1877—An Explosive Time in History
“Those dad-blasted ranchers
done blowed up the trestle!”
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
Eldorado Ditch and it was attacked several
times; blown up once 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 restle. The guards
stood unaware of the danger until it was too late.
Points of Interest
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
This 2.4 million acre National Forest offers great opportunities.
Hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and winter sports, there’s
something for everyone in America’s Great Outdoors!
Head of Eldorado Ditch
The engineering feat of its era. Hand dug extensively by Chinese
labor from 1861 to 1874, the ditch extends more than 100 miles.
Table Rock Lookout
This historic lookout has been in use since the 1920’s. The view
from the mountaintop is one of spectacular rugged beauty.
If you are yearning for solitude, you can find it here.
Monument Rock Wilderness
A place where the road ends and you can begin to explore
19,620 acres of untamed wilderness. Trailheads make trails
easily accessible.
Unity
Gateway to Monument Rock Wilderness, Unity features a desert
landscape with unique rock formations in the surrounding area.
Unity Reservoir and State Park offer fishing and full service
camping facilities.
East Camp Creek Flume Remains
Largest of the flumes constructed on the ditch, it stood 76 feet
high and some 500 feet long. As the war over water raged on,
the flume was blown up on one occasion and burned on another.
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
For additional information please visit
Unity Ranger District, in the center of town.
214 Main Street, Unit, Oregon
(503) 446-3351
