BEALE'S CUT

This picture shows a famous cut in the mountains near the town of Newhall  in California, called Beale's pass. It was cut by Edward F Beale and finished in 1863.  Beale had become well known in California for his heroics in the battle of San Pasqual during the Mexican War, in which he breached enemy lines with Kit Carson during the siege of Stephan Watts Kearney's troop by the Mexicans under Andres Pico.  Beale's other accomplishments included traveling to Washington to bring news of the California gold discovery to the rest of the country, being the first Superintendent of Indian Affairs in California, leading an experiment in the use of camels for transportation through the Southwest, and Surveyor General of California. Most significant for Santa Clarita History, Beale was commissioned by the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County to deepen the cut through the Pass to 90 feet, a project he completed in 1863. Named Beale's Cut, this passageway finally made the route between the two valleys much easier to accomplish. For his efforts, Beale was given a 20 year franchise to charge tolls to anyone crossing through his cut, and he actually charged a fee for wagons to go through as it saved 100 miles of travel going to Los Angeles. 

in 1876, the pass was renamed Newhall Pass after the establishment of the town of Newhall.. That same year a mile long railroad tunnel was completed by Chinese workers under the mountains of the pass which facilitated the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Lang Station in September, 1876. The pass would later be home to the Newhall Auto Tunnel, Sierra Highway, Highway 6, and presently Highway 14. Branching out into nearby Weldon Canyon would be Highway 99 and eventually Interstate 5.

This painting was probably done in the 1930's when the road had been discontinued for many years.  It is not known if this painting is by Paul Harris or indeed if he ever visited the Santa Clarita Valley.

We are grateful to  Arthur (Art ) McCullough of  the Escondido Sunrise RC,  in  District 5340 for his work on this feature.

This ongoing project is the work of RGHF historian Basil Lewis, first posted 7 April 2006 This section is maintained by RGHF webmaster Paul D. McLain. If you can help identify or supply more information about anything on this page, please contact us at www.historycomment.org

We acknowledge the assistance of DG 11/12 David Templin, ROTARY/One (RGHF Member), Neil Dahlmann of Rotary Club of Highland Park in District 6440, and Jack Selway, USA, with providing photos used in this section.

After you see the museum office, meet his partners and office workers at Harris Dodds & Brown. (A page of photographs of the actual office in the early 2000's)

Learn more about tours of Rotary International Headquarters

BEALE'S CUT