USA > California > Nevada County > Bean's history and directory of Nevada County, California. Containing a complete history of the county, with sketches of the various towns and mining camps also, full statistics of mining and all other industrial resources > Part 23
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B. GAD KEEPS A FULL ASSORTMENT OF BOYS' CLOTHING.
FOR GIFT BOOKS GO TO DIXON'S.
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GRASS VALLEY TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
with the press of New York City, officiating at one time as phonographic reporter . for the New York Herald.
In December, 1857, Chavanne, who had purchased a judgment against the Rocky Bar Company, came in possession of the property-about two months before Bren- nan's death. After Brennan's demise, Chavanne worked the mine unprofitably until April, 1858, when the Massachusetts Hill Company leased the pumping and hoisting machinery which had been used by Brennan on the Pratt shaft. This company, consisting of William and Robert Watt, Joseph O'Keefe and the late John Judd, commenced work in the latter part of 1855, under a lease from Joseph Woodworth. In November, 1856, the company purchased Mr. Woodworth's inter- est on Massachusetts Hill for $20,000. They had struck the ledge in April, 1856, and had had their mine drained by the Mount Hope Company, under contract from Brennan, paying for drainage at the rate of one dollar and one-half per ton of quartz from the time of striking the ledge to leasing the machinery from Chavanne. Their levels being worked out, and the machinery proving incompetent to do the required work at a greater depth, operations were suspended in this portion of the mine in September, 1858. The company then commenced operations in the north- ern portion of their ground, on Boston Ravine Flat, sinking a shaft, and pumping the mine by horse power. Worked successfully here till May, 1859. This year the company leased the Brennan shaft from Chavanne, and commenced the expen- sive work of connecting their mine with the shaft, consuming nine months in run- ning tunnels, opening up new levels, and putting on machinery-completing this extensive job in February, 1860. During the remainder of this year, and up to January, 1862, when the mine became flooded, an average force of one hundred and sixty men was daily employed. While negotiations were pending for a renewal of the Chavanne lease, and while preparations were being made to erect large pumping machinery, the Mount Hope Company, of New York, brought suit against Chavanne for possession of the Rocky Bar mine and mill. This proved for a time a severe blow to the interests of Grass Valley, as work was suspended by the Massachusetts Hill Company, and a large force of laborers was thus thrown out of employment. Owing to the tardiness of litigation, the Massachusetts Hill Company remained comparatively idle till June, 1863, when (Chavanne having beaten the Mount Hope Company,) the lease was renewed, and preparations were at once made for erecting machinery at a cost of $30,000. In November, 1863, the Massachusetts Hill Company commenced taking out ore, and worked almost constantly up to 1865.
In April, 1864, the Massachusetts Hill Company struck the ledge in the bottom of the Brennan shaft, at a point but a few feet from where Brennan had hopelessly abandoned work.
The lowest perpendicular depth attained in the Massachusetts Hill Company's mine has been about three hundred feet. An idea of the immensity of the work performed in this wonderful mine may be found in the fact that the company have run over two miles of tunnels. Since November, 1863, about one thousand tons of ore on an average were extracted monthly from this mine, three hoisting en- gines being employed a portion of the time, while two were constantly at work. The ledge, like all master mineral veins, varied in size, pitch, and quality of quartz, yielding enormously at times, and again not paying the expense of ex- tracting the ore. Taken as an entirety, however, the ledge proved itself one of the best in this State. The expenses of this mine, since November, 1863, averaged one
SILK, MERINO AND COTTON UNDERCLOTHING ,AT B. GAD'S.
THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION-DIXON'S VARIETY STORE.
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thousand dollars per day. The ground was taken up in square claims, and not, as now, with the dips, angles and variations of the ledge.
After the ledge was struck in the Brennan shaft, which we have already men- tioned, the Rocky Bar Company commenced to work their mine thoroughly, contin- ning the work until a few months since. During the past two years between 5,000 and 6,000 tons of rock have been taken from this mine, a large quantity of which was first-class ore. The Rocky Bar Company own six hundred by three hundred feet on the lode, the mine being under the management of A. B. Brady. The Rocky Bar, which is not being worked at the present writing, is owned by the Chavanne Brothers, of Paris, Hentch & Berton. Abel Guy, John B. Felton, and others, of San Francisco.
The Stockbridge claims are on the east extension of the Massachusetts Hill lode, cinbracing six hundred and sixty-three feet on the vein, including dips, angles and variations. Located in August, 1860. The work of sinking a perpendicular shaft commenced in November, 1864, is now down 242 feet, and will have to be sunk about forty-five feet further before the ledge is struck. This shaft, when completed, will cost upward of $25,000. The sinking of this shaft was suspended when the company purchased the ground and hoisting works of the Massachusetts Hill Company, about one year ago. Shortly after this, work was commenced on an in- cline shaft, through which Watt & Co. worked, and the shaft was continued to the lowest level of the Rocky Bar claims. After having made arrangements with the last mentioned company for drainage, the incline sliaft was completed and a level was run in about fifty fect, when the stoppage of the Rocky Bar Company's pump brought the labors of the Stockbridge Company to a premature conclusion. The ore taken out in sinking the perpendicular shaft paid at the rate of twenty-two dollars per ton. Owners of the Stockbridge are, Henry Silvester, John Trenberth, M. Langstaff, W. H. Rodda, Henry Fuchs, L. B. Clark, George Gephard, Robert Patterson, James James, and W. H. Mitchell.
The Boston Ravino Company's claims, which are also on the Massachusetts Hill ledge, were located in March, 1864, by Dan. Collins and others. These claims, which are in an excellent locality, embrace two thousand feet, taking in dips, angles and variations. Not yet opened.
The Discovery claims, recently located by Con. Reilly, are also on Massachusetts Hill, and consist of ten square claims of one hundred feet each. Bounded on the east by the Boston Ravine Company, on the west by the Massachusetts Hill Com- pany, and on the south by the Donald Davidson ground.
The Ford and Reilly Company's claims, on the Massachusetts Hill ledge, bound the Massachusetts Hill Company on the north, Scadden, Northey & Co. on the west, and the Stockbridge on the south. On April 1st, 1864, the owners, having deter- mined to work their mine in a complete manner, commenced sinking a perpendic- ular shaft, which was continued to a depth of one hundred and fifty feet, where the vein was struck. It was worked on the Massachusetts Hill Company's line for a distance of about one hundred and ninety feet, from which six hundred tons of good quartz were extracted. The company have worked to a point below Watt & Co.'s level. This mine is owned by Con. Reilly and Martin Ford, of Grass Valley, and Patrick Riley, of San Francisco.
The Shanghae claims, on this hill, are in high favor, and during the past year have paid several handsome dividends.
B. GAD'S, CORNER MAIN AND MILL STREETS, GRASS VALLEY.
Ż
THE COURT HOUSE IS FOUR MILES FROM DIXON'S,
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GRASS VALLEY TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
Boston Ravine Flat.
This section lies between Massachusetts and Gold Hills, north of the former and south of the latter, and about one-half mile south of Grass Valley proper. The principal mine in'this flat, which is a continuation of the Massachusetts Hill lode, is generally known as the Scadden, being owned by Thomas and Henry Scadden, John Trenberth, W. H. Clift, and Edward Northey. Located, in square claims, in 1852, by Conaway, Woodworth and others. The mine has been worked extensively since 1857, during which time it has turned out immense sums of money.
East of the Scadden mine are the Pratt claims, consisting originally of thirteen claims of one hundred feet each, the owners subsequently purchasing five hundred feet from the Dubuque Company. This mine has not been worked extensively, as compared with other quartz mines in the vicinity, yet it has paid well for the labor performed, showing a vein of excellent quartz wherever it has been stripped. The Pratt ground is owned by Medcalf Pratt, William Edmonds, and others.
The Reilly claims adjoin the Pratt ground, and consist of six hundred feet on the ledge. Not opened yet. Owners, Con. Reilly, Dr. G. G. Tyrrell and David Murray.
West of the Reilly ground are the claims of Joseph Williams & Co.
New York Hill.
This hill, two miles south of Grass Valley, is on the west side of Wolf Creek, on the Massachusetts Hill range, and is one of the earliest quartz locations in this dis- trict. The New York Hill Mining Company, whose claims embrace nearly the entire hill, is the result of a consolidation of the Larimer, Wilde, Fricot and Chrys- opolis claims, giving to the company between three and four thousand feet on the New York Hill ledge, including dips and angles. From the claims, since 1852, not less than $500,000 have been taken. The present company purchased the ground about twenty months ago, and have been engaged ever since in pumping out the mine, erecting hoisting and pumping works, sinking a new incline shaft, and opening levels for future work. This shaft is now down to a depth of five hundred and seventy-five feet, the average grade being thirty-three degrees, the vertical depth being three hundred and ten feet. Dimensions of shaft, six by twelve feet in the clear, giving a double track. The company have a twelve inch pumping engine, a ten inch hoisting engine, a ten inch plunger-pump, and two bucket pumps, one an eight and the other a six inch. The company are now opening their third level, giving three sets of "backs" on each side of the shaft, and will soon be in condition to take out five hundred loads of rock monthly. Over thirteen hundred loads of quartz have already been taken out, yielding on an average $45 per load. The New York Hill rock is rich in sulphurets, giving at least three per cent., and the sulphurets range in value from $100 to $220 per ton. The mine is now pretty well opened, is paying handsomely, and from the extent of ground in the claims, together with the excellent facilities for working, it is justly ranked among the first quartz mines of Grass Valley township. Working at present about forty-five men. The owners are J. I. Sykes, John Anderson, A. B. Brady, George Johnston, P. H. Ford, R. Leech, Donald Fraser, H. Vignon, J. Vignon, L. MolRo- guier, A. B. Dibble, and James K. Byrne, of Grass Valley, and E. G. Waite, of Nevada. John Anderson, superintendent.
Between New York Hill and Massachusetts Hill is South Massachusetts, through
B. GAD KEEPS A FULL ASSORTMENT OF BOYS' CLOTHING.
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FOR BEAUTIFUL DOLLS GO TO DIXON'S.
GRASS VALLEY TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
which runs the Black ledge, the property of David Watt and others. On this mine is extensive machinery, but the mine is not being worked at present. In sinking an ineline shaft on the Black ledge, excellent quartz was found, and from this mine were taken some of the richest quartz specimens ever exhibited in this district.
Running in a southerly direction, a half or three-fourths of a mile from New York Hill, and on the west side of Wolf creek, are a number of quartz veins, none of which have been thoroughly developed, but the conformation of the country is such that there can be little or no doubt that some of these ledges will one day be extensively and profitably worked.
Wisconsin Flat.
About three-fourths of a mile south of New York Hill, and lying between the latter and Wisconsin Hill, west side of Wolf creek, is Wisconsin Flat, in which is the celebrated Wisconsin ledge, located in 1834 by Joseph Davison, who gave it its name. Soon after the location the Wisconsin mine was purchased by Con. Reilly. In 1856, Mr. Reilly, Joseph Woodworth and three others erected a nine-stamp quartz mill, a pump and hoisting machinery on the ground, which cost $11,000. The same year a perpendicular shaft was sunk to the depth of sixty fect, and a drift was run for the ledge, from which seven hundred tons of quartz were taken out, yielding the splendid average ef sixty-eight dollars per ton. In 1857, the shaft was continued to a depth of one hundred and ten feet, the expense of sinking a portion of it being as high as one hundred dollars per foot. The ledge was again found in the bottom of this shaft, and three hundred tons of quartz were extracted at this point. The following year work was temporarily abandoned on the Wis- consin. The mine became entangled in the meshes of litigation, and E. MeLaugh- lin, George A. Montgomery and William Loutzenheiser, who had bought a judgment against it from one Woodville, came in possession of the Wisconsin in 1856. It was leased the same year to T. W. Campbell, of the Lone Jack, who, owing to the vast quantities of quicksand and water with which he had to contend, gave up the contract. For several years the Wisconsin, like other good quartz mines in this vicinity, was left comparatively unworked, the owners performing only sufficient labor on it to hold the mine under the quartz laws of Nevada county. Last year (1866) it was sold to Charles Leech, Nathan & Hoffman, Wm. Launder, George B. McKee, and Robert Smith, of Grass Valley, Col. Geo. A. Montgomery, now of Canada, retaining an interest in it. A onc-eighth interest was sold in the Wisconsin, about eight months ago, for $10,000 cash. The owners have erected hoisting and pumping machinery, in the present year, at an expense of about $9,000. The mine was recently leased to a party of twelve experienced miners, for a term of three years, the lessces doing all the work, defraying all the expenses of mining and reducing the quartz, and giving the owners forty per cent. of the nett proceeds of the mine. The contractors have sunk an inclined shaft to a depth of two hundred and twenty-five feet to the lowest level, drifting three hundred feet on the lode, from which they are now taking out rock which averages $100 per ton. The vein in this level is eighteen inches in width on an average, and the ore is first-class. The ledge has given an average yield of $45 per ton since the mine was first opened. The company own thirty-four hundred feet on the lode. In the last twelve months, the books of the company show that 1,400 tons of ore have been taken from the mine and worked, the different crushings ranging from $18 50 to $76 25 a ton, the average being $51. The sulphurets were sold at the mill, where the rock was crushed, at $90 a ton.
BUSINESS SUITS OF THE LATEST STYLE AT D. GAD'S,
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FOR RUBBER TOYS GO TO DIXON,
GRASS VALLEY TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
Missouri Hill.
A short distance above Allison Ranch is Missouri Hill, the principal mine of which is the Hartery, consisting of nine hundred feet on the lode. Located in 1853 by Thomas Hartery and others. The mine was worked to a perpendicular depth of one hundred feet along the entire length of the ledge, paying well and regularly. Hartery purchased the interests of his partners, erected a mill, at an expense of $20,000, in 1857, put on extensive hoisting and pumping machinery, and by thus involving himself, and through general mismanagement of the business, he failed in 1858. William Loutzenheiser and Edward Mclaughlin, of Grass Valley, who were among Hartery's creditors, attached the property soon after the failure. The mine was subsequently leased to George Lord & Co., who found the pump insuffi- cient to drain the mine, upon which discovery the pumping project was abandoned. The contractors next commenced running a drain tunnel, which they abandoned, and which was completed by Messrs. Loutzenheiser & Mclaughlin to a length of seventeen hundred feet. The Hartery mill was destroyed by incendiaries in August, 1860. Over $200,000 was taken from the mine previous to Hartery's failure. In 1865 Mclaughlin and Loutzenheiser commenced working the Hartery on an extensive scale, and in that and the following year they erected a quartz mill and pumping and hoisting works, at an expense of about $15,000. In November, 1865, Loutzenheiser sold a one-fourth interest in the Hartery to Joseph O'Keefe, for $15,000, the former retaining a one-fourth interest. During the years 1865-6 the company reached a perpendicular depth on the lode of one hundred and forty-seven feet, drifting from their incline about four hundred feet. The rock was found to be unusually hard, very heavy expenses attending the taking out of quartz, and the company suspended operations last fall. The Hartery is now owned by Edward Mclaughlin, William Loutzenheiser and Joseph O'Keefe.
In the neighborhood of the Hartery are the Wigwam, Potosi, Omaha, Homeward Bound, and John Doran & Co.'s claims.
Lafayette Hill.
About two miles below Grass Valley, in a southerly direction, lies Lafayette Hill, through which runs the lode of the North Star Company, on which are erected very extensive mining and milling works. A history of this wonderful mine, which is certainly a first-class one, deserving to rank at least as the second quartz mine in this district, will prove interesting to the readers of this work, for which reason we re-produce a few facts concerning its earlier history, which have already appeared in print, as well as giving a few new particulars kindly furnished us by the superintendent of the works. The lode was discovered in 1851 by a party of Frenchmen, H. Pellatier, now of Grass Valley, being of the number, and was early known as the French Lead. The vein was remuneratively worked by these parties until the fall of 1852, when six-elevenths of it were purchased by Messrs. Conaway & Preston, who at that time owned a twenty-four stamp mill on Boston Ravine Flat, which had been erected in the fall of 1851. In the fall of 1852, immediately after the purchase, Conaway & Preston formed a joint stock company of the con- eern, under the name of the " Helvetia and Lafayette Mining Company." Into this company all of the shares in said mine, as well as the mill of Conaway & Preston, together with several of their claims on Gold and Massachusetts Hill, passed. The mine was worked by this Company from 1852 to September, 1857, in which latter
BENKERT'S BOOTS, ALL SIZES, AT B, GAD'S CLOTHING EMPORIUM.
FOR FINE VIOLIN STRINGS GO TO DIXON'S.
GRASS VALLEY TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
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year, owing to heavy expenditures, the company became deeply involved, their property passing out of their hands by Sheriff's sale, E. Mclaughlin, of this place, being the purchaser. From 1852 to 1857, as we have been informed by one of the carly owners of the mine, the yield was about $250,000. In February, 1860, the mine was purchased from Mr. Mclaughlin by J. C. and Edward Coleman, J. C. Pascoe, and others, representing twenty shares, for $15,000. At the same time the name was changed to the North Star Company. Since 1860 up to the present time, embracing a period of nearly seven years, the North Star mine has been extensively worked, has had large sums of money expended in developing it, and has paid its owners large dividends. An inclined shaft, through which the greater part of the work has been done, has been sunk to a depth of seven hundred and fifty feet, giv- ing a vertical depth on the lode of about three hundred feet ; a drain tunnel, com- menced in 1862 and finished in 1864, running a distance of twenty-five hundred fcet, was completed at a cost of $15,000 ; and to increase the working facilities of tho mino a perpendicular shaft is now being sunk at a distance of five hundred feet from the incline, to strike the ledge, which will reach the vein at a distance of about one hundred and forty feet from the surface. This shaft will be completed in a very short time, and will enable the company to increase their force of miners about twenty. On the mine is a magnificent sixteen-stamp mill, now running twelve stamps, but which will run to its full capacity on the completion of the vertical shaft ; besides which there are several engines, one sixty-horse power, for pumping, one ten-horse power, for hoisting, one twelve-horse power for hoisting and pumping, and a twenty-five horse power engine, erected recently, for hoisting at the new shaft. [To the credit of the owners of this mine be it said that all their machinery was furnished by Grass Valley foundries.] The machinery and works erected during last and the present year cost about $25,000. . The lode runs in what our miners call greenstone, pitching at an angle of about twenty-seven de- grees, the vein varying in width from one foot to six feet, showing an average width of about two feet. The North Star Company, for over six years, crushed at the rate of one hundred tons of quartz per week, using their old mill, but since the completion of the new mill, in August last, the average weekly crushings have been one hundred and fifty tons, or six hundred tons per month. The company own twenty-one hundred feet on the lode, with the angles and variations, besides one hundred claims on Weimar Hill, south of and adjoining Lafayette Hill ; and they have sixteen hundred feet east of the new shaft, on the lode, nearly all of which is new ground. Now working five levels, and in the fifth or present lowest level, which, as already stated, is down three hundred feet perpendicularly, a drift has been run one hundred and fifty fect in an casterly direction from the inclined shaft. It is estimated that fully 30,000 tons of ore remain untouched in the reserves or backs, opened by means of drifts from the main shaft. For the five years pre- cceding January last the nett profit of the mine was over $500,000. The gross pro- duct for the last five months of 1866 exceeded $100,000, the yield for December of the same year being $26,000. The mine is now yielding a monthly average of $24,000, the expenses being $12,000 a month, showing a monthly profit of $12,000. About one hundred and fifty men are employed about the mill and mine. The sulphurcts are saved by rockers and sold by the North Star Company to sulphuret workers at from $80 to $120 per ton. Following is a list of the owners of this most excellent mine: J. C. and Edward Coleman, Wm. H. Rodda, Josiah Rodda, John Rodda, Richard Kitto, William Hoskin, James Hoskin, and Thomas Harper.
IF YOU WANT A FINE DRESS SUIT GO TO B. GAD'S.
FOR SHEET MUSIC GO TO DIXON'S.
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GRASS VALLEY TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
Edward Coleman is general superintendent of the North Star Company, and Wm. Hoskin has charge of the underground department of the mine.
Other mines in this vicinity will be found mentioned elsewhere.
Allison Ranch.
About two miles and one-half south of Grass Valley, on Wolf creek, is the village of Allison Ranch, noted the world over for having one of the richest quartz mines yet discovered. The village itself, for which we now have room only for a passing notice, contains two stores, one meat market, two boot and shoe making establish- ments, three or four saloons, the works of the Allison Ranch Mining Company, and an excellent public school. The business of the village is supported, or rather has been supported in the past, by the laboring force of the mine. The mine itself is at present under a cloud, and owing to questionable management, as well as a lack of harmony among the owners, work was suspended early last fall, leaving the Ranch in a languishing condition. What policy the present owners of the mine may pursue, we have no means of knowing, but it is more than probable that under some management Allison Ranch will again resume its place among the representative mines of this district; for a ledge from which millions of dollars have been extracted, which has been worked for years with great profit, and which has never been lost even in the lowest depth attained, must again prove rich and extensive unless every theory of geology is incorrect, every practical principle of quartz mining at fault. We will give an epitome of the history of the Allison Ranch mine from its discovery up to 1865, together with a few later items of interest furnished us by Philip Gallwey, late superintendent of the works :
As early as 1852, John and William Daniel, and four others, who subsequently returned to Missouri, worked in the creek adjoining the present town. In 1853, in digging a tail-race, which was done by several of the present company, the ledge was found, but no particular attention was paid to the discovery. In July, 1854, Michael Colbert and James Stanton bought into the creek claims. The ground at this time was worked with "long toms " and paid well. During the same year, while working toward the upper end of the claims, the ledge was again struck. At this point, the ground was found exceedingly rich, but the owners, somewhat inex- perienced in quartz mining, failed to attribute this to its true cause, the immediate vicinity of an extensive quartz ledge. One day in the fall of 1854, two of the partners traced the ledge a short distance down, but on losing it became discour- aged, and all the company, excepting Colbert and Stanton, ceased work for the day. These two, having again found the ledge, took out during the day, from the open- ing their partners had left, about a ton of quartz. An extensive "cave " occurred during the night, covering the ledge as well as a portion of the mass of rock thrown out. Work was now resumed on the creek, the exhumed quartz remaining un- touched, until exposed by the action of the fall and winter rains, when, on exami- nation, the rock was found studded with free gold. This pile of quartz, together with fragments forked from the toms, amounting to about one and one-half tons, was crushed at Lee & Simpson's mill, about a mile below Allison Ranch, and yielded about three hundred and seventy-five dollars. Con. Reilly was employed to open the ledge, and at once erected a water-wheel and sunk an inclined shaft, following the ledge, to a depth of eighteen feet, in doing which, he demonstrated the correctness of his own views by taking out enough gold to erect the present Allison Ranch quartz mill. In October, 1855, a lot of rock, about eighteen tons, which was crushed
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