Butte record., 1854-01-21
Waters Of the South Fork.

Mr.. EDITOR:
am but an humble and unpretending citizen of Bid
well emgrated TO this point in 49, Having borne the
fagues and hazards of the in crossing the plains
and am also of those who the Elephant and
rounded the Lawson Horn" We drank and slept
many cold and frosty night with covering er head
the canopy of heaven by the side of an old log
fire, and anon punching up the fire chunks watch
ing the ebuOn Of beans and other s;ews, susenance
for the coming days journey, anticipating every
ment the war hoop, and the yell of the savage Indian,
or The whizzing of the fatal from the bow of
who's seahy step had neared him TO the deadly point
The larger portion of the train in which was Il men,
Der, located at or near this section of the placers.
have remained here and have Witnessed all the vicssi-
tudes that have taken place, and have observed them
with an watchful eye Ny vocation gave me- necessa-
rily, large circle of acqnariance Gold being the
great desideratum OF 49ers eagerly sought after every
opportunity, in the judgment OF others. connection
with mine own, that by an investment IN some of the
mining operations, might be fortunate as to obtain
ny Pile. But alas they fell and faded away, like the
leaves of autumn, and were scattered by the four winds
of heaven The river placers have long since ceased
isc mate many OF the old '49ers with their delu>ive
charms for experience has proven, that flew and far
between have been the large piles obtained in this
vicinity by river speculalions II is well known fact
that this region uniform and well pay ing The laborer
for his hire" and gold extends down the river 10 the
valley, and even far in the valley On locations where
wells have been dug for family and stock use AT dis
ance of eight miles below Ophr gold (two 10 the
pan of drt) has been washed thererom. This mtur-
nation received personally from gentleman du.
ring visit last week below, that section. New
developments daily in;reasng-guld is no longer
the cry-but waer-give water, and we will get the
gold How often has the "waIers of the South Fork
Feather river for washing the Pcers here and below,
been theme of fre-sde discussion among miners and
others, when the toils of The day over and they
were sitting around enjoying the fumes of their old clay
pipes. The opinions given, lhen, by fatler-
il Others nounced and beched forth impruc lea
bility and absurdity. Upon the whole viewed it as
a work of immense and gigantic magnitude, burd ned
with heavy costs, and in fact wholly in urmountabe
account alone of pecuniary considerations. Those days
OF fanced npossibtes and absurdi,ies have drscen-
dcd 10 the Tomb. of the Capueig" When we bu
cast our eyes around, and behold in other portions of
California, much formidable operations have been
accomplished. The precedents then have been laid,
and taken from rivers conducted By aumes and
bitches from Dan TO Bersheba," and, Heaven forbid il
any longer, we ARE HrRn IDLE still. The old South
Oth IL iOhlHs yet; 10
wash the whole town of Bidwe, her hills and al
intermediate points, down 10 Ophir. The route has
been surveyed DER and DER again and now it Topo
graphically Engineered by practical. operating
Their reports are as follows The distance from the hi
southeast the Court House is three miles, 10 bar
on the South Fork known as Femmng's and said bar
is acknowledged to be Of the beautiful. safe
and natural localities for The erection of saw mill
! ii
years come, and the timber is convonianly
ranged by nature that will be required ,hro
out the entire operation 10 this point The elevation of
this bari question is thirty feet above the hill
specified. Ii is obvious then, there is grade of six
feet to the mile, and twelve feet for the and
benefit Of the mill There but few and iriing diff
culties TO encounter WITH along the track only
ledge of rock, covered, presumed be soft, and
easily detached. This operation has been in agitation
with the present company about month and their
attention has been occupied by daily examinations, dis
cussons, and nocturnal medations, when they should
have been slumbering aud not robbng nature of her
just demands. They have exhaused about quire of
paper i'll their various deductions and calculations and
they come before you plain. ungarnished. ard una
brdged and hope, perfectly easy of comprehension.
is desired that there should be company organised,
styled The "Buie County Water Company'-number-
ing not more than twenty men, and not less than ten
We would preface by stating that all due and necessa-
ry examinations have been made and all preparatory
steps prior to the work-ni site secured timber &C.
cured-ground measured and graded. We have at
present the number of ten who have promised pro-
ceed rs soon organized, TO Flemmings bar
with provisions and all other essentials then and there
erect mill. the lumber, construct u lume TO
conduct the waters iherefrom the hill south Of the
town of Bidweli. The expenses of the mill Irons,
tools, nails &C. necessary for the completion of the
completion of the work to this point, estimated by
knowing men, not to exceed Sl,lO0. This sum s. ITO.
must be raised between the company equally, simuia-
neous with the commencement of the work, soon
company design constructing their ume fonr feet wide
and two feet higharther considerations may enlarge
if deemed necessary. With complement of twenty
men, the iume Can be laid down about fast the
mill will cut the lumber II we cut the plank twelve
feet long inch and qnarter thick and one length
day can be finished by each membcrif this be true
then fifteen in eighty days will lay the entire fume
10 Bidwell. There are 4 Il feet lengths in one mile
and $50 in the whole distance of three miles; which
10 men at this computation, must accomplish i'll the
time named. But We must allow for contingencies
suppose The mill 10 be finished in 80 days by ~ men,
which time is ample, and 10 finish the flume in SIS
days the total of time occupied we find to be lis
days not 4 months We perceive. We will for con
ngences add 50 per the time and say thai six
months necessary, s. per week, $780, will supply
e,ch working member with six months prov sisions-we
further suppose instead of the sl,oO dollars mill