The hydraulic press., 1859-08-27
Columbia Hill and its PROSPECTS,

SOluuDla I'LL ana 1tS prospects.
citizen of the above place writes as fol-
lows:
EDITOR Pass: Not being a newspaper
correspondent consider myself incapable
of doing justice to the subject before me, but
will give you my views and facts for what
they are worth. Having visited, since ls49,
nearly all the mining localities from Maripo-
sa to Shasta, do not know of any whose
future prospects equal those of Columbia
Hill and vicinity. The town itself is admi-
rably located for q business center, with
many elements of permanence, chief of which
is its situation in the midst of an almost
exhaustless mining country. The ground on
which it stands is a basin, surrounded by
the Backbone Ridge, Grizzly Ridge and the
fuba ridges, with but one great outlet, that
being through Spring Creek Canon, in which
| large fume is being erected for the benefit
of portion of Grizzly, Kennebec, Columbia
and Chimney Hills. There are other minor
outlets, such as Shady Creek and Little Grass
Valley. The hills and ridges mentioned
which are, properly speaking, spurs of the
main ridge that separates the South and
Middle Yuba, constitute very extensive
mining section. A large part of this con-
s.sts of what the miners call quartz gravel
ranges" which are comparatively level
O,her portions are billy and broken, having
on top trap-rock, gravelly cement and boul-
ders, while beneath lies the blue lead with
its quartz gravel. The surface of the gravel
deposits prospects equal if not superior to
any other section Of similar extent in the
State, and there is enough auriferous earth
to employ thousands of men for a century to
come. The time is not far distant when its
richness will be fully developed, to the as
tonishment of the most incredulous.
The miners now here have labored, and
still labor, under many disadvantages but
these will eventually be overcome, and then
the true value of this section will be made
apparent Ofnecessity all the different modes
of mining will be pursued, the hydraulic
process first, which, when water can be OBJ
tanned at fair prices, will consume daily at
least ten thousand inches of that ndispcnsa-
ble element. The Backbone and Grizzly
Ridges being very high, will be worked by
drifting. Bedrock tunnels will have to be
cut straight into the mountain, and incline
tunnels and perpendicular shafts sunk, thro'
which to raise dirt and water by steam or
other power
There will be good opportunity for the
exercise Of inventive genius in the improve
ment of mining implements and machinery.
Mechanics of every sort will find abundant
employment, and the farmer, who is not un-
represented even now, will here find rich and
prolific soil. These things being true, the
miner, farmer, merchant and mechanic will
enjoy equal opportunities to obtain wealth,
and be linked together in mutual depend
ence
Columbia Hill, though at present village
of infant growth, must become a thriving
business center with considerable popula-
ton; the natural advantages enumerated
will make it so, in spite of every outside
influence now brought to bear against it
The citizens are suffering from the effects of
persistent strike for the reduction of water
rates, yet the place exhibits the signs of un-
checked vitality in its new buildings and
other improvements. 1t was supposed by
some that this strike would dry up the place
cause it to die outright; but the reverse
is the case as is seen. More hereafter.
A FoRTY-N1NER