New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-20

Mexican whom have already mentioned rs having
seen at work once had $4,000 which he had
washed out himself, and all OF which he iost Nv
gambling. He has reformed and although aoonf
fourscore years DID, has begun again to dig out ms
70 tune in this slow and tedious way.
have gwen this long description OF
the operations Of the Mexicans upon these
p,,c RI. not only because 1t was novel
and interesting to me. but because 1t
shows how remarkably rich the auriferous deposits
are and what they may be expected to yield If by
draulic mining of them ever becomes possible. In
the great goId-producbg gulches like the Califor-
MIA at Leadville and Last Chance at Helena Mon
tana, mining by the hydraulic method is found 10
be very profitable, even when the material 10 DE
operated upon has once been sluiced. and IN Cali
fornia in some of the largest and most successful
operaions the average product of gravelwashing is
only about 10 cents "a cubic yard Inc west
Bonanza. owned by the San Pedro and Canon del
Aqua Company, ranks in extent with the great
gravel beds of the Pacific coast, while the average
amount of gold contained in cubic yard OF 1t has
never been estimated at less than so cents. The
dirt from the mantas rich streaks. washed by
the Mexicans, has probably yielded from $40 to $2o
a cubic yard, and it will be seen that they could not
afford to handle material that any leaner. since
besides the labor of taking out the gravel and
transporting it the water, the water to it, they
are Obliged TO wash more than one hundred bateas
of it for every cubic yard.
THE PROBLEM OF A WATER SUPPLY.
That the West Bonanza at the New Placers Is re-
markably rich there is not the shadow of doubt.
There are literally millions In It," but they have
heretofore been millions that have been beyond the
reach of Il owners Of the property because OF the
want OF water. Water is as essential to the work.
IN he
NAL life for none of the socalled dry processes have
yet been put in successful practical operation on
apy of the great auriferous gravel beds. But there
is no water In the Placer Mountains OF their vicln
ity. A few DAYS In the year. and only for a few
hours day then, after heavy rains, the dry arroyos
become the channels of mighty mountain
torrents, but at any other time they are
as dry as bone, from the valley to
the tops of the almost inaccessible canons
from which they issue. Nor would 1t be possible
TO dam I'D these floods and hold them In reservolrs
because the fall of the streams great that
dam of any practicable height would hold water
enough for only a few days rise. 1t Is the
unanimous conclusion Of all the engineers who
have looked into the subject that water cannot be
obtained from the Placer or Tuerto Mountains or
from any of the so-caed streams In their vicinity.
But the San Pedro and Canon del Aqua Company
has undertaken 10 solve the water question, ana mas
such faith in its plans that large sum OF money Is
now being expended in putting them into execution
The problem is interesting one, not only on
account of it's effect upon the value OF the property
to be affected. but also because OF the dlhcult
engineering problems involved. ! spent day IN
company with Mr. Slckels, examining the hydraulic
works now IN progress of construction, and shall
write about them in another letter. q. L, W,