Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-03
NEVADA COUNTY.
A HOOSTER VISITS GRASS VALLEY
AND NEVADA CITY.
Mines in that Section Are Oper-
ated-Fine Prospects.


a Sacramentsn, who took run through
the northern citrus belt short time since
describes portion of the trip as follows:
A few days ago, with grip sack in hand
/ boarded the train at the depot and started
for Grass Valley. | have lived in Califor-
MIA upwards OF thirty years. was raised in
a mining section, but had never visited
Nevada county. On the train | found sew
eral genial gentlemen who reside in that
section. and who gave me many valuable
points and suggestions regarding my pro-
posed visit. At Auburn Samuel NJ. Short
ridge, the Republican orator, boarded the
train, and as Samuel and | were boys
together, We had q pleasant little chat as
we rolled up the hill to Colfax, enjoy
ing white labor?" cigars in the smoking.
car At ColfaX we change cars, and take
the narrow-gauge. Here L met my old
friend Dennis McCarty. Who don't know
the big-hearted. whole-souled, ever smiling
Dennis? Dennis had very broad smile on
his physiognomy, owing to the fact that
the change in the time-card makes Colfax
an eating-station, and he expects in the
future to rake in the shekels quite lively.
Thomas Frazier, the Republican candidate
for State Senator from Ell Dorado and
Placer counties, and Jacob Neff, an ex-Sen-
ator Of the same faith, were noticed on the
depot platform discussing the tariff ques-
ton with couple OF wood-choppers. The
bell on the narrow-gauge engine rang, and
we hustled on board. Here l found J. W.
GreenlaW, en- route to Nevada City. He
had travelled over the road many times, and
sitting by the window explained the objects
of interest as they were passed, on this,
npa Of tha rnnSt DiptI1rpcpTIa iIuo routae
on the coast.
Leaving Colfax, you Immediately de-
scend steep grade to Bear river, which
you cross on hIgh trestle. Before reach
ing the river you pass under the Central
Pacific Railway bridge, long structure
upwards of
ONE HUNDRED FEET IN HIGHT.
The narrow-gauge is well-constructed,
has tee best of steel rails, and the passenger
cars are neat and comfortable. The route
is around hills, up canyons, down gorges,
through tunnels over high trestles, and
many places. in overcoming high grades.
they go three miles to make one. The seem
cry is grand, passing through pine and oak
forests, beside running streams, through
canyons filled with many colored autumn
leaves, and in an atmosphere pure, clear
and refreshing. Many fine farms are
passed, old mining dunes are seen on every
hand, and an occasional quartz or sawmill
comes in view. About midway between
Colfax and Grass Valley, is the Chicago
Park Colony. Itcontains several thousand
acres Of fine land, well timbered, watered,
and all suitable for cultivation. This land
has been sold to Eastern colonists.
Before arriving at Grass Valley it grew
dark, and we lost much of scenic beauty.
When the train stopped at the depot, with
my grip in my hand | stepped upon the
platform. A couple of gentlemen, who
were evidently looking for some one. came
up, and addressing me as Mr.. Shortridge
took my grip and invited me to seat in a
hack. When seated l told them to wait a
moment; that | bad riend whom | de-
sired 10 take 10 the hotel. Just then Short
ridge hove in sight l invited him into
the hack, and introduced him to the two
members of the Republican Central Com
mittee who had been sent to the depot to
receive him. Explanations followed, Short
ridge introduced me. and fell in" for a
free ride, and chicken and champagne
supper at the Holbrook House, which by
the way is one of the best interior hotels.
GETTING ACQUAINTED.
Al The Holbrook we met a number of
gentlemen waiting to receive the orator.
and / soon was acquainted with all the
newspaper men of the town and M any
Others, among them all the candidates for
Office on the county Republican ticket. The
only two men that knew in the town were
Judge Dibble and Charles e Uren the Sur
veyor. [ met Mr.. Uren at the Holbrook.
aud Judge Dibble | found in his office next
door preparing a Democratic speech
which he was to deliver in Placervilie the
ntXI evening.
THE VETERAN EDITOR.
Ever since l was boy had strong de-
size 10 meet aud become acquainted with
that original and prince among newspaper
g itors, Rufus Shoemaker About the
third man | was introduced to was Mr..
Shoemaker. He is built something after
the pattern OF General Davidson, In the
Secretary of States Office, will tip the beam
al about 80, and is one of the jolliest ..an-
tlemen that | ever met. We immedial civ
became acquainted, and Rufus took me
under his protecting wing for the balal ee
OF The evening. We went to the thea'er
and listened TO Mr.. Shortrldge for while
He had good audience and delivered an
el"Qaent address, which was well received.
Man and Mill streets were lighted with
electric lamps. and the sidewalks presented
almost rs busy an appearance during the
evening Us do either and K streets in
Sacramento. Mr. Shoemaker explained
that tie taNn had Il population of oyes
6,U10, ana thai $50 workmen found under
ground employment every day at per
per diem of S..
VISIT To THE NORTH STAR
The following morning | was up bright
and early an / accepting an invitation from
c. E. Cren. took buggy ride with him
out TO the North Star mine, some
three miles distant. The road was good,
a little bit dusty, and en- route we
passed the celebrated Watts Park, which
was used for racing purposes before that of
Glenbrook wss made. The North Star
mlne was located in the early fifties, and
after many years of working was aban-
doned. The use of the Burleigh drill was
then not known; the process for saving
sulphuTets had not been discovered and
nothing but high grade free ores could be
worked at profit. Some years since it was
relocated by a New York company, and
to-day is one of the best mines on the coast
EMPLOYING $50 men, and is working rich
bodies of ore on the 1900, 100 and 1860 foot
levels, and the slopes are all in large and
rich ore bodies.
The Superintendent of this mine is (. A.
Abadie; the foreman, John Kinsman, and
the chief engineer, George l., Harding.
This mine has q new thirty stamp mill.
which is said to be the most complete and
best arranged of any upon the coast On
the upper workings of this mine millions
OF dollars were taken out in early days.
Besides paying for the new mill this mine
has lately distributed 100000 among its
shareholders, and last week declared an
other dividend of fifty cents per share on
100000 shares of stock.
The ore is dumped into the top of this
mill and is not handled again, all its work
ing being done by automatic processes, the
ere falling by its own gravity into the rock
crusher, then dropping to the battery, etc
descending in all eighty feet, step by step,
until all the gold is extracted Some OF
the ore is very rich, and all the miners are
obliged to uDdress in room supervised by
8 boss when they come TO the surface This
mill, like nearly all others in the vicinity
is driven by water power. All of them
however, are fitted up with steam engines
which can be started at q moments notice
IN case OF a failure of the water supply
which is sometimes occasioned by break
N the main canal, or heavy snow, as was
the case for several weeks last winter.
VISIT TO NEVADA CITY.
We returned to Grass Valley about |
O'Clock, aud after an excellent dinner a
the Holbrook, | started for Nevada City In
buggy with James 2. Shoemaker, a sor
of the veteran editor. The day was pleas
ant, and although the road was a littl,
rough and dusty in places, the ride was ,
pleasant one and my companion a mos