Modoc County Stone Quarries
Modoc County, by W. Burling Tucker, Field Assistant. Field Work in August, 1915.
Description (of Modoc County)
"Modoc County, situated in the northeastern part of the state, is bounded on the south by Lassen County, on the west by Siskiyou, on the north by the state of Oregon, and on the east by the state of Nevada.
"Modoc County has an area of 3823 square miles. It is a succession of valleys, that in the past were inland lakes, and which follow one another through the county from north to south. In the northern end of the county are notable Goose Lake, Tule Lake, and the three lakes of Surprise Valley. These valleys are separated by low volcanic ridges, being bordered by bluffs of volcanic rocks.
"The lava flows, with which the county is to a large extent covered, evidently had their source from Lassen Butte in the southern part of the county, and the peaks in the Warner Range for the northern flows. Probably some of the flows emanated from Mount Shasta to the west...."
Railroad Facilities (in Modoc County)
"The Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad traverses the entire length of the east side of the county, commencing at Reno, Nevada, and ending at Lakeview, Oregon. From the principal stations on this railroad the remote parts of the county are reached over good wagon roads.
"Among the known mineral resources of Modoc County are: clay, coal, copper, gold, iron, quicksilver, salt and silver."
The table* on pp. 240 shows the following statistics for the Modoc County Stone Industry: In 1915 the value of stone sold was $300 out
(* Table entitled, "Modoc County - Table of Mineral Production.” This table will not be reproduced here.)
Area: 3,823 square miles.
Population: 5,425 (1920 census)
Location: The extreme northwest corner of the state."Modoc County, like Lassen, has only in recent years had the benefit of communication with the outside world by rail. Among its known mineral resources are: Clay, coal, gold, iron, quicksilver, salt, and silver.
"In fifty-third place, commercial production for 1919 was as follows:
(Headings for the information below are: Substance, Amount, and Value.)
Stone, miscellaneous, ---, $550
Other minerals,* ---, $8,120
(Total value) $8,670(* Includes gold, salt, and silver.)
| Modoc County, 1916 Map, from California Mineral Production for 1919 (with County Maps), Bulletin No. 88, by Walter W. Bradley, California State Mining Bureau, San Francisco: California State Printing Office, 1920, pp. 182. |
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(* Please note this list does not include sand or gravel quarries.)
"Like sand and gravel, and volcanic cinders, crushed stone is produced and used throughout the region in undetermined tonnages, with almost all being used for asphalt concrete aggregate and road building material. Various Tertiary and Quaternary basalt and andesite flows are sources of high-specification crushed stone throughout the region; notable quarries are at Canby Bridge and Likely, Modoc County.."
"Like sand and gravel, and volcanic cinders, crushed stone is produced and used throughout the region in undetermined tonnages, with almost all being used for asphalt concrete aggregate and road building material. Various Tertiary and Quaternary basalt and andesite flows are sources of high-specification crushed stone throughout the region; notable quarries are at Canby Bridge and Likely, Modoc County.."
A special thanks to Peggy B. and George (Pat) Perazzo for allowing the use of this great source of information.
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Last updated Julyt 5, 2007