The hydraulic press., 1859-12-24
THE EUREKA LAKE DITCHES.

J
construct an extension of its canal into the
mines of this vicinity, and as there is much
speculation concerning the company and its
capacity to supply water, we have procured
the following interesting facts relating to the
subject, which we present in as condensed
form as possible. For the benefit of read :
erS whe are not acquainted with the mineral
region wateced by the vast works to be de
scribed, We Will premise that it consists of
single mountain ridge OF divide, separating
the channels of the Middle ang, South forks
of the Yuba river, and constituting one of the
immense vertebrse of the Sierra Nevada
This ridge, from its lower point at the juno
ton of the South and North Yuba, in the
north western corner of Nevada county, to
the Eureka lakes-twenty or more in num-
ber-which lie to the eastward near the
SUBMITS about forty miles long, and wid-
ems from one end to the other until it attains
a probable width of ten or twelve miles. The
backbone of the ridge has an altitude above
its base varying from perhaps five hundred
to twenty-five hundred feet; and its hight
above the sea at the lakes cannot be less
than fire th usand feet. This back bone is
drawn along the sky in nearly a straight
line Its heavily timbered sides sloring to
the south and north, consist of spurs and
points, which are covered with deep depos-
its of auriferous gravel. divided by gulches,
small water courses and profound canons
and these projections, locally termed hills,
constitute the greater portion of the diggings
now being worked.
The Eureka Lake & Miners Company pos
sesses at the present time over two hundred
miles of bitches, constructed either by its
own enterprise or purchased from others
The most important of these bitches are, on
the south side of the ridge
/. The Canon Creek Canal, which is
seven feet wide at the top and five feet at
the bottom, With grade of sixteen feet to
the mile. 1t was dug or blasted through
hard cement nearly all the way, and is sup
posed to have the greatest akitude of any
ditch in the State.
2. The old Twins ditch, conveying the
water of Poor Mans Creek to Humbug City,
Arnold's Ran and vicinity, and connecting
at its head with Canon Greek Canal
3. The two Humbug bitches, fed by Hum
bug Canon and its tributaries, and supply
ing Kennebec, Grizzly, Columbia and other
hills
4. On the north side of the ridge: The
Miners Ditch, which heads at the two forks
of the Middle Yuba river, and supplies with
an abundance Of clear water Snow Point,
Orleans, Moores and Woolsey's Flats and
neigh boring localities. 1t was completed
in FIVE months without the aid of any capi-
tai but labor, as its name imports, as early
as 1855, is of good size and nearly thirty
miles long.
5. The Poor Mans Ditch, of LITTLE i1fe-
rior capacity, but still very good property.
6. The two Grizzly bitches which take
their water from Bloody Run and Grizzly
Canon, and supply Cherokee and aFt the sur
rounding country. One branch extends as
far down as Oak Tree Ranch, where it
crosses the ridge by means of q tunnel to
the San Juan side, not more han two miles
distant from the latter place.
7. The Magenta ditch, which is the main
extension of the Canon Creek ditch The
| fume that carries its waters across the
Cherry Hill Gap, three miles below Eureka
South, is considered the most elegant if not
the strongest aqueduct in the State. 1t has
been frequently described in our columns
before The Magenta ditch commands the
whole ridge, and can empty its waters on
either side
There are numerous smaller bitches not
requiring particular mention, whose Office is
to distribute water from the main canals to
the many points where it is wanted. The
capacity of the bitches named, is thus est-
mated: Magenta, 1000 inches; Twins ditch
1900 inches; Miners, 500 inches; Poor
Mans, 500 inches Humbug, $50 inches :;
Grizzly, 500 inches; showing total capac-
ity OF $3.50 running inches, mining mea-
surement. The water that flows at night
being preserved, or stored, by means of nu-
merous reservoirs built for that purpose,
the company actually has command of dou-
BILE the amount represented by the capacity
of the bitches, admitting that each carried
its limit; and this after making every al
lowance for evaporation, percolation and
leakage. 1t is we'll enough to observe here
that the miners day is seldom longer than
ten hours. Many have doubted whether the
company would ever have water sufficient
to fill all their bitches, should it be needed,
as it will be in comparatively short time.
We are assured that there need be no appre-