The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-02
HYDRAULIC MONITORS.
THE INCREDIBLE FORCE OF THE
STREAMS THEY THROW.

| mountains Have Been Moved Valleys
Dug Out and the Whole Face Of Nature
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 ny
draulicking 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 ascribing the power
to remove mountains to such as had faith
only to the amount of grain Of mus
tard seed has never been exenplifed,
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 exen-
plifcation as in the history of the by
drauhc mines of California.
There are indeed so many remarkable
facts connected herewith that, were
they not abundantly substantiated, one
might well be pardened for receiving
fhaIT rpict1nn with inoro9r11i+ry
might not believe that stream of water
issuing from 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-
nifcant stream, with fall behind it of
375 feet, will carry away a solid boulder
weighing ton or more at distance of
fifty to 100 feet, while at less distance
it will toss such bowlder about as boy
would throw pebble.
POWER OF WATER.
The velocity and force of such stream
as it issues from the nozzle of the mon
itor is something terrific. The column
of water is sohd-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. II crowbar or other heavy OBJ
ject be thrust against the stream it
would be snatched from the hand and
thrown to great distance as if it were
feather weight, while the man who
should firmly grasp an ak and attempt
to cut through the stream would under
go an experience that he would remem-
Der for many day.
Ii man were to receive the full force
of such stream at distance Of couple
of hundred feet, even 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 efectually
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 tree
will denude it in second of the heaviest
bark as clearly as if an ak had been
used. Whenever such 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
Chaff, stumps and trunks Of trees are
thrown to one side like straws, and the
work of destruction goes on at pace
that is appalling. If one who has never
seen monitor in operation under full
head could imagine the ordinary stream
from a fire hose magnifed about 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 great dis
lance, around mountain sides and across
valleys and ravines. When the vicinity
of the mine is reached box is put in,
from which 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 $50 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 nsz-
Zle, but has ball joint that permits it |
to be swung in any direction. Almost |
the weight of a finger viii suffice to e.
rect the movement.
Easily as it is managed, however, the |
sometimes becomes uncontrol- |
liable, and when this happens scene of |
destruction and even death ensues. The |
pipe sways to and fro at its own volition, |
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 volley Of grape.
Sometimes the runaway monitor seems
as if manipulated by some bloodthirsty |
and appears 10 be deliberately
turned upon the fleeing men, following
them as they fly in every direction and
overtaking them before they can reach
place of safety.
When monitor gets away from con-
troll IN this manner there are two things
that can be done. The water may be
shut of at the headgate, process in
volying much delay and perhaps loss, CT
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 is liable 70 box the
,ornnass inside of a p7irTltA and Sta