The Nevada Democrat., 1857-04-22
South Yuba Ditch.

We learn that the work upon the South Yuba
Ditch is progressing rapidly, and there Is now a
fair prospect that it will be completed by
the time the water gives out in the other
bitches leading into this locality. The great
difficulty attending the construction of this ditch
has been the length of time necessarially con-
sumed in running the tunnel through the divide
between Steep Hollow and Deer Greek. The
whole length of the tunnel when completed will
be 3247 feet, mostly through solid rock which
had to be blasted. The ground was first care
fully surveyed and workmen commenced run
ming the tunnel from each end. A shaft was
also sunk on the summit, and the tunnel driven
In opposite directions from the shaft, steam
engine having been erected to pump the water.
The work on the tunnel has thus been carried
on from four different points, night and day, for
two years. Last Saturday the workmen engag-
cd on the Deer Creek side broke through and
Joined the two sections together, and several
of the men who had been at work on it for many
months, being somewhat elated, came into town
on Sunday to have "time." On the Deer
Greek side, the tunnel is now opened distance
of 2O67 feet, and on the Steep Hollow side $50
feet leaving about ESQ feet still TO be run. BY
making curve, so as to pass round the rim Of
the rock. IL is thought that the balance of the
tunnel can be excayated with little blasting
On the Steep Hollow side they were under the
necessity of raising the grade trife so that the
water would run back after getting through
a few days work will be required to cut down
this grade, and the tunnel will then be complet
ed The grade, or fall in the whole distance
is eight and half feet. BY the time the tunnel
is completed the ditch will be constructed as faI
as Deer Creek and from thence the water can
be taken out into the other bitches belonging
TO the same company. bitches will be made Ia
Alpha, Gold Hill, and other places in that sec
ton of the county, where the water will be run
in the day time, and at night II will be turned
into the bitches leading to Nevada, to be used
the next day. By this means the company will
save heavy expense in building reservoirs
The Ditch is six feet wide on the bottom,
twelve feet on the top, about six feet deep, and
has all average grade of eight feet to the mile.
III tukcS tue WNtcT Out vi INC Duutu uDu, " "
point high up which affords large and con-
slant supply. The owners are confident that
after the ditch is completed, sufficient quantity
Of water can be obtained to run II full both win
ter and summer The advantages to the cen
trail portion of this county, which will result
from the introduction of such large and con
slant supply ofwatcr, can scarcely be estimated
We do not know how much the whole work has
cost, but when completed, It cannot be much, |
any, short of half million Of dollars. The fac
that shrewd business men do not hesitate to in
vest so large q sum of money In an enterprise o.
the kind, speaks volumes for the permanency
of the mines, and we have no doubt, that il
will pay handsome dividend upon the capital
invested, for century to come. The ditch Ii
owned principally, by Messrs. Kidd, Knox,
Whartenby and Marsh. They are oil old resi-
dents Of this county, and are we'll acquainted
with its resources.