The hydraulic press., 1859-10-08
Fumt'linG ddwh The gu,ches,
jumping over rilfs,
nless me, this is tiresome,
ScIambliDg up the lillsl

But this is not germain to the matter-nti-
ther would be "a description Of the Magenta
flunie, which rears Its mijestic proportions
right over the surveyed line of the Weaver
DitclI-and so shall come straight down to
the purpose with which / set out
did not &C beyond Eureka, TO lock at the
flume, nine miles in length, which conveys
the water from the French lakes to that To-
cality; but learned that, though somewhat
dilapidated, it is now undergoing thorough
and rapid repair. The excavations for the
ditch really begin at Eureka; and, thence to
The Magenta Flume, (three miles, the work
has been pushed, with praisew orthy activity
by some spirited men from Columbia Hill
and thereabout, and will soon be completed
From the Magenta Flume to Orleans Flat is
four miles, and all under contract. Youf
humble correspondent, in company with Mr.
Olmstead, your illustrious predecessor, has
been honored with a contract for the fourth
mile, or that which is next to Orleans Flat.
The whole distance from Orleans Flat to Co.
lumbia Hill is estimated at some twelve
miles, but, as the water can be conveyed
for long distances in rayipes, the actual ex-
cavation, between Orleans Flat and Column
bia Hill, will not exceed eight miles. The
whole will be under contract, / am inclined
to believe, before the close of the present
week. On my way down from Eureka, to-
day, met two enthusiastic printers of your
Observation-Disclosures, Elder and Conger
who were vending their way to head quar-
tiers, determined, if possible to take a con-
tract for feur miles. l hope they will get it
and think they will-for they, like all
their brethren OF the Faustusian Art, have
the true grit in them. They had but one
mule between them-an animal of exceeding
gravity and .steadiness-and travelled on the
"ride-and-tie' principle.
The contractors will receive "water Scrip
in pay, which, for the nonce, will become
very convenient kind of paper currency, as
abundance of laborers are cheerfhlly willing
to acceptitin remuneration for their services.
1t will buy "grub" and 's dunnage," and do
almost anything else that money can do.
by the by-Brother 'Olmstead and will
want some stalwart hands on our contract.
We should like to have fellows cast in the
mold of Hercules, with thews and sinews
of iron, and stomachs that would make an
ostrich die of envy. Each one of them
should be able to dispose of big fitch of
bacon, half peck of potatoes, and small
wheel-barrow load of faYacks, at break
fast. But if such cannot be had, we must
be content to enlist men of lesser excellence.
Thefe are goodiy number of people already
at work on the ditch but more are wanted,
for it is the present determination to put the
work through before Christmas.
have written this letter in an exceeding
hap-hazard kind Of style; but, If it will an
swer the purpose for which you desired it,
and enable you to pick out an item or two
which you may deem of sufficient conse-
quence TO lay before your thousands of in :.
telligent readers, I, at least, can have no
thing to grumble at. In the hope, therefore,
that your HYDRAULIC PREss and my tail sluice
may grow III greatness and wealth, and
make you and me men of mark, subscribe
myself
Rcverently yours,
JAMES ALLEN.