The record-union., 1897-07-27
GRAVEL MINES OF PLACER.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE FA-
NOUS GOLD RUN.
Thirty Million Dollars Said to
Have Been Taken
Out There. Yr

Especial Correspondence of Reeord-Union.)
The Gold Run Gravel QimitedD, loca-
ted at Gold Run, Placer County, is
probably one of the largest and per-
haps most valuable gravel mines in
California.
The property. which was recently
purchased, consists of all the individ-
ual mines in that district, the proper
ties having been consolidated and sold
to a London syndicate. The channel
has been pretty conciusively demon
strated TO be the same old blue lead
which runs through Forest Hill and
Iowa Hill, but unlike the channels in
the two places mentioned, it is not lava
capped, but consist of free gravel from
the grass roots to bed rock. The con-
solidated property extends four miles
on the channel. The top or surface
slope, most of the distance was work.
ed TO a depth of $50 feet, in earlier
days, by hydraulic process, and $50
600 600, as per mint receipts, was ex-
tracted. There is still 200 feet more
of gravel below bed rock will be reach
ed and ali is virgin ground.
on the bottom, or bed rock, there is
a strata five feet high, the entire
length Of the channel, which is all
profitable drifting ground. as has been
satisfactorily proven where tried.
This strata has been opened by
tunnel running on bed rock from the
southern portion Of the property, and
drifts have been started preparatory
TO blocking out the ground for drift
work. At the mouth Of the tunnel
there is a ten-stamp mill for crushing,
and more stamps viii be added as work
progresses.
There is a hydraulic tunnel running
in under the channel from Canyon
Creek, through which gravel by that
process win be worked The debris
will be stored in Canyon Greek Can
yon by means of a dam now 40 feet
high, the canyon is 800 feet
wide, and is available for storage pur-
poses a distance of one and one-haif
miles.
The second upper strata will be
washed, and the material stored in this
reservoir.
As there is no silt or sand in this
strata, the debris viii be easily con-
trolled, as it is all heavy material.
The company owns twenty-five miles
of canals, taking water from the Bear
and South Yuba Rivers. They are now
being put in repair for active work The
company also owns timber lands ada
cent sufficient to supply all that viii
be needed for use in and about the
mine. That good returns will follow
active work, all who are familiar with
the past history OF the channel are con-
fdent. In point of locality and con-
venience for working. the mine is sell
dom equaled. 1t faces the Central Pa
cific Railroad and is but just the other
side of the street as ii We're. The Pine
Grove Hotel a three-story structure,
with frst-class accommodations for
tourists or residents, faces the proper
ty. 1t may not be as exciting or as
full Of adventure to mine there as it
is on the Clondyke, but the conven-
fences are little bit superior. A
]. Doolittle has been appointed general
manager of the property
THE MONTE VISTA HOTEL.
Is two miles above Gold Run, or one
half mile from Dutch Flat Station. The
new proprietor, Thomas E. Morgan, is
making it a popular resort for summer
visitors The buildings are all of a rus
of various kinds of trees 1t is the
shadiest place in the mountains, and
little discomfort from heat is expert
enced there. Pine forests surround the
premises. The drinking water comes
from a spring close by said to contain
mineral, and those who drink it claim
that the effect is beneficial. There is
an artificial waterfall furnished by the
large f1ume of the Canal Company.
down which the water comes dashing
at terrific speed, and falling into a lit
tie lake upon which there is boating
In addition there is an artificial foun-
tain playing just in front of the main
building. 1t is altogether a picturesque
and restful place to rusticate in the
heated weather.
Speaking of beautiful surroundings to
home. l want to jump from Placer to
Grass Valley, Nevada County. There
are many tasteful dwellings and cozy
homes in that little mountain city, but
none I think, that can vie with the
residence of Hon. John F. Kidder.
The dwelling is close to the narrow
gauge depot, and it a delight to all who
pass through the town by rail. 1t is
three-story structure having a combina-
tion style Of architecture, and would
attract attention in any city. The in
terror has been recently rearranged,
and improved. The house is lighted by
electricity. it requiring eighty incandes-
cents 10 fill the bill. There are seven
acres of grounds surrounding the house
put out into lawns, flower gardens and
trees. There are 40 varieties of roses,
10 varieties of California poppies in one
bed. Fond lilies in artificial reservoirs
and numberless other varieties of flow
ers and shrubs.
The section surrounding the depot
used to be an unsightly spot, looking
more like the rear end of Chinatown
than anything else. This did not please
Mr.. Kidder, so he purchased q tract of
the land on the fiat below the depot
and commenced transformation He
built sidewalks, filled in land, graded
lots upon nine Of which he erected tasty
dwellings, and sold lots after being tT..-
proved to others, who have built thir-
teen modern houses on them, until now
the fiat is really the prettiest part of
town
The great improvement shown gives