Mariposa Democrat., 1857-04-15
Merced and North Fork Canal.

The Merced and North Fork Canal runs
through some of the richest mining region in
this County The water that supplies this
Canal is taken from the North Fork Of the
Merced River, and also from the main Merced
River, one mile ard half from the junction of
the North Fork. The Canal is completed to
Sherock's Flat distance of five and half
miles, and has been surveyed to Horse Shoe
Bend, distance of twenty.one miles.
So far as we can learn in regard to the de-
tails of the Canal, and the character Of the
mining locations through which the Canal will
pass when completed, and the present condi-
ton of affairs in relation to the same, the fol-
lowing statement may be considered a fair
erp0se.
The Canal is supplying the miners on North
Fork Flat with four sluice heads of water to
the miners on Sherlock's Flat, from twelve to
fourteen streams of water. This Flats situated
three miles below the North Fork of the Mer-
ced River; is nearly one mile square, and will
require four or five years to work it out. There
are at present over two hundred miners on
this Flat, nearly all employed. The diggings
are 100 feet in depth, very rich, and the claims
range in price from 81 500 to $4,000.
When the Canal is completed to Rich Bar,
two miles below Shcrlocks Flat, six streams of
water could readily be sold. The next dig
gings belcw this Bar is Washngton's Flat,
where twenty streams of water could be sold.
This Flat will afford work for miners for the
next four years. The claims are valued from
81 200 up to $4,000 Yimsley's Flat is stu
ated one half miles below; is more than
threc-quartcrs Of mile wide; has been thor
oughly prospected, and will pay well. AT the
Red Banks, which is one aud a half miles below
Ridley's Ferry, fifteen sluice heads Of water
could be sold. Last summer the sum of
$24 900 was taken out at this place. Morgan's
Flat is two miles and half below the Banks (;
is over mile long the diggings are deep, and
will pay good wages for the next four years.
Tarantula Flat, the next place to be supplied,
is over three miles in length. These diggings
are very deep, with numerous tunnels running
into the various claims. Here eight hundred
miners can find employment for the next five
years. Horse Shoe Bend, near Tarantula Flat,
ones. At present there are three hundred
miners at work on these Flats but one thou
sand would have employment could water be
obtained
The line Of survey passes over deep and
lasting dggngs, and it is to be regretted that
capital cannot be obtained to construct the
remaining part of the line of survey. Sixty
or seventy thousand dollars would be sufficient
to complete this Canal, and then it would not
only be source Of profit to the owners, but
also of great service and convenience to the
mining population. Tho line Of the Canal is
extremely elevated, so that the water could be
used as motive power for quartz mills, and also
for hydraulic purposes. When finished to
Horse Shoe Bend, the Canal can be extended
from thence to the Plains, and the water used
for irrigating the soil
| We hope soon to see the present owners Of
/
the Canal arrange for completing it to Horse
Shoe Bend, as it will open new fields of enter
prise to the mining community, and greatly
enhance the present value Of the mining claims
through which the line runs. The Canal is
capable of carrying $50 cubic inches of water
per minute, and most oft, as far as completed,
is cut through solid rock We would much
desire to have at least one ditch completed in
this County of sufficient length and capacity
to be rendered available to certain portion of
our mines, if only to prove that one constructed
on much larger scale, passing through the
heart of our mining regions would not only
pay back the capital in two years, but also a
handsome profit for years to come to the party
adventuring.