company did, on divers occasions, do valiant service to protect the property of the town. It was kept up, with more or less completeness and regularity, for many years, until the present admirable association took its place.

The Oroville Hook and Ladder Company is an institution of which she is justly proud. It was organized November 1, 1873-a subscription-paper having been circulated, and considerably over two thousand dollars raised. The original officers were: A. Maurice, Jr., president; E. W. Fogg, secretary; Thomas Callow,, treasurer; D. N. Friesleben, foreman; Dr. Mansfield, first assistant foreman; W. L. Perkins, second assistant foreman; H. P. Downer, steward. With the money raised, the company purchased a fine hose-cart and many other appurtenances. They also bought the building on Bird street now occupied by them, and the lot on which it stands. The company now has two hose-carts, the use of one thousand feet of hose, and a large hook-and-ladder truck. The recent introduction of fire-plugs in the city is a great improvement, and, as considerable drill has already been had in the rapid attachment of hose, it will have to be an obstinate blaze that they cannot quench. The present officers of the fire company are: C. N. Sandowski, foreman; D. N. Friesleben, first assistant foreman; A. P. Waugh, second assistant; C. E. Kusel, third assistant; H. J. Brock, secretary; E. W. Fogg, treasurer; W. L. Perkins, E. W. Fogg and Thomas Callow, trustees.

As early as 1866 the papers were earnestly discussing the advantages of a free bridge across the Feather river at Oroville. The preliminary steps for the erection of such a structure were taken by the board of supervisors, in November, 1870, and contractors and bridge-builders were invited to examine locations and make estimates. In a few days several contractors visited Oroville for this purpose. Two places were proposed as suitable bridge sites the foot of Huntoon street, and the present location; the latter being selected because of a firm bed-rock for piers at the surface, and also because it was thought only half the length of bridging would be required. The contract was let to the Pacific Bridge Company of Oakland, in April, 1871, for the sum of eighteen thousand dollars, which included the erection of two spans, one of 180 and another of 218 feet.

On the fourth of Perkins & Brooks The super

Of this amount the citizens of Oroville contributed over $11,000. Subsequently $2,200 more were subscribed by the citizens towards building approaches and grading the road leading thereto, which, with the additional appropriations made by the county, bring the cost of the structure to the neighborhood of twenty-five thousand dollars. It was completed in the middle of February, 1872. February, 1881, the north end of the bridge was swept out by the terrible floods. built a temporary bridge to the north bank, which was purchased by the county for $550. visors advertised for proposals for an arch-truss bridge of stone, with one span of 160 feet and approaches, to supply the vacancy left by the destroying waters. Bids were made by five parties, all of which were rejected. It was then proposed to erect a wrought-iron bridge across the river, and the contract to build two spans, one of 180 feet and the other of 218 feet, together with an iron cylinder pier at the north side, was let to the Pacific Bridge Company, of Oakland, for the sum of $16,200. On the thirteenth of August, 1881, the bridge was completed as it now stands.

The building of the California Northern Railroad from Marysville to Oroville was an enterprise which interested closely every property-holder of the town, and had a visible effect on the prosperity of the whole county. The very liberal aid given to it by the people in voting bonds to the amount of $200,000, showed how they realized the immense advantages gained by rail communication with commer

cial centers. was finished. On the ninth of that month the first regular passenger train ran into the Oroville depot. On the fifteenth, a grand celebration and jollification meeting was held, which was attended by a vast concourse of people. The excursion train from Marysville brought the mayor and council and two military companies. At noon Thomas Wells, the orator of the day, delivered the reception address.

The road was commenced in the spring of 1863, and early in February, 1864, the track

At the conclusion of the address, a large procession was formed on Myers street, under the supervision of the marshal of the day, George H. Crossette, and paraded the streets for some time, and then sat down to a free collation. A military review was held in the afternoon, by General Bidwell and his aids, Major A. G. Simpson and Captain George C. Perkins. The exercises closed, in the evening, with a grand military and civil ball.

In the last decade Oroville has steadily improved. Year by year, she has added not only to her population, but to her wealth; and her business, subject no more to the varied fluctuations of mining enterprise, becomes more and more firmly established on a sound commercial basis. Stores have developed into heavy mercantile establishments, transacting both wholesale and retail business. A large extent of territory is dependent on Oroville for supplies, and her trade is remarkable for that evenness and equilibrium indicative of permanence and stability. Far otherwise were the "flush times" which made her a town. Money was made without effort, and spent without regard to the future. Few could wish for a recurrence of that period. The latter prosperity is better in every way than the former, and evidences show that it will sometime be greater. A spasmodic influence was brought to bear on the place in 1874, and for a year or two thereafter, by the discovery of somewhat rich diggings a short distance south of town. These diggings received the name of the lava-beds, taken, probably, from the notorious stronghold of Captain Jack and his Modoc warriors. The claims in this region were all discovered and prospected by white men, who, having no desire to work them themselves, sold the property to Chinamen. Thousands of claims were taken up in this way and transferred to their more painstaking Asiatic brethren. The Chinese flocked to the lava-beds in great numbers. It is estimated that, at one time, no less than five thousand of them were working in those mines. They were content with small individual returns, such as an old Californian would not consider worth striving laboriously for. The result was that, in the aggregate, the Chinamen brought an immense amount of gold-dust into the market, and conduced materially to the advancement of Oroville.

The leading business firms of the town may be summarized as follows: Groceries and provisionsThe big wholesale and retail establishment of Perkins & Co. was established in 1860. It is the largest institution of its kind in the county. Governor George C. Perkins and D. K. Perkins, his brother, are the principal proprietors. H. C. Bell & Co. have another wholesale and retail establishment on Montgomery street. Charles St. Sure is in the retail business. Dry-goods and clothing are represented by Hecht & Ephraim, N. Goldstein, S. Ostroski, A. Goldstein, B. Marks & Co. and Matthews & Irwin; all of whom carry large stocks.

In the line of drugs are engaged Arthur McDermott, the pioneer apothecary, established here in 1855; R. Parker, one of the old settlers, and D. L. Fryer. All of these have first-class drug stores. The hardware stores of Brock & Taber and James C. Gray are very extensive in their business operations. Boots and shoes-Fred. Hecker and C. F. Miller & Co. S. S. Boynton and E. A. Kusel have elegant variety stores, while the former is also engaged in the manufacture of confectionary. The bank of Rideout, Smith & Co., on Montgomery street, is an important place. E. W. Fogg is the efficient cashier.

The first flouring-mill in Oroville was erected by Derville Bequette, in 1858. It was propelled by water and had one wheat and one barley stone. The mill was located just above Preston's stable. It

was run under its original management for about two years, when Max. Brooks and Abe Goldstein purchased the property. It was continued for a mill for about six years. In 1866, Mr. Brooks and George C. Perkins (now governor of California), purchased the old Metropolitan theatre, on the corner of Huntoon and Bird streets, put in a complete outfit of milling machinery, together with a large steamengine, and changed the play-house to a busy manufactory of flour. The mills were still in a flourishing condition when they took fire, in the summer of 1878, and were destroyed. During the fall the present Oroville water-mills were erected by R. Parker, John M. Ward and John J. Smith. The mills have five run of stone, besides two barley rolls, with a capacity of grinding one hundred and fifty barrels of flour every twenty-four hours. Water is obtained from the Feather river and Ophir ditch. Twentyfive thousand dollars were expended in its construction. The Oroville brewery, owned by William Schneider, manufactures an excellent quality of beer, great quantities of which are consumed in the county. There are seventeen regular saloons, doing a large business.

OROVILLE LODGE, No. 103, F. & A. M., received its charter May 8, 1856. For some time previous it had been running under dispensation of the grand lodge of the state. The first meetings were held in a building on the corner of Myers and Montgomery streets. After the fire the second story of McDermott's drug-store building was fitted up for a lodge-room and occupied for many years. In 1869, the lodge purchased at a mortgage sale their present building on Myers street. It was then shorter by forty feet than now. The extension was built a few years later, giving them a large and commodious hall, together with numerous ante-rooms and closets. The lodge is in a most flourishing condition.

FRANKLIN CHAPTER, No. 20, R. A. M., was organized under dispensation of the grand chapter, August 7, 1857, and received a charter in May, 1858.

OROVILLE COMMANDERY, No. 5., K. T., held its first meeting November 18, 1858. The charter was received July 13, 1859.

TABLE MOUNTAIN LODGE, No. 124, F. & A. M., was instituted in Oroville, under dispensation of the grand lodge, in 1858, and received its charter during the following year. There were eighteen charter members. In 1875, the lodge was moved to Cherokee, where it has since existed in a very flourishing condition, and has a large membership.

OROVILLE LODGE, No. 59, I. O. O. F., received its charter August 11, 1856. The lodge first met in J. M. Clark's building, corner of Myers and Bird streets, but in 1869 they purchased the building now occupied by them on Montgomery street. The lodge-room is elegantly fitted up. The present membership is ninety-six.

ORO ENCAMPMENT, No. 22, I. O. O. F., received its charter September 26, 1861.

BUTTE LODGE, No. 1687, KNIGHTS OF HONOR, was instituted in Oroville, July 9, 1879. The lodge has a membership of fifty-six, and meets in the Odd Fellows' hall.

OROVILLE LODGE, A. O. U. W., received its charter July 11, 1878. Meetings are held in Odd Fellows' hall, and the lodge has a membership of sixty-nine.

ARGONAUT PARLOR, No. 8, N. S. G. W. (Native Sons of the Golden West), was chartered May 14, 1881. The Parlor numbers twenty-five members, and is constantly increasing.

TABLE MOUNTAIN COUNCIL, No. 43, Chosen Friends, was established in August, 1881. bership is thirty-seven.

The mem

NORTHERN STAR LODGE, No. 107, I. O. G. T., was chartered February 13, 1880. SHERMAN POST, No. 15, G. A. R., was organized December, 1880, with the following members: Josiah Harold, J. M. Newhard, E. S. Derrick, Jack Roberts, W. Y. Bliss, F. A. Davis, J. C. Bier, W. T. Davis, Charles Wyckoff, A. Conant, J. E. Southworth, John Marcovich, Thomas Cress, A. J. Pickering, Thomas Welsh, D. F. Fryer, and Jacob Whittaker. It is in a flourishing condition.

THE OROVILLE GUARDS were mustered into the state of California July 8, 1861, and fornied Company A, Fifth Brigade, California Militia. A. H. Connelly was the first captain. His lieutenants were H. B. Hunt, D. C. Burlingame, and George C. Moore. J. H. Simmons was the first orderly sergeant. In 1863, H. B. Hunt became captain, and held the position for three years, when he was succeeded by Alexander G. Simpson. The highest enrollment occurred in 1865, when the company numbered sixty, aside from the commanding officers. The guards remained in service till March 22, 1869, when they disbanded. At the time of their dismemberment as a military body, they had $112.50 in their treasury, after paying all indebtedness, which sum was donated to the public-school library. In 1866, the guards donated to the new school-house $500, which they had earned in a shooting-match at Marysville.

COMPANY A, 1ST CAL. CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS, was organized in February, 1865. E. C. Ledyard was captain, Thos. S. Dean first lieutenant, and J. D. Givens second lieutenant; 103 men were mustered into service during the month. It was recruited in Oroville, and all the men lived in the county. The company was ordered to Arizona, and was selected as the escort of Gen. John S. Mason. It traversed the whole territory, and was finally stationed at Prescott. Before leaving here the citizens presented them with a magnificent battle-flag.

UNION HOTEL.-In 1855, D. D. Harris erected on the corner of Montgomery and Myers streets a brick building, nearly the first in town, which was used as a store for several years. In 1864, a stockcompany was formed, with a capital stock of $20,000. The stockholders were D. D. Harris, P. S. Garlow, George C. Perkins, J. M. Clark, M. Schwein, M. Raymond, D. N. Friesleben, J. M. Brock and John Lytle. For his lot and one-story brick house Harris received $3,000 in stock. A building was erected, which run the company in debt. Liens and notes were outstanding, and frequent assessments were made to pay them off. In 1865, several parties, tired of paying assessments, gave their stock to Mr. Freisleben, and in 1867 he purchased that of Garlow's. In 1871, he bought out Lytle and Brock, and became the sole owner. At the time of building, in 1864, Captain Bird and one Miller rented the hotel. They were succeeded by W. L. Hopkins, and he by Frank Jones. W. L. Perkins took the house in 1868, and ran it for three years. In 1871, Freisleben refurnished the hotel and ran it himself until 1878, when R. L. Patton took charge. Hiram Arentz succeeded him. In February, 1880, Mr. Freisleben again took charge, and at present conducts and manages it himself.

Under the joint-stock company the Union hotel had thirty-two rooms, besides a hall for balls and theatrical entertainments. Under Mr. Freisleben's management the house became very popular. Travel increased to such an extent that the hall was partitioned off into ten large sleeping-rooms. In the spring of 1880, another enlargement was made by the erection of a two-story brick building on Montgomery street. Two stores were added to the block, and nine suites of rooms to the hotel. There were then fifty-one rooms on the second floor. All of the family and lower rooms are lighted with gas. The diningroom is 40x60 feet in size, neatly furnished. At one end are two large French-plate mirrors, and the room has a cheerful appearance. The kitchen, erected in 1880, is 18x60 feet. Jerome Foster, one of the pioneers of Oroville, is superintendent of the house; H. Arentz, formerly of the old Chico hotel, is clerk; A. P. Waugh, founder of the Daily Butte Record, has charge of the billiard and reading-rooms; J. B. Rider is night clerk; Thomas Brown, steward. The stage office for all the lines of stages running from Oroville is in the office of the hotel. Mr. Jackson Bean is the agent for them all. A view of the hotel may be seen on another page.

NORD, ANITA AND CANA.

The town of Nord is situated seven miles north of Chico, on the California and Oregon railroad. In 1858, G. W. Colby had a store at Colby's landing on the Sacramento river. When the railroad was

built through, he moved two miles east to the track, where a station was established. In 1870, J. R. Haughton was with Colby in the general merchandise traffic. Afterwards the firm became Colby, Pond & Haughton, and did a large business. In 1871, Mr. Colby laid out the town into lots. It is situated in the centre of the finest agricultural land in Butte county, and has great wealth surrounding it. The population of the place is about one hundred. The Nord Hotel is run by Calden & Co. There are a blacksmith and wagon-shop, a saloon and a livery-stable there. C. L. Pond is agent of the railroad company and Wells, Fargo & Co. More grain is shipped from Nord than from any other point in the county. The grangers' warehouse is owned by a joint-stock association of farmers, who handle nearly all the grain of this region. A. M. Barnard is superintendent. The only secret organization at Nord is a lodge of Good Templars, which is in a flourishing condition. Mr. Pond is at present postmaster of the village. Nord received its name from Mrs. Colby, it being the Teutonic for north. The scenery surrounding the place is very beautiful.

Three miles north of Nord is the flag-station Anita, where there is a switch for loading the grain into cars. Two miles further north is the small village of Cana. It is on the railroad and was laid out in 1871, by J. Hubble. The agent for the railroad at this point is B. W. Levens, who is also postmaster. There is a store, a blacksmith-shop and a saloon, all in a thriving condition.

BIGGS.

This flourishing town is situated in a rich agricultural region, and has long been the third town of Butte county in point of population and business. It is located on the east half of section fourteen, township eighteen north, range two east. It owes its origin to the discovery that the adobe lands were valuable for agricultural purposes, and to the building of the California and Oregon railroad, as do several other places in Butte county, and consequently its history dates from 1870. Alfred Munn was the first man to make a business venture at Biggs. He built a small cabin and opened a store. At the time the residents were A. Dick, P. Boulware, William Looney, Richard Prentice, Lewis Posey and A. M. Pitts. The land now occupied by Biggs was owned by Messrs. Pitts and Posey, who laid out the town. It is named after Major Marion Biggs, who shipped the first grain from the town, and did a great deal to build it up.

Samuel Breeton was the first agent of the railroad company, and he was followed by a man named Cecil, who had opened a small store there and was the first postmaster. Cecil having a great many things to perform, was not thoroughly posted as to the requirements of all his duties. It is said that the conductor of the train presented him with a red flag one day, telling him to wave it and stop the train when there were any passengers who wished to get aboard. On the following morning the train was flagged, and to the conductor's query of "Where's your passengers?" Cecil replied, “There ain't any, but I thought perhaps some would like to get off." As postmaster he was equally prone to err. He kept a letter two weeks that was addressed to the "P. M.," and then began to inquire if anyone knew a Mr. P. M.

The second store in Biggs was opened in 1871, by W. W. Stone. His was the first business establishment of any importance, and has always kept pace with the healthy growth of the town. The Planters' hotel, built at this time, was owned and run, as at present, by Philip Grein, who moved from Bidwell's bar for the purpose. This is the only hotel at Biggs. Its accommodations are ample for the traveling public, being a large structure, well furnished, and conveniently arranged for the comfort of its guests. A butcher-shop was opened at Biggs in 1870, by John Hess and two other parties. In 1874, a church was erected under the control of the Baptist association, though contributed to by several