Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-06-20
UP AMONG THE MINES.
NORTH BLOOMFIELD. NEVADA
Coy-~rx- Ju,a JS 1891

COUNTY, June l6, 1881.
A trip through the mountain counties
of California during the months of June,
July or August, is one of the most at
tractive that person in search of recrea-
tion can take, provided always that you
do not have TO talk "slickens" to every
one you meet. But if you are on horse
back, have given amount of time to reach
certain points. your horse in favor of the
eight.hour law, and with strong inclina-
ton to shirk at that, its hard work. Your
correspondent is in the latter condition.
Leaving one of the valley towns, short
ride brought me to Smartsville, Yuba
county, beautifully located village of
nearly 900 population. This is the west
erly point where hydraulic mining is car.
ried ON to any extent. Here are located
numerous claims, the most important Of
which is the Excelsior Water Mining Com.
pany, who also operates mines at Tim
buctoo and Mooney Flat.
The injunction restraining the miners
from depositing tailings in the river has
stopped all work in this as well as in most
of the places along the ridge. Between
800 and 400 laborers have been thrown out
of employment here in consequence, and
considerable feeling is manifested against
the people below who have thus sought to
protect their homes.
Leaving Smartsville, passed in success
sion Mooney Flat, French Corral, Birch
Juan. At French Corral and Birchville
are located mines belonging to the Milton
Company, employing from sixty to hun
dred men. The only mine in operation at
this time in this region is the American.
near Sweetland, which is running day and
night, using about l,560 inches of water.
North San Juan is thrifty and import
ant town of Nevada county, of nearly
l, 200 inhabitants. Its business houses,
dwellings, etc, indicate prosperous times
in the past, but as its trade depends al.
most entirely upon the mines around it,
the people here are feeling decidedly
blue" The San Juan Times is published
here, by 0. p. Stidger. He is now paying
his special attention to the mining ques-
ton. As an illustration of the hard times
in this place, | witnessed the sale by ex-
ecution of Justices Court of coach dog,
of the female persuasion, taken by attach
ment for board bill. After several vain
attempts to get bid, the Constable gave
the matter up in disgust and turned the
dog over to the plaintiff.
The next point of interest is Columbia
Hill, about seven miles from San Juan.
Here is located the office OF the Eureka
Lake and Yuba Canal Company Consoli-
dated. This company employs in its vari-
GUS mines at Snow Point, Eureka South,
Relief Hill and Moore's Flat about 400
men. Last year they used in their own
mines and sold to other companies l,400,.
900 inches of water. They pay from Sl5,
900 to $40. 900 monthly for labor, running
the whole year. They have patents for
over 5000 acres of mining land, which
with their present facilities will keep them
running for over fifty years. Several OF
their claims are now running, but by the
time this reaches you they will be closed
down.
In my next l will give information oi
North Bloomfield, Moore's Flat, etc., as
we'll as few notes of some of the quartz
mines OF Sierra county. PHoCIoN.