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The almond tree at the site of the old toll-gate house south of the Fremont Pass is in full bloom. The toll gate house, built of adobe, long since disappeared, and only a monument, erected by the San Fernando Women's Club marks the entrance to the cut, aside from the almond tree.

So far the tree and the site has escaped destruction from the road builders, but it is probable that in time, the whole site will be covered.

At the time the Beal [sic] cut was built, the county supervisors granted a toll franchise, which extended three miles each way from the cut, so no one could avoid the tolls by going around it. Tradition has it that one sheep owner took 3,000 sheep across to the west of the cut, only to find a United States Marshal awaiting him at Saugus, to collect the 10 cents a head.

The toll feature of the pass is said to have disappeared long ago, and after that many people paid to have their loads helped by additional horse power, which custom was continued until 1911, when the tunnel was completed [sic; 1910], and the road paved. This put all forms of extra help out of business, the tunnel serving more or less satisfactorily for 27 years, until its destruction three months ago.