The hydraulic press., 1859-08-13


Esreka Lake Ditch Company to celebrate
the completion of the largest section of fume
in Nevada county.
The Aqueduct
crosses gorge known as Cherry Hill Gap,
between Snow Tentand Eureka South, about
twenty miles up the Ridge from North San
Juan, and is the last section ola lofty flume
the aggregate length of which is about one
mile. This section, christened the Magenta
Aqueduct by some enthusiastic Frenchmen
engaged in its construction, is twelve hun
drcd feet long from hill to hill, with a hight
in the center ofone hundred and twenty five
feet, the width of box through which the
water is to flow being six feet. The timbers
employed in its construction were all hewed
from pines growing directly on or near the
spot, and the uprights are all single pieces
1t is not probable that unspliced timbers l 25
feet long, l6inches square at one end tapering
to inches at the other, could be procured
anywhere else than on the coast of the North
Paciic-yet the mountain ridges of Califor-
MIA are crowded with trees that would Weld
even larger timbers. The trestles >ef the
hume have spread at the ground of 80 feet
and feet at the top. The entire structure
as one views it from a short distance, looks
massive yet graceful, and as though it-could
not be overturned by anything less powerful
than hurricane. 1t is not built in straight
line across the Gap, but sinuously, following
to increase its strength. The water box is
not sided up with boards, but with solid
strngers sixteen inches high by nine in
width, the grade of the fume being sufficient
to carry through 1000 inches of water
The absence of high sides greatly reduces
the danger to be apprehended from winds,
and with the same object in view the whole
work has fewer timbers about it than any
fume in the State. 1t was designed, and its
construction superintended by Mons. Fou-
cherie, and cost about $4,000.
The Grounds
were prepared for the festival with much
taste and regard to convenience. A pavilion
thirty feet wide, sixteen feet high and sever
al hundred feet long, composed Of evergreen
bushes and having an arched roof, was built
Immediately under the fume between the
trestles, and divided into dining, dressing
and dancing apartments, which were decor
ated with wreaths, flags, and appropriate
notices. Canvas booths were put up here
and there, and drove brisk trade in fruits,
nuts, cigars and liquors. A platform for the
orators was erected facing the fume, and in
front of it benches enough to seat large
audience. Evergreen trees had been trans
planted at intervals over the ground and
green mounds lleaped about them. The Gap
is very pleasant little valley, commanding
a.noble view of mountain peaks and piney
gorges, and cooled by breezes blowing from
the very summit the Sierra Nevada. Those
who went across the fume had a grand dis
play of seenonyto gaze upon. In one direc-
ton could 'be seen the rugged peaks of the
Sierra Buttes sharply outlined On the sky, j
and long blue lines of distant mountains
melting into air. In another thetown of1
Minnesota could be seen clinging to the side
of steep ridge like a birds nest; and on
turning around, there were.the wavy outlines
Of the ridge dividing Deer Creek and the 1
South Yuba. Immediately beneath the spec
tater was an ampitheater of pine-clad hills,
crcliag an animated scene of human festiv-
ity. Visitors from all parts of the county
focked to the scene from an early hour in
the day until late in the evening, when up
wards of thousand persons were on the
ground. At about o'clock Gov j. B. We'll
ler and Hon. G.. L. Scott arrived from San
Juan, where they spoke the night before,
and were received with a salute of artillery
Some one proposed three cheers for the Gov
ernor, which were given by the entire as 4
semblage with right good will. A number
of the county officials were on the ground
and Numerous candidates also honored the
occasion with their condescending presence.
Hosting the Colors.
Preparations were now made for hosting
the national colors ofFrance and the United
States, which were attached to two flag
stats each about fifty feet long. These stats
were slowly raised from the highest part of
the fume, where they had been lying, by the
same machinery that was employed in rails
ing the timbers of the fume itself; and as
they went up the band played "The Star
Spangled Banner" the "Marseilles Hymn"
and other stirring strains, while guns were
fired in rapid succession and the spectators
gave cheer after cheer. At last the stats
stood erect, and the French and American
/ flags streamed out on the blue sky one hun
dred and seventy five feet abovethe earth-a