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2 Meet Chalfant of Inyo Shortly after, and by special invitation, Chalfant was initiated at the University of Southern California into Sigma Delta Chi, national journalistic fraternity. This was in recognition of his more than 50 years at the same editorial desk. This was part of the story in the newspapers which recognized him officially as dean of newspapermen in California. Now, time has called the desert priest from his desert circuit to the Unseen Heights; War has called the young fraternity brothers to every section of the earth; but, at his friendly desk, Chalfant still lives, writes, and publishes Inyo's story. Bill Chalfant's tale does not begin with Toyo. It does not even begin with Chalfant's birth. It begins, rather, on a September day in Utah in 1849 when the personnel of several wagon trains gathered west of Salt Lake City to confer about the route. More than 100 wagons were there, and there were three main groups. Jefferson Hunt met with them as their guide. Without frills he told them of the gaunt and dangerous days ahead. He could promise safety only if they followed him southward into California by way of Cajon pass. But one group, young adventurers from Illinois who called themselves the Jay-hawkers, had heard of a more northern route through the Sierras via Walker's pass. One group, "The San Francisco Party" preferred to go straight west. As a result the party split three ways. The first followed Jefferson safely into Southern California. The second encountered tragedy in Death Valley. The third, "The San Francisco Party," traveled slightly southwest across Nevada and entered California northwest of Reno over Beckwourth pass. In that group was a young man named Pleasant Arthur Chalfant. The story began with him. He came primarily for gold, and did his first digging at Bidwell Bar near Oroville. Somewhat later on Indian Creek in Idaho he ran a sawmill among hostile Indians. In Idaho, too, he found his wife and came with her to live in Virginia City, Nevada, where Mark Twain was reporter on the "Territorial Enterprise." And here in 1868 was born the first of eight children, a son whom they named Willie Arthur Chalfant. Two years later the little family moved to Independence in Owens Valley, California, and there in 1872, with his half brother J. E. Parker, Pleasant Arthur Chalfant began publication of the "Inyo Independent." They bought their press from the Esmeralda Union in Aurora, Nevada. It was the first press in Owens Valley, and the third in California. And before it reached Independence it had made a record of its own. It was a Washington press made by R. Hoe and Co. of New York, and some time before 1848 it was sent to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There Judge J. Judson Ames used it to print ''The Dime Catcher," a Whig paper supporting Zachary Taylor for President. In l849, stricken with gold-itch, Ames headed with his press for California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Ames made it across the isthmus all right, but his press was accidentally dumped into the Chagras River. Fished out and cleaned, it paused in Panama to print for Ames "The Panama Herald." But gold was calling, so the two sailed for San Francisco where they got out the issues of the "Placer Times and Conscript." Next the inseparable pair went to San Diego and printed the early writings of humorist John Phoenix in the "San Diego Herald." The little machine's next home was the Mormon outpost San Bernardino where Ames put out "The San Bernardino Herald." Ames died here, and Major E. A. Sherman took over the press to publish "The Patriot" which -- being a Union paper in a Confederacy-minded community -- failed. So, overland to Aurora, Nevada, went Sherman and press to 2

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5 Meet Chalfant of Inyo Before ever there was a reclamation act, enterprising homesteaders had located eight reservoir sites and had sought government permission to build dams for storage and irrigation. Hence, it was no surprise to them to learn that government engineers, sent out to study western lands for irrigation, placed Owens Valley near the top because of the ease and comparatively small cost with which it could be irrigated. Willingly they relinquished the rights to their dam sites to the government, confident that if anything interfered with the completion of the project their rights would be restored to them. But already an individual, who had coveted the water of Owens river since 1892, was making plans to use that water to irrigate private land of which he was part owner. No one in Owens Valley knew this, nor did they suspect that an important government engineer, interested also in this private land, was soon to play his part in this plan. In 1904 the engineer reported to Washington that the city of Los Angeles desired to divert Owens Valley water to itself. True, the city did want the diversion, but by constructing storage dams to prevent waste, there was enough water for both Owens Valley farmers and Los Angeles. However, north of the city lay the rich but very dry plain of San Fernando Valley. Here was the privately owned land for which the water was wanted. The full story of how that objective was achieved is told in Chalfant's revised "The Story of Inyo." In this book, with all its evidence carefully documented, you realize that even in recording the betrayal of his people, Chalfant has bent over backward to be honest. Throughout this period Chalfant fought for Inyo, both by his editorials and by active participation. He fought bitterly and fearlessly for Inyo; yet, he fought his own people as fearlessly when they would have resorted to destruction. Besides the Story of Inyo, he has written three other books. ''Death Valley: The Fact is an authority on its subject. "Outposts of Civilization'' is a historical record of people and events beyond the bounds of Inyo county. His latest book "Tales of the Pioneers" is just off the press. It is what its title proclaims -- little-known factual stories of early Nevada and California days. Writing is of necessity a lonely business, but Chalfant is gregarious. So, he joined the Knights of Pythias, of which he is still a member. He became a Mason, and for more than 40 years he has been secretary of Winneduma Lodge F. & A. M. In 1929 he became a charter member of the Bishop Rotary club, and from then to now he has not missed a meeting. So proud are his follow Rotarians of this record that once when he was ill they held their meeting at his bedside. Thus was the record kept intact. In addition he is chairman of the advisory board of the Bank of America in Bishop, and, although he has never owned a car himself, he is on the advisory board of the Automobile Club of Southern California. In January, 1942, he sold ''The Inyo Register" to George W. Savage and Roy L. French, publishers of the "Lone Pine Progress-Citizen" and 'The lnyo lndependent." To honor the name of Chalfant, they designated the combined enterprises "The Chalfant Press." They retained W. A. Chalfant as editor of "The Inyo Register with complete freedom of opinion. It is an interesting fact that in a recent primary election "The Inyo Register" supported a candidate opposed by the other two papers of the Chalfant Press. Last September the Bishop Rotarians had another of several special dinners given in Chalfant s honor. This time, however, the two Chalfants were summoned to a "Ladies' Night, only to discover that while all the Rotary Anns were present, they were there to celebrate another golden anniversary -- this time of their wedding. At this meeting the speaker was John B. Long, manager of the California Newspaper Publishers' Association, and he said in closing: 5

6 Meet Chalfant of Inyo ''Angel's Camp had its Mark Twain, the Valley of the Moon its Jack London, San Francisco its Bret Harte, and Owens Valley has its Bill Chalfant. He does belong to Owens Valley -- to all of Inyo. He is its pride. And it belongs to him -- it is his only child -- and he has given his lifetime to living, writing, and publishing its story. And his work goes on. Savage and French have been called from the valley by the war. Heavy responsibility again has been laid across the Chalfant shoulders. But, veins still flowing full of printer's ink, he continues as he has for the past half century. "It's what I'll always be doing," he said simply, "and always for Inyo." 6

Western Trails & Settlers

Western Trails & Settlers Today, you will be able to: Identify selected racial, ethnic, and religious groups that settled in the US and reasons for immigration Westward Trails & Settlers Directions: 1.