San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-05-10
A GIGANTIC MINING ENTERPRISE.
A River Turned Out Of Bed.

Without doubt one OF the greatest mining
achievements Of modern engineering is the
construction OF the Big Bend Tunnel onthe
Feather river, hituated in Butte Co.. Califor-
mia. Feather river Is formed by The North,
Middle and South Forks, which rise IN the
Sierra Nevada Mountains In Piumas Co.,
run southwestward, and unite in Butte Co.,
to form tho main Feather,
The river, including the forks, is 250
miles long, and enters Sacramento river at
Vernon, in Sutter county, about 20 miles
above the city Of Sacramento.
1t is well known, among gold miners, that
the richest and most productive gold mines
of California have been tho beds OF rivers,
md the Feather stands pre- eminent as to
richness wherever 1t has been possible to
work it. In fact, the old miners have
known it for years under the name of '"fhe
Golden Feather"
There In q little stream running through
Dark Canon which empties into the wost
branch of the Feather and from there into
the main Feather, Dark Canon Is several
feet lower than the bed Of the main Fenth-
or at the point where Big Bend begins. A
tunnel was commenced in Dark Canon, and
bore 12xlG feet drilled through spur Of
Big Bend mountain, distance OF IL, 007 feet
out to the mountain side Of Feather River,
at the upper end of the Bend. just below
where the upper end of tho tunnel taps the
river dam was constructed which is to
force the water through tho tunnel into
Dark Canon, out of which il will flow into
tho west branch, and then into the main
Feather again. This will leave about four
teen miles of the river bed exposed to sight
during the season of low water, which is
from seven to nine months in the year.
This stupendous undertaking required tho
services of one hundred men, working night
and day, for about five years and has just
recently been completed. At the head of
the tunnel six gates of iron and steel, AZ by
s feet, will let the water In or keep II out.
In times of high water the gates will be
clio sed and the river run along its old bed.
to be turned out Of its course and through
tho tunnel at low water.
The President Of the Big Bond Tunnel
and Mining Company and the largest stock
holder therein is DR.. Il. V. Pierce. who Is,
perhaps, of all others. most entitled to cred
Il for the successful termination of this
great undertaking. Being fully satisfied
with the feasibility of the plan from its in
ception, he hns with an unstihting hand
supplied the funds for the posecution OF
this enormously expensive work, aud his
confidence and liberality will soon meet its
reward.
The Doctor has been, and now Is, con-
nected with very many other important
matters In the fall Of 1877, he was elected
20 n seat TO the New York State Senate, and
in S78, he was placed in nomination for
Congress. and was elected by q decisive
majority.
lie Is President of the Buffalo Loan.
Trust and Safe Deposit Company, one Of
the foremost banking institutions in the city
Of Buffalo. But he is perhaps best known
as President of tho Words Dispensary
Medical Association and Invalids' Hotel and
Surgical Institute" This institution Is sit
uated on Main and Washington streets.
Buffalo. n. Y, having a frontage on both
streets. The design Of the Invalids' Hotel
is to furnish a home 10 those desiring pri-
va,e treatment Of the most skilled class, O.
pecillly TO those suffering from chronic and
surgical diseases. II Is not hospital, but
a pleasant. remedial home. furnished With
every comfort. and the most spprovsd sani-
tary, medical and surgical appliances. which
study. experience. invention, and the
most liberal expenditure csnprOdgce- There
are eighteen skilled physirians sRd surge
ons constantly st tha Hotel, and corps y
Z efficient and trained nur-cs. Ths Doctor =
aiso the inventor Of several well-kBovn
mediciues. which are comroarded At the
I world's DispeussTy. TIE efacaey q th-se
Ineiicines. i unionbtelly vh.t isi q 80
Hotel Yery many Eho rers - .ce-s
reinelies cf Dr. Prioe's found tb-n - ecn-
ef-ial ti4t Clsy begsa to Sod apph-atscns
for persouii Treatment. and theze aroeais
heooning 20 ru-nrro1s. TIE Docl0r o1nclnd,
ed to erocS tis Iurslils' Hotel. Tks Be
Bsai Ts-nei c-Ia7ary is f5rtursts IN hHr-
ing ~ Vrorrsssirsa ma. as Dr. Pluros -
a er Presiisrt