The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-10-19
Mining Works at COlOna.

The fame OF the great tunnel now in process OF
excavation through the west banks OF the South
Fork, at Coloma, has extended from section TO
section throughout the mountain DISTRICTS and inte-
rest and curiosity to considerable degree have
been excited among the gold diggers of that region
by the magnitude of the plan and the brillian pros
poets of those engaged IN the work, II success can
at all belong TO the undertaking. 1t is probably the
grandes effort Of art to grasp the treasures OF ma
ture al " one fell swoop" that ever was made in
the region watered by the American river; and
this remark comprehends vast amount OF LABOR
expended upon large tract of placer country, Tor
the principal tests of science, strength and capital
in mining have been made in the American riyer
gold region. The diggings have been more skill,
fully and arduously worked in that quarter, and
have perhaps produced larger quantity OF urea
sure, than any other tract Of mining country OF the
same extent in California
The earliest discoveries Ut gold were made
among the hills of Coloma, and the secret of the
earth's wealth having been carried to some ad-
veIturers whose camps whitened the MYERS banks
many leagues down the stream, digging was COM
menced, which resulted In the upturning oil wealth,
al the point now known as Mormon Island or Ma
toma Here in the fall OF 'fS dam was COM
menced with a view TO divert the course OF the
river, and drain a large portion OF It's bed. lhe
rains Of winter interrupted the work, but the com
pany renewed their operations in the spring, and
after expanding a large amount OF Capital, finally
abandoned the project, foreseeirg that their ibors
were not TO be cTowne4 with the success antic.
pated Thus resr,led the first attempt, familiar TO
drain and dig the beds of rivers. Many as equally
unsuccessful plans have been subsequently pursued
TO enrich company organizations, but draining and
damming has been very generally given upin most
The Coloma tunnel, in the decline of that conf
dence which animated of old parties in the pursuit
Of wealth by these extraordinary means, Is re-
garded with distTust; but respect for the gem
! tlemen who have planned and commenced it has
.seBced in measure the many misgvings of the
people in its vicinity, and raised up strong feel
ing of interest and ankle y for the tate OF the boldly
conceived and vigorously executed project. IL was
many months ago proposed to turn the South Fork
of the American, at point several hundred .iards
below the village OF Coloma, and the scheme
seems TO owe its origin to one of the Oldest mer
chants OF that place. Ii was commenced in July
and labor at the excavations has been conducted
assiduously and skifuy ever since. The tune
will probably be completed in another fortnight
An outline OF the work may be of interest to the
reader al this time.
A sharp bend of the river, at point where
rocky headland juts out, carries the stream full
three quarters OF d mile from one extremity OF the
excavation TO the other, which, laid in a direc
line across the headiand meets the river at dis
lance less than hundred feet from its starting
point The river averages forty feet In width, and
is thought 10 have been forced through an opening
Of the hills, and carried over large boulders and
! heavy rocks and stones against which gold would
naturally lodge This belief constitutes the main
! dependence of success for the company engaged
in draining the bed. There is much to induce
character of its banks. The tunnel is hcwn
through solid formations of a species Of granite,
and at the greatest depth under ground is about
! sixty feet, being midway through, and di.
recUy beneath the ridge or back bone' OF
the beadland. The arch is well supported by
strong timbers, and the sides are well
! protected in width, the tunnel being about
| six feet, and in height seven feet. About forty
| workmen are engaged day and night, and the labor
Is as incessant end active as Il rs severe MIR. j
T. Little is the prominent party in this undo rtaking
His store furnishes the supplies and necessary i'm
plements 10 the forty shares, for which, out OF the
/ hrs, dividend from the work, he receives ten pc
cent each of the company being separately held Il
him to reinst ate him To the full amount of all me AMI
! advanced, should the werk prove failure. This
entirely secures him. while il enables the work tC
/ be prosecuted briskly. :. he members of the com
papy are all mechanics and the artisans necessary
for the construction Of the work are found in thsil
/ midst. We are told that as high as ten thousand
dollars had been offered for a share. The tunnel,
il is computed, will cost about $4,000 when COM
Tleted