The San Francisco call., 1897-08-26
Hydr ulic Operations Soon to
Be Commenced on
Vast Bed.
CANNOT BE SLUICED IN
FIFTY YEARS.
Crowded Stages Still Rolling Into
Trinity Center-Casey and His
ToWnSIte Boom.

CARRVILLE, CAL, Aug. ga big
mining deal, involving the investment OF
about $500 600 in the enormous bed Of
golden gravel IN which the town of
Trinity Center is built, has Just been
practically accom- plished, and next spring
will see extensive operations on one of
the greatest hydraulic properties OF the
State.
The old Boss and McCleary hydraulic
property is the chief feature of the pur-
chase, but number of other pieces OF
ground are included. Where Trinity
Center is located the narrow valley-or
rather canyon-of the Trinity River
widens TO about e mile, and there is q
sloping bench of that width about a mile
and half long. 1t is composed of river
wash varying in depth above the bedrock
from Is to 125 feet.
The little town occupies but small part
OF it. For over half a mile back from the
river this sloping bench is too low to give
sufficient fall along the surface to carry
debris TO the river in sluices. Back of the
town at the highest elevation the grave,
has been hydrauiicked for many years,
3OOO,UOU
has been taken from thirty acres OF ground,
but tair start has not yet been made.
The mine has had several owners and it
got its present name from Bloss and Nc
Cleary. who are the last owners.
Some time ago the Ellery and Reel Com
pany secured long working bond and
have since been conducting operations
with two four-inch noZZles, each of which
in season has been averaging 500 day.
THESE people control about go acres OF
the bench. The present bitches bring
water several miles from Swift Creek AMI
deliver il under heavy pressure. Several
experts have examined the whole bench
and their estimates of the gravel vary
from % TO IS cents cubic yard. 1t has
been estimated that the gold now In the
whole bench waiting to be sluiced out
amounts to $4,000. 900.
A number OF efforts 10 secure the prop
erty and to enlist the great amount of
capital required for extensive and econom-
ical operations have failed in the past.
Last March John B. Eldridge OF San Fran
cisco secured bond on the property and
at once began negotiations with Boston
capitalists, which have been in progress
ever since. Mr.. Eldridge is now here and
reports that the deal is completed and as
sured but for final investigation of titles
to adjoining property. The first payment
will undoubtedly be made on Thursday.
The land secured will cost the Boston sym
dicate $275, 900.
Over 900 acres of the gold bearing gravel
OF the bench is involved, and this includes
practically all of the town property. The
operations that will follow will sweep
away the foundations of the town to bed
rock, about thirty feet below the prese MT
level of the street, from which gold is
daily panned at watering troughs for
amusement. Three or four of the prop
erty owners have demanded too high
prices, and if they stick to them the gravel
will be washed away all around them.
leaving their lots sticking up like sore
fingers and worthless.
Mr.. Eldridge will have charge of the
operations and he says that the bitches
will be enlarged and two-inch giants will
be put into operation. Electric lights will
be put in aud operations will be kept up
twenty-four hours day. For working most
of the low bench hydraulic elevators will
be used to carry the material up to siuice.
elevated high enough to secure the re.
quired fall. The debris will go to the
river. and it has been necessary 10 buy
1900 acres of land that will be covered OF
damaged thereby. 1t is the title to some
of these lands on which alone the deal
waits.
Operations on the new scale will begin
in, Aa ~
anxiopsly waiting for the capital which
it has always been expected would take
hold OF the property on a large scale. II
is estimated that the gravel cannot all be
sluiced in fifty years. The hydraulic
mine, which EN- bra ces mile of Morrison
Gulch, on Coffee Creek, is expected soon
10 be sold 10 people who will develop it, and
next spring the Trinity gold placer mining
syndicate, wh ch IS com posed Of English
capitalists and which owns seven miles O:
the upper bed of Coffee Creek, win be
ready Tor extensive operations.
W. D. English came in with the rush
last night and will divide his time between
catching trout and investigating the min
ing region.
We hear that 200 Coffee Creekers got off
the train a; Redding last night and grea,
rush is expected TO- morrow.
Letters of inquiry continued to pour in
on the postmaster and others, and many
come from all over the East, where the
Trinity County fever seems to have be.
come quite general. They come from
Ch:c,go, West Virginia and elsewhere.
and quite mum Der Of Fasteners have
reached Coffee Creek already.
People here are waiting with considera-
BILE curiosity TO see f. I. Casey and the
other boomers get Uoffeevilie started and
whooped into townsite boom. and they
will probably see and hear something
quickly. for Mr.. Casey has gone to the
city TO make Coffeeville with hurrah.
Special and regular stages roll into
Trinity Center loaded every night, and the
procession of wagons, packhorses and