The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-08-21
HYDRAULIC MONITORS.
THE INCREDIBLE FORCE OF THE
STREAMS THEY THROW.

Changed in Parts of California by small
Streams of Falling Water.
One of the most noteworthy features
in many portions of the gold region is
the elaborate system of water supply for
the use of the hydraulic mines and the
tremendous changes which were the re-
suit of the few years during which n.y.
d%raulicking was at its height. So great
have been these changes-hills washed
away, valleys filed up, others created
that in many localities the entire land
scape has been altered.
The old proverb a%scribing the power
to remove mountainst to SUCH as had faith
only to the amount of a grain of mus
tard seed has never been exemplified,
but the hydraulic miners have afforded
the most ample demonstration of their
ability to move mountains in the search
of wealth. Lofty mountains have in
fact been brought low through no other
agency than the pipe line, the monitor
and the sluice, and the tremendous pow
er of water never received such an exem-
plification as in the history of the ny
draulic mines of California.
There are indeed so many remarkable
facts connected Herewith that, were
they not abundantly substantiated. n
might well be pardoned for receiving
their relation with incredulity. One
might not believe that a stream of water
issuing from a nozzle or pipe six inches
in diameter, and with no other force but
gravity behind it, would have much eff
feet at any considerable distance from the
aperture, yet such an apparently insig-
nificant stream, with a fall behind it of
375 feet, will carry away a solid boulder
weighing a ton or more at a distance of
fifty to 100 feet, while at a less distance
it will toss such a bowlder about as a boy
would throw a pebble.
POWER OF WATER.
The velocity and force of such a stream
as it issues from the nozzle of the mon
itor is something terrific. The column
of water is solid-so solid that if one
were to undertake to thrust any object
into it it would make no more impress
sion than if it were iron instead of
liquid. If a crowbar or other heavy OBJ
ject be thrust against the stream it
would be snatched from the hand and
thrown to a great distance as if it were
a feather weight, while the man who
should firmly grasp an AK and attempt
to cut through the stream would under
60 an experience that he would remem-
Der for many a day.
II a man were to receive the full force
of such a stream at a distance of a couple
of hundred feet, ever though the impact
be momentary, he would be killed as
quickly as though struck by a cannon
ball. He might escape being mangled,
but the breath would be most effectually
and suddenly expelled from his body.
At 400 feet from the nozzle a 6-inch
stream, with 375 feet fall, swung mo-
mentarily against the trunk of a tree
will denude it in asecond of the heaviest
bark as clearly as if an ak had been
used. Whenever such a stream is turned
against a gravel bank it cuts and bur-
rows into it in every direction, gouging
out great caves, causing thousands of
tons of earth to fall, which in turn is
quickly disintegrated and washed into
the sluices.
Bowlders SO heavy that a man can
scarcely lift them are tossed about like
chaf, stumps and trunks of trees are
thrown to one side like straws, and the
work of destruction goes on at a pace
that is appalling. If one who has never
seen a monitor in operation under full
head could imagine the ordinary stream
from a fire hose magnifed about a thou
sand times he would be able to form some
conception Of its power.
THE MONITOR IN ACTION.
The water is brought in open bitches
or fumes, sometimes from a great dis
lance, around mountain sides and across
valleys and ravines. When the vicinity
of the mine is reached a box is put in,
from which a pipe conducts the water to
the point where it is to be used. 1t is
the distance between this box and the
level of the monitor that gives the press
ure. With from 800 to 450 feet fall the
execution done is tremendous.
AT the monitor the water is conducted
into a still smaller pipe, with nozzle
about one-third the size of the supply
pipe, the compression giving it still
greater force. The monitor is construct
ed something like the ordinary hose nez-
zle, but has a ball joint that permits it
to be swung in any direction. Almost
the weight of a finger will suffice to di-
rect the movement.
Easily as it is managed, however, the
monitor sometimes becomes %uncontrol-
liable, and when this happens a scene of
destruction and even death ensues. The
pipe sways to and fro at its own yolition,
and the stream flies first in one direction
and then in another. If the miners
are not warned in time to get out of
range they may be moved down as if
by the discharge of a volley of grape.
Sometimes the runaway monitor seems
as if manipulated by some bloodthirsty
monster, and appears to be deliberately
turned upon the fleeing men, following
them as they fly in every direction and
overtaking them before they can reach a
place Of safety.
When a monitor gets away from con-
troll in this manner there are two things
that can be done. The water may be
shut off at the headgate, a process in
voivlng much delay and perhaps loss, or
some brave man may rush in and get to
the monitor without being struck by the
stream. To do this requires agility and
pluck The stream il liable to box the
compass inside of a minute, and its
course must be watched and the probable