The Sierra citizen., 1854-02-25
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1854
Water Companies.

THERE is no enterprise fraught with so
much interest to the Northern Mining
Districts, as that of supplying the hill and
gulch diggings with a suf1iciency of water
to work during the dry season. Hitherto
the miners have had to depend on the lit
tie wet-weather streams, that only flow
while the ground is saturated with water
and while the weather IS too stormy to
work; and just at the timc when every
thing is in readiness to operate success
fully, the water fails and the miner is either
compelled to abandon his claim altogether
or remain on the ground six or eight
months, expending the little money he has
saved during the rainy season.
1t is but lately that attention has been
directed to the dry diggings on the dividing
ridges between the different tributaries of
the Yuba. Formerly, little parties of
from two to six men, with rockers and
pans, might be seen pitching their tents on
the hillside and making preparations for
what they considered extensive operations.
But after a couple of days unsuccessful
labor in the adjacent ravines the camp
would be deserted, the little party scattered
in every direction, and The rich diggings
that arere going to be discovered were for
gotten in the pursuit of something else.
Continued failures of this kind induced
people to believe that the palmy days of
this region were over. The bed of the
river had been humed and the rich crevices
worked out, and the rich little bars en-
tirely washed away. Then absolute neces-
sity compelled the miners to look else
where Some went to the Southern Mines,
but in a few months returned poorer
than when they left; others returned to
places where they had worked for few
days, during prospecting expedition, and
commenced sinking shafts and opening
tunnels, which resulted in the discovery of
the most extensive dry diggings in the
State.
But one great obstacle remained to be
overcome-the want of water. Gold could
be found in many places, but not in guam
titles sufficient to profitably worked with
the primitive apparatus used for washing
kept in readiness for the commencement of
the rainy season, but when that time came
the deep SHOWS and stormy weather pre-
vented the miners from improving the time.
AT Sears Diggings, bitches have been
dug and fumes have been constructed,
which have already made that district one
of the most important in the Northern
mines, though on account of the smallness
of the streams, water cannot be obtained
during the dryest part of the season.
Thrifty little towns are springing up in all
directions on the line of these bitches,
which are every year receiving additions
of intelligent and industrious citizens.
Numerous enterprises of this sort have
been set on foot, which for the want OF
capital have progressed but slowly, and
in some instances have been abandoned
So many wild and impossible projects have
been attempted, that people hesitate tc
make investments unless they can almost
with certainty calculate the exact time
and amount of returns.
There are in Sierra County several dis
tricts that are known to be rich. if the,
could be worked to advantage. Som,
time ago efforts were made to organize
company, with sufficient capital, to suppl,
with water the districts of Minnesota
Chips, Forest City, and the intermediat,
points. About the same time, some enter
prising citizens of Fosters bar and Camp
tonville conceived the design of conveyin.
the waters of the South Fork of the Nortl
Yuba into the latter place, and we under
stand the enterprise has been favorably re
ceived by the people of the adjacent Sc,
Elements, and will ultimately be carrie
into effect.
Many persons, however, are disposed t
look with suspicion on undertakings {
this sort, being under the impression tha
such projects are originated by specul.
tors, who are too lazy to work thenrselvt
and wish to profit by the hard earnings ,
the laboring classes. This, however,