Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-05-29
the JOURNAL.
Descriptive of Mining.

How RIVERS ARE FLUMED. - Fluming the
river implies a lifting of water from the river
bed and conveying it beyond the claim to be
worked, and this is the manner of operation in
the upper mines where the streams are narrow
A log, two feet or more in diameter, is thrown
over the stream and sunk near the bottom as
possible another is laid from shore to shore a
few feet further down stream, and some distance
above the water Puncheons or slabs-some-
times sawed plank-are driven down close to-
gether and fastened to the upper log, the weight
of the water pressing the lower end of the planks
against the log at the bottom. This forms an
obstruction for the rocks, boughs of trees and
dirt thrown in to build a dam. The next step is
to place long logs across the river at intervals Of
20 feet, strong enough to bear up the water
These are called mud slls.' Two smaller logs,
hewed on the upper side, are notched down on
the sills and laid parallel with the stream II or
1S feet apart these called 'stringers.' Still
smaller timbers are put across the striDgers, at
right angles, and from four to five feet apart,
called ties to which the plank are fastened
forming the fume bottom. In the projecting
ends of the ties standards are fixed to nail the
side boards against. The structure is now ready
for plankng The lumber used is generally
unseasoned being cut by whip savers close by,
inasmucb as it is often required in places out of
the reach of saw mills. The edges of the planks
are roughly jonted, and then they are fastened
down with nails here and there, making allow
ance for the lumber swelling when the water is
turned in. The standards on each side are then
boarded up. the larger apertures caulked, and
Ala,t ,,,,npg 4, to 2,,r, IN, 1ba r,ta
The opening left in the dam is closed up, more
dirt is thrown in, and the water, rising, flows
through the hume. When the fall in the stream
bed is not sufficient to accomplish drainage, it is
necessary to build foot dam at the lower end
of the claim, to keep out back water and to re-
move that remaining between the upper and low
er dams, water wheels placed in the fume,
with pumps attached, which lift the drainage into
the fume or discharge it in troughs over the foot
dam. Two or three days are required to pump
out the water and stop leakage, and then they
are ready for mining This is time of intense
anxiety with the flumers they are to find out
very soon whether the ground will pay, or wheth-
er all their labor has been in vain. If after clear
ing off the rocks and top dirt and sinking
hole to the bed rock, they find the latter smooth,
with no seams or crevces in it, their spirits sink
below zero, and they are ready to sell out very
cheap, but if gold is found plentiful, all is hustle
and excitement, and work is continued day and
night until the claim is worked out, or until
rise in the river sweeps away their fixtures and
drives them out. This description applies only
TO iuming on the smaller streams.
Some of the claims thus fumed have proved
incredibly rich, many others utterly worthless
We have seen as much as so pounds Of gold taken
out in one day by fuming company, who, upon
commencing work, had not $500 collectively
1t is nothing unusual TO hear of $1,000, $4,000
and 5000 being taken out in one day. But then,
there are many Others paid with disappointment.
Perhaps there is no time in the miners life when
be feels so utterly despondent and heart sick as
when he walks reluctantly from his valueless
claim, sits down upon a rock and looks over the
scene Of his long, frutless labor. He hears, close
by, the catter of busy pick and shovel, the creak
ing of cranes and screecbing Of innumerable wa
ter wheels, where his fortunate neighbors are
taking out the gold, but he is bankrupt, in debt
and almost willing to quit the world.