Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-01-16

1
| the pepu alton must have been about 10000. He
also gave fine description of the divide as 1t nov
exis; g. mined on that divide in 1852 and 1858
| near Negro Hill, Just above Mormon Island. After
wards worked near Centerville or Pilot Hill, and
afterwards at Volcanoviile, where was engaged in
| hydraulic mining. IWitaess described the water
/ shed Of Canyon creek, and also many ravines and
creeks that are tribut ry to the South Fork also
| named the different mining camps and gave theil
| distances from Georgetownl Pilot creek Is, as
| stream, 40 miles in length.
| Adjourned to $50 A. N. to-day.
Evidence Of James O'Brien. Given on
Friday. January 18th.
James O'Brien, sworn. Direct examination by
Mr.. Dlbble.)
Questiou-How long have you been in California
where do you reside and what has been your occu.
patton
Answer-I came to California twenty-eight years
ago, for the purpose Of engaging in mining. re-
| side IN Smartsville, Yuba county. l have been er-
gagged in mining during all the time.
Q.-what kind OF mining have you been en-
gagged in?
county.
Describe the Yuba mining.
| A-The rlver mining was carried on by building
| dams and fumes and cutting canals along the banks
| Of the river to turn the water from the streams.
bey nut in dams at the head Of the fumes and one
| at the lower end, and pump the water out OF the
river and work in the gravel. The gold-bearing
| gravel is In the bed.
| Q-Wbat was the depth OF the gravel and sand in
| the bed bars and banks OF the fuba risers
A.-From five to sixty feet deep.
! Q-How extensive was the sand and gravel de-
posts in the bed and banks with reference to the
width
| A.-From 100 to 500 feet wide
Q-How extensive was this sand and gravel de-
post in the Yuba in length?
A-For distance OF ninety miles.
Q.-Was this gravel and sand deposit you speak OF
| from mining, or was it originally in the river
Alt was originally in the river 1t was found
| there before any mining was done in the river.
o-When did Yubs river mining of this immense
extent substantially cease?
An 1857.
Q.-Why? State the reason?
| A-The mining of the up bencbes covered up the
beds Of the rivers and the mining claims in the beds
Of the rivers and on the bars.
Q-What effect has this material displaced in the
river mining on The BEDS banks and bars, with ref
erence TO the lower mining clsimsf
Alt covered them up
o-Wby?
A.-Wei, it was necessity and the universal Gus
tom there.
Q--As to density, state the character Of the
gra, Ell found in the river from Marysvile to Downie
vile.
At was very Dense packed and solid.
Q-would floods moveit2
A-No sir If floods would move it, it would
not have been there.
Q-What did move it?
A-Manua labor.
Q.-What other kind Of mining was or has been
done in that section!
A.-There were placer, gulch and rayine
Q~what others?
h.-Deep gravel mining.
Q-What do you mean by deep gravel n ming!
Am the old river channels which we find
Q-What do you mean by gulch and placer
mining?
,optf tba channels and the gravel
deposited in rav.nes ard flats djacent to the Old
channels.
jim what manner was gulch and placer mining
conducted?
A.-By the use of water.
Q-What became Of the material washed from
those mines!
Alt was all run into the ravines. streams and
canyons, and found its way into the river.
OH what manner was deep gravel mining con-
Quoted
A-Deep gravel mining was conducted by the use
of water.
Q.-Through what avenue was the material dis
cbargedi
Although fumes, cuts and ravines.
Q-why SO discharged.
x.-Becsuse it was the only place it could be dis
charged.
gold mining?
A.-Water.
Q-wbat is hydraulic minings
Hydraulic mining is mining with water under
pressure.
Q-How does the hydraulic pressure VarY IN the
various kinds of mining
Al varies in the difference of pressure.
Q.-when did deep gravel and hydraulic mining
commence in your localityr
An 1858.
Q-Referriug to pressure. what effect, il any, has
the use OF water through iron pipes, monitors,
hydraulc Chiefs and little giants had on the carry
ing of material by water2
A.-None.
O-Expaiu the advantages Of the monitors,
hydraulic chiefs and giants.
A-The only advantage in the use OF them is that
YOU secure the control OF the water. They do not
add anything to the carrying capacity of the water
Q-Describe the little giant
A-The little giAnt is piece OF machinery at
tached to an iron pipe and worked on q knuckle-
Joint SO that you turn it to any point OF the
compass without the water losing any Of its force.
O-You cay that this class OF mining within your
knowledge commenced in 1888
Ayes.
Q.-To the extent OF your knowledge!
o-Can these deep gravel mines be worked BY
any other method except as you have stated
A-No, sir.
O-Describe the deep gravel mines in the Yuba
river water she'd
Mr.. Cadwalader-They were described by Mr..
Hamilton Smith, Judge Sesrls and by another wit
ness, Who went to Moores Flat IN lSao. do not
| know his name.
Mr. Dibble- Go ahead.
| A-These old channels along pretty much at
right angles with the D esent channels in some
! Of gravel range from 90 to $50 feet in depth.
Q.-Describe the lower stratum of those mines,
| as to density and movability, compared with the
| upper materials
| a-The upper material there was very lght
| loan, and there considerable so on top. Next
to that was a stratum of cement or gravel and the
| lower or bottom stratum was very coarse and ce-
mented.
oa2s When was ''i' upper light material washed
| Alt was washed off prior to 1875.
Q-How was this upper material moved.
Alt was moved by water
| o.-Explain fully with reference to how it was
| moved by water?
The Court-This will be the same as we have been
| mining.
! Mr. DbbIe-I presume it is
| Q-What became of that top materialf
| At was washed into the rivers.
| Q.-How is this lower dense, heavy material
moved?
| Alt is moved by water.
| Q-what besides water and powder is required in
| the working of deep gravel channelss
| A-Tunnes, fumes, bitches, storage reservoirs,
roadways, iron pipes and other mining appliances.
| Q-Explan why they required?
| A.-The tunnel is required to get drainage and to
| hold the fume to the gravel through. The
iume to save the gold The reservoirs to store the
waters for use in the dry bitches to convey
the water from The res -rvoir to the mine Ro1dways
to get material to the mines. Pipes and appliances
| are used in working the mines. The pipes carry
| the water.
ON ,hose Yuba mines state the length Of tun.
| neis?
Mr. Ha:t-I object to that they have been into
| it BEFORE and 1t is immaterial.
Mr. Dibble-N No. sir. There has not been word
| OF it by any witness.
Mr. Cadw alader-They were fully described by
| Hamll on Smith.
| Mr. Dibble-It viii take but a minute. The tes-
tmopy is perfectly proper unless the Court says it
is not
The Cour.-Answer the question.
| Al should Judge that there is thirty miles Of
tunnels snd fumes on the watershed OF the Yuba
Q-RefeIring to the Yuba mines with which you
have been connected, what length OF time has
elapsed between development and profit
Alt mas been no time.
Q.-Ao time. What do you mean by stating ne
timef
Mr. Cadwalader-I object TO thai as useless, and
calling for an unnecessary explanation.
Mr.. Dibble-Tney have end5avored prove that
hydraulic mines were Improbable want to prove
by this witness that hydraulic mines have been
profitable and have paid dividends.
TIE wiiness-I mean that since the commence
nnent of these mines there they have paid for labor
to all industries connected with them and il there
has been any loss at all it has been the owners
Q-They have paid profit to all public indus
! tries
A-Yes.
Q.-State the population Of the Yuba drainage
mining district dependent on the mining industry.
A-About 0,eO0.
Q.-What has been the production OF the Yuba
drainage area in the mines?
Mr. CAdwalader-I object to that question. It
calls for a guess. and is irrelevant.