The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-02-18
NEVADA COUNTY MINES.
Their Past History and Present and
Future Prospects.
Good Results Expected of the Compro-
mise With the Farmers-Neyada
City and Its Local Features.

7A'O SS olSHl VI ancient rivers. IH6 III
mense deposits ofauriferous gravels ofthe
tertiary period cover the greater part of
the ridges between the Bear and South
Yuba Rivers, extending east from Rough
and Ready, Grass Valley and Little York
to Omega; also, on the ridge between the
Middle and South Yuba Rivers, from
Smartsville. extending east to Snow
Point, is believed to be the most extern
sive and richest deposit of auriferous
gravel in the United States, if not in the
world.
few years ago thousands of men
were employed in working these mines
by the hydraulic process. Millions of
dollars of capital were also invested in
the construction of canals, pipelines and
long sluice tunnels for working the de-
posits.
The hydraulic mines throughout the
county are closed down by injunction,
number of water bitches are goingsto
ruin, and the once lively little camps that
| depended entirely upon that industry are
now deserted.
Since the mining convention lately held
| IN San Francisco seems to have brought
about better feeling between the
| hydraulic miner and the farmer. this
people is more hopeful, and expect from
| Congress some solution of the VeXed
and important question. -
Since the cessation of hydraulic mining
several attempts have been made towoIk
the bottom gravel by the drifting process,
| but in most cases it was found to be OF
too low grade to pay for handling ia that
manner.
Nevada County is to-day the greatest
| gold-producing county in the State. New
mines are being constantly discovered,
while many old ones continue to add
their yearly quota of millions to the
country's bullion product.
| Nevada City contains population of
about 5000. If hydraulic mining can be
resumed it is asserted that 5000 more
miners will be given employment, and
the output of gold increased from 5,000,-
600 to 100000 annually.
| The ManZanita gravel mine, which is
| partly within the city limits, was work ed
for many years by the hydraulic process,
and produced over S3,500,000. Your
| correspondent visited that mine with it's
! Superintendent, Robert Simmons, and
with candle in hand walked down the
shaft on the incline to depth of 100 feet.
! They have been sinking for a year or
more, and the plant has in that time cost
| them 81, 900. They think they are within
ten feet of a rich deposit. 1t is finely
timbered mine, and so far being in the
bedrock they are not troubled with water
| AS soon as they get into the gravel de-
post they expect to have to do some
| heavy pumping. The directors are
George Jacobs, George Shaw, George
! Wheeler, Fred Searles and Robert Sim
mons. Mr.. Simmons and his son, both
of whom work in the mine. own nearly
| one-Uwelfth of the mine, and place high
value on the property.
The Champion is perhaps one of the
! best paying mines in the district. 1t is
located about one mile west OF Nevada
! City and embraces number of locations.
| including the once famous Merrifiald
! The mine has a shaft down 900 feet, and
| has level at every l00-fOot station. The
| character of the ore is free gold and sui
phuretS, some of the latter being very
rich. 1t has tirst-class hosting works, a
! fine twenty-stamp mill, and for the past
four years the dividends paid annually
| amounted to $4,000. l.. z. GOldStone is
/ the Superintendent and a competent
miner. Power is supplied by three Pei
| ton wheels, which are run by water from
the Excelsior Water Company under a
pressure of l25 feet.
j. V. Hunter, r. G. Walrath, A. Wal
rath and Arthur Berry own the Provi-
dence, mine situated about mile from
town, on Deer Creek. At present it is
! lying idle. 1t has been a great bullion
| producer, and is so considered by mining
men yet. Work on this mine will be re-
sumed shortly. 1t has depth of l $50
feet, forty-stamp mill, and is we'll
| equipped in every particular.
The Mountaineer. Mr.. Dennis Superin-
tendent, is a good mine, as is also the
] Nevada City, which is under the control
| of j. NJ. Burlington.
! The Spanish mine isalso good property
I and under the Superintendency of A. r.
| Lord.
.'They have struck it rich in the Pitts
III Nx-oc haT fN1.I hot i
town yesterday, and everyone was
| pleased. Captain John White is Super
! intendent. This mine has a depth of sew
/ eral hundred feet, good plant, and will,
from all appearances, richly reward her
stockholders for their pluck and energy.
The remaining quartz mines in this
immediate vicinity that are being ope-
rated are the North Banner, NJ. l.. Eli
oft, superintendent; Mayflower, w. II.
Martin, superintendent; Federal Loan,
John Vincent, superintendent; Gold
Flat, John Skews. Superintendent: the
Deadwood, Jesse Lyons, Superintendent,
and California, j. j. Allen, Superintend-
! ent. They are worked in a small way,
and do not employ many men each, but
they are equipped with good mills and all
| producing handsomely.
The gravel mines that are considered
valuable and were not referred to above
are the Knickerbocker, Walter Craig,
| superintendent; the Odln, Harry S6y-
mour, foreman; the Yosemite, John
Thomas, superintendent; the West Har-
mony, r. c. Walrath, Superintendent;
| Old Harmony, Mr.. Hothersol, Superin-
tendent; the Fountain Head, Yerba
| Buena and Round Mountain These are
all rich gravel deposits, containing, it is
estimated, not less than 100000, 900 of
gold.
| SOMETHING ABOUT NEVADA CITY.
Nevada has many churches, and they
are well attended. 1t is a noticeable fact
that large proportion of the people in
the mining settlements attend churches.
| The school buildings, public halls and
Courthouse are all creditable structures.
1t has two daily papers that are loyal to
! their homes, and are not slow to adopt
everything that looks as though it would
| be of benefit to their community.
One ofthe most important and valuable
resources of Nevada County is it's
| extensive and almost com rolata cv,C+apa