In January 1899, the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway (NCO) after a decade of stalled construction announced its intention to construct northward. Of course, the rumor mill went into overdrive as to whether that route would include Susanville. The NCO stated it was to build onward to the Madeline Plains.
This event coincided with the recently organized Citizens Improvement Club of Susanville. E.V.Spencer and L.C. Stiles were appointed to negotiate with the management of the NCO, or in the instance the canterkous, Erasmus Gest, the general manager. They reported the meeting to be cordial, though the NCO was not going to extend any other assistance than what it had done in the past–nothing. The bottom line if the people of Susanville wanted to construct a feeder line to connect with NCO they would have to do it themselves. It was estimated that to build and equip the line would cost $100,000.
During the remainder of 1899, Spencer worked diligently for a railroad branch from Hot Springs (Wendel) to Susanville. Spencer consulted with the affected property owners along the proposed route to seek right-of-way. Spencer proposed that the line would not stop at Susanville but continue west into the timber region. He said this would create thousands of jobs in the lumber manufacturing business, and that everyone’s investment for the railroad would rapidly pay for itself. But it was a futile attempt. After all, the community could not even raise $450 for a town hall, let alone a $100,000..
With the upcoming holiday season, food plays a central role among the festivities. This advertisement from 1931 of Susanville’s Golden Rule store might be of interest to modern day grocery store shoppers.
