The weekly Columbian. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne Co., Cal.) 1856-1???, 1856-11-08
From the Sacramento
Columbia.

One of the leading mining towns in Tuolum-
ne county if it does not stand at the head, is
Columbia. The location was discovered by
some miners in 1S49, who pitched their camp
on what was afterwards called kennebec Gulch,
which is now southwest from the town, and
across what is termed Columbia Gulch.
During the winter Of 1850, the news that rich
diggings had been discovered spread over the
country, and in April, 1850, some six OF eight
thousand miners, it IS estimated had concentra-
ted at that point. Among them. of course, were
TO be found many gamblers, aud as many as one
hundred and foriy-three monte banks were at
one time in operation, welding some where in
the neghborhood Of half million of dollars.
ed Columbia. The first house built in the town
was erected in September of that year, by jack
| son ana Stone. The second was built by Brown,
/ who drove the first wagon into the camp. In
wife opened boarding house in Columbia. She
| was the first white woman in the camp and the
| second in the county. In 1851, a company was
| formed to build a ditch to bring water into the
several camps near that point, which company
| is now known as the ''Tuolumne County Water
| Company" On the lst of May, 1852, the ditch
| was so far completed as to enable the company
! to bring the water of Five Mile Creek into Co
| lumbia. and on the first of August following,
the ditch reached the South Fork Of the STAINS
! laus river which added rapidly to the popula-
ton and growth of the town, by increasing the
supply of water for mining. Very little natu-
raj water could be commanded at Columbia,
which, for time, retarded materially the
growth of the town. Miners now rely upon wa
ter companies, of which we shall speak more
particularly hereafter. In most intacces, the
mining towns in the Southern mines arc Deepen
dent upon ditch companies for water.
The Columbia Star newspaper was started in
1852, but did not live beyond the fifth number.
The first paper struck off sold for one ounce
In the fall of the same year the Columbia Ga
sete was established, and is still published. In
1854 the Clipper was started, which was succeed
ed in 1856 by the Columbian.
The town was incorporated in May, 1854
On the tenth of July following, it was almost
totally destroyed by fire. 1t has been subse-
quently rebuilt, in much improved and more
durable style
In truth. Columbia now presents about as ma
ny attractive features IS any mining town to be
met with in the mines, either north or south.
1t is located in valley. with ground in abun-
dance not only for business lots but for family
residences; and right well have some of those
building lots been improved; neat residences
have been erected; the gardens, horticultural
and vegetable, in numbers Of instances, are we'll
cultivated; and, in several, the peach, pear and
apple tree may be seen growing very finely.
The town is we'll supplied with water by the
New England Company. The water is brought
from Spring Gnlch--whicb is near the town
in iron pipes and distributed to every part q
the town. It 10 furnished IL q4a..s.t.es sa1ole.t