New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-28
WONDERFUL RIVER MINES.
BED ROCK REACHED IN GOLDEN GATE AND
GOLDEN FEATHER,
ESoR1oUs DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME TO SECURE
The TREASURES OF THE RICHEST
OF RIVER MINES.
1BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rLlGosk.,

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TLiGCsE,
San Fhncisco, Sept. 27.-At last bed rock mas
been rcachd in Gelden Gate and Golden Feather
mines. whih were opened by damming Feather
River anu aging bare its bed, known TO contain
great wealt, of the precious metal. The amount
being takenout is not known, but 1t is under
stood TO be terry large. The mines are kept dry
By enGmous pumps and elevators, while Doth
day an niht shifts are kept busy at the worK'
The effec, ia striking at night when viewing the
long line of electric lights set where but rev
weeks 20 the great river was nov"
ing Win the river bed was workeu
by the .rgon,uts the greatest Shlcuity lay
In drainiu IL, and this was accomplished Dy
dam that was washed away at the nrst mgh
water. so hat all the work of one summer was
lost beforethe mining season OF anotner oegan'
In Golden tate and Golden Feather mines TINS
was the snlest part of the immense iaoor un-
dertaken. he river was successfully danmeo
last year an the dam was MADE SO strohs an"
secure thatt stood the floods OF Iast "luVer
Hence the stream was turned some "oeAS
earlier & = <tnmer than ever was before khowh'
d., ON a., 10 the water from the channel o
miphtier proTem was presented than thaV vi
draining | c I'd. This was to remove the ehor-
mons ouai Gty0f gravel that filed the bed from
twenty to fortyfeet deep. The mines are situated
in a narrow 81 mel between precipltlOus mis-
There was 10 pl ce to move this gravel TO- hence
IL became ltcesS ry to dig down into the bed ana
nile the gravel OF top of one portion. AS soon as
This excavation was made and the bed rock on the
bottom of & river cleaned of its gold the great
hole thus m vas used for a dumping ground
for the next i'm. 1t is in this manner that
the mines art Itw being worked. A permanent
dam is being bu3 at the head of Golden Feather
Mine which will lat for many years. gigantic
canal instead of a iume will be used, and work
upon the mine will continue for series OF years.
The history of these mines is full OF interest.
Feather River was the richest gold-bearinS chan
mel known in mining history. Oroville, on its
hank. became the third town in California during
the early gold-mining period. Its annual output
for Years added many millions to the circulating
medium Of the world Where the river could be
,urned vast treasures we're obtained In its bed
were located the .amous Sailor, Cape. White
Rock and Union Cap miues From the Cape in
single day SS6 900 was aiken, one pan of aurif-
erous gravel yielding S9,6. In 1857. when the
Cape claim was worked, it being a portion of what
is now known as the Golden Channel, the expenses
were SI76,9s5, while S6s0,000 was paid in divi
lends In 1858. when Union Cape was worked
The expenses were $4,000, and though only
lew days Of mining were obtained previous TO the
aid yet $3.50, was taken from the bed of the
stream. The bed of the river has been filed to
,ome extent with Slickens gravel To remove
his Is huge undertaking, but In no other manner
an the rich pay streak near the bed of the river
,e reached. This gravel must all be removed and
he bedrock itself thoroughly scraped for on this
Tcund has been found the largest quantity of
old ever found in river mines.