The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-24
RICH GRAVEL MINES.
Millions of Dollars Worth of Gold In
Beds of California Streams.

The klamath river region is still full OF
rich auriferous gravel and the amount Of
geid product recorded from the watersheds
large The klamath being nonnavigabie
stream hydraulic mining may be pursued
without the official interference that has be-
fallen similar mines in counties whose
streams drain into the Sacramento and San
Joaquin. Nevada, Placer Sierra and Plpmas
counties are among those where successful
gravel and drift mining is constantly carried
en- Nevada county has for years been the
She has the most capital invested, and
claims an output of $2,000.000 per year. This
includes. Of course. the product Of her fam m,
and drift mines. Placer and Sierra counties
also have many large gravel workings. In
fact, the extent of collaborating gravel or
the State is not generally understood. So
comparatively little have they been deyei-
ed in be pos5 oqe F 70 n
ing done in fifty years from now In Cali
forna than at the present time. Placer
limits about 200 miles of unworked aurifer-
GUS gravel channels, and basing an estl-
mate of the amount of gold yet remaining
obtained from channel workings at Forest
Hill, Iowa Hill, Deadwood, Last Chance.
Canada HILL Dutch Flat and some deep
channel workings between Rocklin and the
American river, ranging from about $loo TO
$1,000 per linear foot of channel worked,
$500, 900 to s5OO0,000 mile, it is evident that
the amount of gold already touched is but
ing in the ancient river channels.
In the Hidden Treasure mine in Placer
county, the average gross yield per linear
foot Of gravel channel has been sl5o IL, IN
the Mayfiower $780,. in the Paragon. sl25
to $500 ard in the Red Point So When one
IS up Gupe 81 one eountS still re
naming it may be imagined how much gold
is yet to be found. The Forest Hill divide,
still making very large yield. The total
yield in this district has been more than
o The he highest rsa dHft channel On Mh ies
is said to have yielded $1,000 per running
Nevada county also has an extensive sys-
tenn of ancient rivers within her borders.
Imme"sa deposits of auriferous gravels COW
err reater part of the ridges between
tn . and South Ytiba rivers. The de-
pc etween the middle south Yuba rivers.
e, Ing east to Snow Point, are the most
extensive and richest in the United states,
If not in the word. Prior TO the ant-denriS
litigation there were thousands of men en-
ployed III working the auriferous deposits
Millions of dollars of capital were in
vested in the construction OF canals, pipe
lines and long sluiee tunnels In this soii-
nection In evidence Of what has been done
i'm this line "a single instance iS csteh. M
the HAYES Red Hill mine IN Trinity county,
,rhera there are 80 acres OF gravel u
pressure box Is located at heading or ~
feet a pipe is carried down prcctpi2e at
bridge with a span OF 3Jn feet has been con-
structed across the Trinity river for the
sole purpose OF carrying tnt i'ipe3 uerpSS 10
tho beds OF the gravel where the hyuraulick-
ing Is donc.i The North Bloomfield H., per-
haps the most extensive OF the prominent
gravel mines. II at least works, when per-
nitted under the greatest head of water.
.,35 feet pressure
Two millions of dollars arc represented
in the plan of this mine, and II had yielded
IS. 900 since 1866 up to the time when the
debris litigation enjoincd It's operation. The
scene OF the North bloomfield mine. with It's
giants in operation, Is impressive indeed.
Some say that such gigantic operations
would wash the entire State into tnc PA
c!fic but those VINO are experts in hytilsIu-
licking assert that the auriferous graveis
of Nevada county alone. II worked ny hy-
draulic process with all the water availa BILE,
would not be exhausted in century. and
incidentally would yiesd, at the lowest cal
culation. between &c00.ooo and $6o)0,tDo a
wear.