Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-09-30
THE STUART FORK DITCH.

following morning for their homes in Nevada
county. From an extended conversation with
Mr.. Loverdge, regarding the matter which
brought him here, we are enabled to furnish our
readers with the following information
In the year 1859, Mr., Loveridge came to this
county for the purpose of taking observations
and making a preliminary survey for ditch
from Stuarts Fork to Bolts Hill, near Lewiston
but before getting fairly commenced, his instru-
ment broke and he compelled to go below
to have it repaired. At that time be became
very favoraby impressed with that portion of
the county which he visited, both as regarded
the mining ground and the praoticaoility OF a
ditch from Stuart's Fork, not only to Bolts Hill
but to Weavervie and beyond. Since the time
mentioned, he found it impossible to return to
this section to make further inquiry and examin-
alton, but says that be very frequently thought
of what a splendid prospect there was here for a
large dtching operation, and what a vast amount
of superior mining ground such a ditch as the
one contemplated would cover. At different
times he mentioned his convictions in this re-
gard to various capitalists, seeking for invest
ment in the mines, with whom he came in con-
tact and all of them told him that if he would
come to this county again and make thorough
examination of the country and preliminary
survey of the ditch and the facts confirmed his
previous opinion, there would be no trouble
whatever in securing all the capital necessary
for opening the enterprise and carrying it to a
successful termination. With promises of this
kind to back him, Mr.. Loyeridge came here with
party of four others few weeks ago, and com
menced operations Immediately. He found that
the ground for ditching purposes was much bet
ter than he had at first supposed it to be-in
fact be informed us that he had been engaged in
similar enterprises in this State for number of
years. but never before saw such favorable land
for the purpose mentioned. The gravel range,
throughout the section which the the ditch is in
tended to supply, be says, is exactly similar to
that of the famous Smartsvle region, and has
every indication of being equally rich. Satisfied
with these prospects, he commenced survey,
and carried it as far as the old Young mill,
short distance above Ware y Matthew'S mill
The route and other particulars regarding the
proposed ditch according to statements made TO
US by Mr.. Loveridge, are about as follows
The water is to be taken from Stuarts Fork
about twelve miles above what is known as
Johnny Bulls ranch, and carried down on
the same side Of the river to within one and one
half miles of the ranch, where it is proposed to
cross it to this side in an iron pipe. From the
head of the ditch to where this pipe will cross
the river, will require ii miles of ditch, and at
the latter point it will be about 900 feet above
the river. 1t is estimated that from 4,50O to 81
600 feet of 40-inch iron pipe will be required in
crossing. This pipe is to be made of half-inch
iron, and will run down the mountain side and
be crossed on trestle-work of 500, more or less
feet in length, at a highth of from 40 to 80 feet
above the river, and up the bank on this side to
ar elevation Of about 900 feet, allowing 100 feet
pressure for crossing the water. Both ends Of
the pipe are to be buried in the earth, leaving
only that part exposed which will be above the
river this is done in order to prevent the iney
liable expansion and contraction of the iron,
which is the result when it is left exposed 10 the
varying temperature of the atmosphere, as the
temperature Of the ground has been proven to be
more even. The survey was continued from this
point to the Young mill, as before stated, and it
was found that the entire length of the ditch to
said mill would be from 33 to 35 miles. 1t is
proposed, however, before reaching that point to
run two tunnels through divides on the route
one to be about 600 feet in length and the 9TH
er 500 feet. By this means a large amount of
ditching will be saved and a consequent gain be
do IN tbo g G., Al
to the top of Oregon Gulch divide, it has been
variously estimated, will take from IL to Is
miles of ditching, making the entire length of
the ditch, from the head on Stuart S Fork TO the
divide named, from Al to so miles. The ditch is
to be made large enough to carry 800 inches of
water, and will be run on a grade of feet to
the mile, thereby gaining 4 feet on every mile
over the old Young survey, which was run on a
l2-foot grade. The survey for a ditch from the
Stuart's Fork to Garden Gulch, made in 1856,
run on grade Of 10 feet to the mile from Stu
arts Fork to Rush Creek and feet to the mile
from Rush Creek to Garden Gulch. On the
length of ditch surveyed by Mr.. Loveridge, not
more than two miles of fuming will be nee
essary, and probably only one and one-half
miles. There is plenty of timber and mill will
be erected for the purpose of supplying what
lumber is needed. Mr.. Loveridge proposes to
keep the ditch full all the year round if neces-
sary, by means Of extensive reservoirs at the
head. He says there is one place where with
l0-foot embankment, 25O acres can be " flowed"
and if need be, the embankment could be raised
to 80 feet in highth. lie further proposes to
" drop" water from the ditch into Slate creek,
and take it up again at suitable place for the
purpose of supplying the Bolts Hill section.
Mr.. Loveridge says he is more than pleased
with the prospect, and that he believes that the
proposed ditch Is o chance for paYine invest