Year: 1872

From the Yreka papers we learn that
a mammoth undertaking inaugurated by
the people of that city is placed upon
substantial footing. a number of enter
prising citizens undertook to have tunnel
run from the Shasta river to the city,
for the purpose of draining the flats upon
which the city is situated, thereby drain
ing the large extent of mining ground
known as the Yreka flats. Mr.. Calvin
Edgerton was sent East in behalf OF the
Company and has succeeded in securing
all the capital needed. With good
drainage, the Yreka fats will render
Yreka City more prosperous than in its
palmiest days.


We call attention to the above facts
particularly for the reason that Weaver
Vile is similarly situated with Yreka.
Compared with the undertaking men
toned, the big ditch" from Stuart Fork
is a mere bagatelle, so far as the cost is
concerned. But the big ditch would
benefit Weavervile only incidentally as it
would benefit the whole county. Our
people all remember the deep shaft that
was started year before last. They also
know that the work done demonstrated
that there was gold in paying quantities
below the so-callcd bedrock, beneath
which none of our miners had penetrated.
Gold was found in paying quantities at a
depth of more than two hundred feet from
the surface. Who can doubt that pay
will be found in this basin when the prim-
tive or true bedrock is reached To
argue to the contrary would reverse all
mining experience in this State. We
tell the people of Weaverville in all Sc
robustness that whenever this basin is
drained to the bedrock that the town OF
Weavervile alone will be assessed for
more than the entire county is now. Many
persons have made fortunes out of the
surface diggings worked in the basin and
transferred their wealth elsewhere. Let
any one 60 to the outlet Of Weaver Creek
at Davidson's mill and contemplate the
vast extent of mining ground comprised
in Weaver Basin which 50 far is being
merely skinned. Let him furthermore
ask himself how it would be if all within
his observation was mined from the bed
rock up, what difference it would make.
No one could give a correct answer. 1t is
more than probable that he whose imagin-
alton was least fettered, whose calculations
were deemed the most improbable, would
be nearest the truth. We now place the
prediction on record: When Weaver
Basin is drained, our town will support
six times its present population. 1t will
take great deal of money to do this and
this generation may never see it. The
enterprise Yreka people have all but
brought to a seccessiul completion is much
greater. The difference is they have the
energy and public spirit and we have not.
There is one hope for us however. The
Weaverville Milling, Mining and Flum-
ing Company, of which r. n. Davidson
is the head and front and the soul and
spirit, will eventually drain this BASIN
Till then we must wait, but in the mean
time let all who desire to see the resources
Of Weaver Basin developed lend hand
towards aiding Mr.. Davidson in putting
in the big tiume. We are sure that our
citizens underrate the magnitude of the
work and its importance to our town.
Should it turn out that it would pay to
work Weaver Basin from the bedrock
up, as it would seem from every indication
it would result in the addition of at least
one thousand men to our laboring popu-
lation. Further comment is unnecessary