Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-04
Professor owensbsrg Visits
Nevada City.
QUEEN CITY OF THE slERRAs
In Rich Geld Dsposin and n1inss D.
sesibsd-A Tup b. Marrow
ousgs 10 Othu Piaess-


daily papsrs, two fns banks, good
schools and churches, thsater and
large foundrsss.
That We were indeed welcome in their
midst We readily noted IN al their
faces, in their actions, in every inf1ec-
sion Of their voices. IN their eyss and In
the heartiness of their hAudshakes.
The only regret connected with all. %
far ~ could BE- noted by the visitors
and the visited, was the short
ness Of our stay. Could We
have partaken Of their warm hospi-
tahty tor days, instead OF hours,
We would not have worn out their vel
come nor they our enjoyment. We eli
made the best of opportunities within
the short time allotted us among the
wond erland of mines and fruits and
flowers. We saw much IN our drives,
vet but taste of an inexhaustible feast
Of sights of the kind to be witnessed in
nowhere outside Of those
precincts. We can only exclalm hail
and farewell to them now, and express
the hope that many, if not all. of us
may meet again at some future time 70
linger longer. We should Do glad TO
welcome our entertainers ~ guests TO
our city and state.
Hydraulic lGining.
Hydraulic mining in this part Of the
reached its most productive
stage in 1882. At this time the debris
from the mines was filling the streams
tributary to the Feather aud Sacra-
mento rivers, and to . great extent de-
stroying the navigability Of those
streams, % welt % overhowing the low
lands along the Feather and 6acra-
mento rivers and their tributaries.
Parties injured thereby applied to
the courts for relief and Obtained in
functions preventing this class of miners
from depositing debris in any stream
tributary 70 the Feather or Sacra-
mento. Az . reeult of those DEGREES
hydraulic mining has been almost
wholly suspended since 1883. Com
petent engineers have estimated that
there are 100 miles of gold bearing old
river channels yet TO Do worked, and
that but small portion can DO worked
except by the hydraulic pro-
cess. California asks the general
to appropriate money
for the purpose of building impound-
ing dams IN the tributaries of the nav
igable streams for the two-fOld purpose
of permitting the resumption of by
draulic mining and protecting the nav
Igable river from further damage,
either from the dowpflow Of the tail
lngs and debris now in theoe tfibusar-
lee, OF which there are extenolve de-
posts which must be carried down, un-
less restrained, or which may be de-
posted in the future.
The miners offer to pay to the gov
eminent percentage on the output,
and thus reimburse it for the outlay
required.
Immense Output.
It 10 estimated that il hydraulic min
ing can be resumed In the vicinity of
Nevada City the annual output OF gold
will not be less than eight to ten mill.
ion dollars, and that il proper restrain
ing works are constructed $780,
OO0, 900 may be mined without
material injury 10 the navigable
waters, or of lands below the mines.
We were told that ct least 500, 600. OOO
capital invested in this class of property
is now practically unproductive. We
believe that the benefits that would &C.
crue, not only to those directly en-.
gagged in mining but TO the state and
nation render il the imperative duty Of
congress to assist III the rehabilitation
of hydraulic mining, thus permitting
the pursuit Of lawful industry, Of.
fording labor for Thousands, and adding
to the annual gold product o. tho ma.
ton in this district from eight 70 ten
millions.
Before the courts Issued its decree
against hydraulic mining the assessed
value of the county Was SIC, 900 900.
After the DEGREES were iseued it wal
reduced to 5000, 900 and the county
sustained loss OF population of nearly
1000. The mines are placer, gravel,
quartz, drift and hydraulic. Some OF
the wost magnificent nuggets ever OK.
tracted in the Nevada districts are now
being taken from the Peabody and
other mines.
PlacerviI;e, formerly known n
Hangstown, had . population OF over
5000 in 1890. 1t occupies . narrow
ravine, upwards of two miles in length
The business portion contains many
handsome freproof brick blocks, and
the residence portion many magnifi.
cen, I9sloences, sur!ounoeo WIN Oeau.
and shade trees. Churches, schools
both public and private, are unexcelled
IL ms 'wo newspspers
ueoIsesown Is tno next P,sco ~ iii
por'ance, win cnurcnes, SCHOOLS ousi
ness nouses, Mnu oID ncwsPePe1
eoiv"s; wne'e Ho'o was nrss iounu
nas me long, s.Ia9giing main street
'"e isi'"'e.se ousiiic's ence usnsae'eu
'. sa s.Isy u uuh"'nEs Rv'ns