The record-union., 1891-04-06
RELICS OF THE PAST.
Edward Stockton's Old Grist-MiII by
the American River.
Ruins that Excite the Curiosity OF
Visitors-Flourishing Institu-
ton Forty Years Ago.

Visitors to the Folsom Prison are often
heard to inquire the character of the old
stone ruins that stand on the north bank
OF the American River, where it dashes
and roars through the rocky gorge in that
vicinity, but none except the pioneers OF
Folsom-or those who had sought and
obtained from them the history OF the
ruins-have been able to explain. The
Folsom Telegraph tells the story of how
those old walls of granite got there, and
in a very interesting way
"On a recent trip along the American
River we stopped to examine the old mill
that was erected there about 1851 by Ed
ward Stockton. AT one time it was an
imposing looking building, and there
were several other houses near it. Now
there is nothing left of it put the four
stone walls, the woodwork having gone
to decay or else been carried away years
ago. On the bank of the river are the re-
mains of the mill-race which furnished
the water-power by which the machinery
of the institution was operated The
masonry of the mill and in the canal is as
strong as it ever was. Perhaps that in
the canal or race is the stronger Of the
two. At any rate it seems to be.
"Judge Hartford Andersonofthis place,
who was then surveyor, planned the
canal and informed us that there was a
dam erected about one hundred feet be-
low the site of the mill. The dam was
about five feet high, and was necessary to
back the water up in the summer, in
order to cause it to flow around through
the race and run the mill. At high water
in the winter there was no need of the
dam, as it went through as it does now at
a high stage Of the river. The dam was
built near shoot rock, where the water fell
six or seven feet.
The dam has been covered out of sight
by sediment for years, Judge Anderson
stating that at that time the river bed was
over thirty-tiVe feet lower than it is at
present. The old mill turned out about
fifty barrels of flour day, and also pro-
duced bran and other mill stuffs, which
in those days sold high, the proprietors,
however, complaining, like those Of the
present day, of the low rates paid. 1t did
thriving business, as all the flour used
here had to be imported, and it was of a
very inferior quality, while the old mill
produced first-class article. Judge An
derson thought he saw a chance for
profitable investment, and offered the
Long Island Mining Company 81, coo cash
for the dam and water power, intending
to improve it.
1.-THE change in the ownership of the
Gam and water power would not have
interfered with the working of the mill in
any way. They refused the offer, but
regretted the refusal shortly after, as
owing To a big rush of water the dam was
broken out. This made the mill of use
only at high water, and it was decided to
abandon it. Stockton came down to town
and moved his machinery across the river
and into q building where he ran it for u
short time.
strangers passing along the prison
road wonder what the old stone building is
that stands so solitary and lonesome on
the other side, and surmise all manner of
things. Before many of them were born
and when most of them were children the
old mill was one Of the most fiourishing
institutions in the State. A picture Of the
mill and its surroundings, and the only
one in existence we believe, can be seen
at the White Bear saloon. 1t was the
work of "A young lady.
''At high water now the water rushes
through the old mill race with a force
that is capable of operating the heaviest
machinery. The mill building and the
mill race have grown gray and the mosses
ofage have covered the stones of which
they are constructed, but they both stand
as firm as when the rattle and clang of
the machinery first awoke the echoes"