History of the development of the mountain towns of Felton and Boulder Creek and the role of the lumber industry and railroads. The flume that was built in the 1870s was never successful financially due to the grade not steep enough to move the wood quickly, When Southern Pacific was digging their tunnel to bring trains from Sarotoga over the hill they needed the right of way through the canyon where the flume was. So the wood from the flume was used to build the railroad and the trains into Felton and then on to the wharf replaced the flume.