The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1866-11-03
From the Na-ysriiie -fppr.i.
The Cherokee Fiat Mines, Butte County.

Mr. EDITOR: The most extensive mining opera
tons in Califorrii lie eEtl. near twelve mAes dis
faat from Oroville- Crossing the Feather river al
Oroville and passing through ThempSon's Flat,
there is TO be found some Of The richest surface
mining in the States. But unfortunately there is
little fall that the mining il thsocality is of the
most primitive character, Int still produces large
quantities of the precious metal Thence VOC pro-
ceed northeast under the lower Table Mountain,
crossing Morris Rayine, which divides the two
Table Mountains The raYiae isseyeral miles in ex
tent and has produced immense quantities Of gold.
and is still worked with great success when water
i to be had-the present supplies being collected
from the surrounding mountains during the winter
season. There Is one Eastern Company opera
ton this ravine. depending upon the winter
months for their supplies Of water. Thence you
commence 10 ascend the mountain, through Oregon
City, bringing you To an upper beach or the upper
Table Mountain. at the northern end OF which is
what IS known as
CHEROKEE FIAT.
This bench OF table land, extending from the
Sacramento Valley on I west through the foot
hills to the Cherokee bench. and for several miles
north of Table Mountain, and on the eastern side
of the mountain TO the gorge that forms the head
of Morris Ravine. distance soath Of about seven
miles, is one continuous range of gold bearing
gravel. which extends through the Table Mountain
and is very rich in fine gold To take pan and
wash this gravel reminds one of the good old DAYS
of 40; and it is not in selected spots only that
these prospects are found, but in many places where
one who would consider himself an expert would
not think Of prospecting. The surface of the
country is quite barren. being dotted with an oc-
casiona nat pine and small scrubby oak: but Sufli-
cient for the miners use, except lumber, which is
Of easy access. The mines al this place have been
worked by rocker and sluices since the earliest
days of California mining. and Yet no impression
has been made. from the fact that the only water
to be had was during the rains. which is collected
into reservoirs. and then thirty days work with
water is considered extra good year, and for as
much as two years in succession there has not been
sufficient water FOR two days washing. The mining
ground everywhere in the vicinity has been located,
the most of il for years the locat0r waiting for the
good time to come when some enterprising com
pany would introduce water. The most prominent
mining company having the most available location
is the
CHEROKEE coMPANY-TEN SHARES.
Tn, grounds of this company consist of $50
claims consolidated together. of 100 feet square To
the claim. This the Oldest company in the District
which has from time to time purchased adjoining
claims with the results of the ioiat labor OF the
members, until il has become one of the most valu-
able mines in the State. They are now working
during the rainy SEASON. bank of some 40 feet
in depth composed Of light quartz gravel, which is
very richs paying last Winter as much as 81 0U0
per day with very primitive mode Of working.
They only had water 80 DAYS all the season. The
same gravel with the improved mode OF working
in use in parts Of Yuba county, would certainly
of gravel but from the additional quantity washed.
This hank of 50 feet now being worked might be
considered only the surface: years since. when
they commenced they started from the bed of the
ravine, and followed up on that grade. From pros
pectiHg shaft sunk it is ascertained that the next
90 feet is Of a more decomposei gravel, and then
the famous blue gravel and cement is found, which
continues to the bed rock. which i so feet, max
ing in all, if properly opened. bank of 100 feet
and more. of the richest gravel in the State. This
yai
Loaf mountains, forming rlvine between them.
known aS the saw mill ravue at the mouth Of which
is located the Welch Tunnel and Hydraulic claims.
This tunnel is run coo feet under the foot of the
Table Mountain. where is found very rich gravel,
which. with the hydraulic works, with the very
limited supply OF water last winter, paid eXtrava
gantly-even as weilas the Cherokee for the chance
they had for working. There Is another company
running tunnel under the Table Mountain, under
the superintendent ofMr. Wadeyer. This tunnel
has been run 100 feet. and is still progressing
The Eureka company are lso running a tunnel
under the mountain. They are in some 900 feet
Some Of your readers may think it strrnge that
such i1ch territory as spoken OF should have re-
memaiued so long without the introduction of wa
ter. In reply might say, that FOR the past twelve
years different parties have examined the route for
canal, which Is or has been considered favorable
until YOU come within a few miles of Cherokee
There you find depression of some 600 feet to
cross. This has always deferred any parties from
making the Investment, and by many parties con
siGered impgactcabie, until this Spring, when Nr.
r. H. Paysous and Mr. 4. Z. Williams visited
the locality, first thgougllly examining the extent
and value OF the mines thsn the feasibility OF H.
tr0duting water from some Of the branches of Fea
ther river. when, after several surveys by Mr. Or
landO JenniBgs.a line of canal partially settled
upon. provided the company u lie formed could
secure sufficient quantity of mining ground to sat
isfy the Investment. without DEFENDING upon the
sale Of water to the miners n reimburse them for
their Investment. After considerable negotiations.
they have secured some hundred and fifty acres of
this gravel Mining ground in the immediate vicinity
and adjoining the Cherokee CGnpanys grounds,
including the key and great outlet to the Sacra
mento Valley, with is fan Of near 900 feet, IN
Gliding also the most Of Saw Mill ravine, running
on either side under, and into the Table and Sugar
Loaf Mountains aud extending to Morris ravne
near and on which they have secured nearly 200
acres more OF the best OF this gravel range. That
portion of the company grouGd lying clear Of the
Table and Sugar Loaf mountains Is nearly one and
half miles III length, and three ejgbths oi mile
in width. through which the pay gravel varies from
twenty 10 two hundred feet in depth, and a You
work up and into either OF the mountains increases
to As much aS GOO feet in depth. and not surpassed
in valae By any mine III the State MesSrs. PaysonS
Williams ard Jennings, as Surveyors and En-
gineeis have devoted the entire summer in pros
pecting, investigating, selecting and consolidating
this ground, and selecting the r0nte fer canal.
There has been several routes teSted-one from
the West Branch OF Feather river. This line will
require much as i've miles Of iron pipe perhaps
forty inches in diameter, 10 convey the quantity of
water desirable. Another and more feasible route.
is from the North Feather river. This line takes
the waters from tAs river IL a point known
Shores Bay distant by line Of canal about - miles
to the West Branch Of Feather river. To convey
the water across this stream and land it sufficiently
high on the Cherokee side Of the stream TO be
available for all Of the mining grounds, depres
sion or nearly 100 feet has to be overcome, requir
ing a span Of about Coz feet, elevated nearly so
feet above high water maIk. 1t Is not yet deter
mined whether this span shall be wire suspension
or wood work. TIE water VIII be carried across
the Geuresson 0n suspension or trestle work. Ia an
iron pipe IS or 20 inches in diameter in the clear
considered sufficiently large 70 convey 2O1 inches.
miners measurement, with ten inches pressure at
the gaace box. This pipe wlh be two and one
qnarer miles in length. extending from an eieya-
ION on the north side OF the West Branch Of Fea-
ther river down the mountain, then crossing the
river on the suspension spoken Of; thence up the
mountain again on the south side, TO an elevation
sufficiently high to convey the water 10 any part OF
the Table ana Sugar Loaf mountains and Saw Mill
Morris ravne. The receiving end OF the pipe can
he nlaced 80 aS 70 give mUch as 500 ieet head
above the eiectiRs end.
This is the greatest mining enterprise ever under
taken in California and viii require u much as tNO
wears 10 complete the work. Most Of the iron for
the upe viii have to be procured III the East, and
moT. than one halt million OF dollars viii be re
oujred to build tanne. make and set the pipes ana
open the claims This Is independent OF what may
be maid for purchase Of lands. and other inning
facilities q. the financial result OF the operation,
there can be no doubt. The extensive gravel
ranges belonging 10 the company nave neeh %
thoroughly tested by experienced practlcaee men