The morning call., 1891-02-18
HYDRAULIC MINING.
4 Scheme on Foot to Dispose of
the "Slickens."
Plans for Mammoth Flume From the Mount
aims to the Tide Lands -Rumors of the
Formation of Syndicate.

II. B. Wheaton, Superintendent of the
Excelsior Water and Mining Company.
with headquarters at Smartsyille, arrived
III the city yesterday and is at the Lick
House. While he is extremely reticent on
the subject. it is understood that he Is
quietly working on scheme which, if car
ried out, will revoutionize the mining in
terests of the Pacific Coast
1t is nothing more than a solution Of the
debris question, and the plan involved GER
tain!y carries with it the appearan ce of
entire feasibility. If successful it would
make 1t possible to carry out hydraulic min
ing without INJURY to the farmers in the
valleys and would open up again one of the
richest gold fields in the world.
Briefly outlined, the idea is TO cons truct q
huge debris dam in the canyon to the east
OF Smartsyille. and to build from there a
mammoth tiume TO convey the water to the
tuie lands around the bay. By this means
the dam would catch and hold all the
rougher debris. while the flume would bear
the slickens" away and deposit il on the
tide lands, where it would accumulate and
convert them into rich farms, instead of
leaving them to lie at waste as at present.
AN EXPENSIVE FEATURE.
Probably the most expensive portion of
the work would be the dam, which would
be about 200 feet in height and which would
give fall OF eco feet to the tide level. IL is
estimated by competent engineers that this
would be sufficient to scour the iume ny
natural means and would give the hydraulic
miners in the mountains back OF Nevada
City an opportunity to work full force.
Ihe cost of the entire work is estimated at
from 100000 to s5,000,000 which is but a
trltlng sum compared with the $500, 600 600
or more lying locked up in the hills, without
any present means of extra ting ii, and
which cannot be taken out in paying quanti-
ties by any other means.
An objection has been urged TO the plan,
on account of the water rights involved,
but this, it is said, will not interfere as the
min ers store :helr own water in reservoirs
and can divert it as they chose without being
intertered with by law. In other words the
water thus stored is private property, in
every sense OF the word, and can be used as
the owners see fit.
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION.
In the construction of the flume it is prob
able that heavy redwood lumber would be
used. 1t could be left uncovered so that if
any obstruction should occur il could be
easily removed, which wouli not be the case
with iron pipe. The stream Of water would
be so regulated that no overflow could
occur.
As yet the plans are not fully formed, but
1t is said that some of the best engineers on
the Coast have examined into the matter and
have reported favorably, without IA single
exception. In the mean time the matter is
being pushed quietly, and an effort will be
made 10 organize syndicate to take the
matter in hand and raise the money to carry
1t out.
Mr.. Wheaton has given the matter much
attention, and is fully satisfied of its practi-
cability. He is not inclined, however. to
discuss the matter at present, and when in
terrogated concerning it would make no def
mite statement other than to say that he had
investigated the matter ana believed it any,
thing but visionary