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 37
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" The ridge of land embraced between the South and Middle forks of the Yuba is from six to eight miles in width, and to the limits of auriferons gravel, as thus far explored, about 30 miles, forming an area of about 200 square miles. The ele- vation of this " Ridge " above the sea is, at its western extremity, near French Corral, about 1,500 feet, from whence it gradually rises into the high Sierras, the Yuba Gap Pass being 4,570 feet above the sea. This Mesopotamia is cut up by ravines descending from a central axis both ways into the valleys of the two rivers, forming gulches, with steep sides, often beautifully wooded. The more elevated portions of the land are covered by a heavy bed of volcanic ashes and breccia, which evidently at an earlier day formed a continuous sheet over, not only the tongue of land under consideration, but over the adjacent region, as is conspicuously seen in the sections afforded by the various rivers.
This mass of volcanic ashes contains numerous angular fragments of cellular lava, thraclyte, basalt, porphyry, and volcanic mineral aggregates, quite foreign to the general geology of the country. Its thickness varies with the topography and drainage of the surface, but it forms the summits of all the hills above a certain horizon, and in places reaches an elevation of from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the level of the rivers. Below Columbia Hill the denudation of the surface has removed the volcanic matter, leaving the auriferous gravel exposed as the upper surface. The volcanic deposit receives from the miners the general name of "Cement," a term it well deserves, from its compact and tenacious character, much resembling pozzolane or Roman cement. * * The auriferous gravel varies in thickness from 80 to 100 feet, where it has been exposed to denudation, to 250 feet or more, where it is protected against such action. Probably 120 feet is not an over- statement for its average thickness in the marginal portions, where it has been exposed by working the deep diggings or hydraulic claims. This vast gravel bed is composed of rounded masses of quartz, greenstone, and all the metamorphic rocks which are found in the high Sierras.
It is often locally stratified, but I could find no evidence of continuity in its bed- dings. The lower portions are composed of larger boulders than the upper, as a general rule, but this does not exclude the occasional presence of huge boulders in the central and upper portions. In a fresh fracture of the whole thickness of these
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BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
deposits, such as may be seen daily in the "claims" which are being actively worked, a striking contrast of color is seen between the lower and upper portions of the gravel mass, consequent on the percolation of atmospheric waters and air, oxydizing the iron resulting from the decomposition of pyrites, and staining the gravel of a lively red and yellow color in waving lines and bands, contrasting boldly with the blue color of the unoxydized portions. A close examination of the blue colored portion of the gravel shows it to be highly impregnated with sulphu- ret of iron (iron pyrites), forming, in fact, the chief cementing material which holds the pebbles in a mass as firm as conglomerate, requiring the force of gunpowder to break it up. * * The gold is disseminated throughout the entire mass of this great gravel deposit, not uniformly in value, but always in greater quantity near its base, or on the bed rock. The upper half of the deposit is found to be always less in value than the lower part, sometinies so poor that it would be unprfitable working by itself, but inasmuch as there is no practicable mnode of working the under stratum without first moving the upper portion, in practice the whole is worked. * * *
The course of the ancient current, where I had an opportunity of measuring it, appears to have been about 20°-25° west of north (magnetic), which it will be observed is nearly at right angles to the mean course of the Middle and South forks of the Yuba ; but it is not far from parallelism with the axis of the Sacra- mento River Valley, or of the great valley between the Coast Range and the Sierra Nevada. I have noted the same general direction of the scratches elsewhere in the great gold region, but additional observations are required to justify any compre- hensive generalization. This much appears to be clearly shown, however, by the present state of our knowledge on this subject, viz : that the spread of the ancient gold-bearing gravel was produced by a cause greatly more elevated than the exist- ing river system, or, which is more probable, at a time when the continent was less elevated than at present, and moving in a direction conformable to the course of the valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin. We find it impossible to admit the existing river system as a cause adequate to the spreading of such vast masses of round materials. The facts point to a much greater volume of water than any now flowing in the valley. % * * * The phenomena here described are on a grand and comprehensive scale, and referable to a general cause long anterior in date to the existing river system ; a cause which has been sufficient to break down and transport the gold-bearing veins of the Sierras, with their associated met; amorphic rocks, thus laying up in store for human use deposits of the precious metals in amount, and on a scale far beyond the notions generally prevailing of the nature of placer deposits. *
The extensive mining operations which, since 1852, have been carried on upon the ridge of land between the South and Middle Yuba rivers, have supplied the data requisite for a pretty accurate estimate of the average value of gold actually saved in mining and washing a given quantity of auriferous gravel. The mining ground in this area stretches along both margins of the delta from French Corral, near its western extremity, in a line closely parallel to the Middle Yuba, skirts by the claims known as Birchville, Sweetland, Sebastopol, North San Juan, Badger Hill, through Grizzly Gulch to Wolsey's, Moore's and Orleans' Flats and Snow Point to Eureka ; thence crossing to the South Yuba slopes, it includes Mount Zion, Relief Hill, Bloomfield, Lake City, Columbia Hill and Montezuma-the entire circuit being over sixty miles.
The various canals and water ditches which supply this region, and which became consolidated under the title of the " Eureka Lake & Yuba Canal Conpany," on the 5th of December, 1865, are the Eureka Lake Canal, 65 miles long ; Miner's Ditch, 25 miles ; Grizzly Ditch, 14 miles ; the two Spring Creek Ditches, each 12 miles long, and the Middle Yuba Canal, 40 miles long. In addition to these canals, there are numerous lateral and distributing branches, which in the aggre- gate will exceed 60 miles in length, making a grand total of about 228 miles, the actual cost of constructing which exceeds $1,500,000.
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BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
The great advantages of this consolidation of interests, and increased economy of expenditures, are such that under the present prudent and efficient management, the property is yielding a handsome revenue to its proprietors without increased cost to customers.
The Grizzly Ditch, commencing at a point on a creek called " Bloody Run," was constructed in 1851-52, and supplied the mining district of Cherokee, and being emptied into Shady Creek, waa again taken up and conveyed to French Corral ; the latter portion was sold to Pollard & Co., since which time it has fallen into disuse. In 1853 the ditch was extended to San Juan Hill, and was purchased by the Middle Yuba Canal & Water Co. in 1856. Its proprietors were Messrs. E. Turney, F. Wil- der, W. B. Churchill and others.
The Middle Yuba Canal was located by Moses F. Hoit, on the 7th of July, 1853 ; work was commenced on the 10th of December, and completed to Grizzly Canyon in 1854. During the year 1855, an acquisition of capital enabled the company to extend their works to the Middle Yuba, about three miles below Mooney's Flat. The waters of the Yuba were introduced into the mines at San Juan in 1856, cross- ing the town in a substantially built flume, or aqueduct, 1200 feet long, at a hight of 48 feet, and supplying the diggings at North San Juan, Manzanita, Sweetland and Birchville.
The principal office of the company is in New York city, and the officers are, John Parrott, esq. of San Francisco, President ; L. A. Von Hoffman, Vice President ; Messrs. W. Butler Duncan, Henry Cohen, H. Stursbery and M. Zellerbach, trustees. The local office of the company is at North San Juan ; general superintendent, Richard Abbey, esq .; secretary, John B. Hunter. The average number of officers and permanent employees (water agents, ditch tenders, &c), is 40 men.
Mines and Mining.
Throughout the entire mining district the work is prosecuted on a scale of great magnitude. A careful estimate would indicate that the yield of gold has approached two million dollars annually, during the past ten years. The present monthly yield from Bridgeport township, as obtained from the offices of the express compa- nies and bankers, will average $80,000. The reticence of owners of claims at pres- ent being worked, renders it difficult to approximate the present results of individ- ual claims. A page from the history of claims which have been worked out, may not prove uninteresting.
The Eureka Tunnel Company, on San Juan Hill, commenced its tunnel to reach the inner basin in August, 1855, and got in in October, 1860, at a cost of $84,000 in actual assessments. The expenses incurred before a dividend was declared, were $142,000. The entire yield of gold from these claims was $530,000. During the existence of the company, the average number of men employed daily, was 25.
The Deadman Cut Claims, having a superficial area of 94,623 square feet, was entirely worked out in February, 1859, having yielded $156,307 73, at a cost of $71,433 29.
On Manzanita Hill, the McKeeley & Co's claims, containing 28,240 square yards, yielded $368, 932 78, from 1855 to 1864, paying its owners in dividends $126,660 00.
The mines in operation at present, in Bridgeport township, are as follows :
Paulsen & Co., on Badger Hill, employ three men ; Nesleny & Co., three men ; Driscoll & Co., three men. The English Company have recently acquired the
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BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
entire mining ground, and employ thirteen men ; this company are the owners of a small ditch of 800 inches, supplying the necessary hydraulic power.
In Cherokee district, the Pioneer Company, consisting of eight men, have been engaged during three years past in sinking a shaft, designed to reach the bed rock and test the value of the deposit. They have reached a depth of 155 feet, passing 60 feet of blue, auriferous gravel. The company are without capital, other than that saved by their daily labor, but feeling confident of future success, are disin- clined to dispose of their property at a sacrifice. The successful completion of this work will give a great impetus to operations in the vicinity, and restore the old mining town of Cherokee to its former standing.
. On Chimney Hill, Hunter & McCarty employ ten men, using 700 inches of water.
The Star mine, on San Juan Hill, employ six men ; tunnel 1,400 long, which was completed in 1860, using 400 inches of water ; has ground enough for five years to come. Geo. Yates, foreman.
Golden Gate Company's tunnel, 800 feet ; employs six men, under the superin- tendence of F. Banks. This company uses 350 inches of water, and has ground enough for three years.
D. Borren & Co., running through the Winham tunnel, employ eight men, using 300 inches of water.
New England Company, runs through the Eureka tunnel, 1,000 feet in length ; uses 300 inches of water; has ground for six years, and employs five men, under the foremanship of J. H. Effinger.
Wyoming Company, employing six men, uses 300 inches of water, through a thirty inch flume in a tunnel 1,000 feet long. H. Dencke, foreman.
The Knickerbocker Company has a tunnel 2,000 feet long. The company had suspended work at present writing.
The Dutch Cut Company, using the above tunnel, has ground for four years' washing with 200 inches of water ; employs four men. John McBrown, foreman.
The American Company, under the superintendence of John H. Brown, employs twenty-four men ; uses 475 inches of water, and has a tunnel 1,800 feet long, with ground enough for four years working. This company has adopted all the im- provements in hydraulic mining ; has a sand mill for grinding the black sand and saving the free gold therein. Also, a cement mill with eight stamps, on the bed rock. These claims yield from seven to ten thousand dollars to each three weeks run.
The Badger Company's tunnel is 700 feet in length ; uses 250 inches of water, through a thirty inch flume, and employs four men. John Perry, superintendent.
Geo. C. Spooner's tail flume and sand mill, collecting the tailings from the Amer- ican, Badger and Dutch Cut mines, employs four men, yielding a handsome revenue.
George Bluff Company has 1,800 feet of tunnel ; run 450 inches of water through a forty inch flume, and has ground sufficient for twenty years work. This com- pany are engaged in running a new tunnel, at a lesser grade. Has five men em- ployed.
The Yuba Tunnel Company have just completed their tunnel, 1,500 feet in length, after eleven years' labor, and are now preparing for washing ; will use 400 inches ef water, and have ground enough for ten years. J. Chisholm, superintendent.
SEBASTOPOL.
The little village of Sebastopol, lying one mile east of North San Juan, is com-
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BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
343
posed entirely of the residences of the owners of the American and Gold Bluff mines, on Junction Bluff and Manzanita Hills. It contains one store, McBride & Frew, proprietors.
SWEETLAND.
Sweetland is one of the oldest settlements on the Ridge, and derives its name from one of the earliest residents, H. P. Sweetland, who still resides there. It has an excellent public school, under the management of Mrs. H. Lyon.
BIRCHVILLE.
The cosy village of Birchville, manifesting the excellent tastes of its people in the construction of their dwellings and cultivation of pleasant gardens, lies four miles east of North San Juan. The mines were discovered by - Johnson, in 1851, and were known as Johnson's Diggings till 1853, when, by common consent, the name of Birchville was substituted. In 1851 the " Miners' and Mechanics' Steam Saw Mill " was built, and continued in operation till 1853, when it was de- stroyed by fire and never rebuilt.
The Irish claims were worked by means of drifting, and paid largely for a num- ber of years. Water was furnished by the Shady Creek and Grizzly ditches, but in such limited quantities that but little progress was made in hydraulic mining until in 1857 the Middle Yuba Canal and Water Company extended their ditch, furnish- ing water in abundance, which gave a degree of prosperity unknown before.
In 1859 four bed rock tunnels were commenced, and completed in 1864, at an aggregate cost of $120,000. These tunnels drain the channel in the upper portion of the district ; the lower portion will be reached by another tunnel, now in course of construction, a distance of twenty-four hundred feet, through which about four hundred claims will be worked.
The following claims are now in successful operation, and their yield for 1865-6 was about as follows :
Granite Tunnel Company
.$ 82,000 net proceeds $ 24,000
Don Jose Company.
100,000
72,000
Irish American and Woodpecker Ravine Co.
180,000
66
"
133,000
San Joaquin Company ..
134,000
66
68,500
Kennebec and American Company.
85,000
66
30,000
Though the best portion of the mines are exhausted, not more than one-half of the mining ground is washed, and the amount of water required will be equal to all that has ever been used here.
Birchville precinct polled eighty-seven votes in 1865. Its contributions to the Sanitary Fund amounted to $1,089.
French Corral.
French Corral lies at the lower terminus of the gold-bearing gravel range that is found between the South and Middle Yuba rivers. Its altitude is about 2000 feet above the sea. Its temperature ranges from 25 degrees in winter to 105 in summer. Snow seldom falls, and never to the depth of more than a few inches. Many fruits of the tropical, and all of those of the temperate zone, flourish.
In 1849, a Frenchman, living at Frenchman's Bar, on the Yuba river, built an inclosure for his mules on the present site of the village. This inclosure was known as the French Corral, and the circumstance gave the village its name. Once upon a time, the citizens, moved no doubt by a laudable spirit, called a meet-
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BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
ing and resolved that from that time the place should be called Carrolton, a name suggestive of better memories than French Corral ; but like many other commend- able resolves, this one came to naught, and the village is likely to live in history (Bean's Directory) by its original name.
Some little ravine mining was commenced here in 1849, and a trading post (in a tent) was established in the same year by a man named Galloway, afterward well known as the proprietor of "Galloway's ranch," near Downieville. Galloway was succeeded by an English sailor called Jack, who in September, 1850, sold his tent and trade to Robert and John Bussenias. They erected the first house (of logs) near the present site of the " Corral House." In 1851, surface diggings were dis- covered, and in the spring of 1852, Messrs. I. P. Twist, J. Wadsworth, J. Williams, J. Spurry and A. H. and W. M. Eddy, brought in a ditch from Shady Creek.
The rich surface mines, when there was water to work them, brought together a goodly number of miners and traders, and the village soon had a population of three or four hundred. In 1853, hill diggings were discovered, and another ditch was brought from Shady Creek by the Grizzly Water Company. Messrs. Charles Marsh and W. M. Stewart were the projectors and principal owners. In June, 1853, about one half of the village was destroyed by fire, and again in September 1854, another disastrous fire occurred. By this time the hill diggings were con- siderably developed and proven to be extensive. Tunnels and cuts were run into the hills wherever fall could be found ; ditches were enlarged, and every prepara- tion made for extensive work. Profitable mining soon followed. In 1855 another ditch was brought in by Simpson & Co. Subsequently deeper tunnels were run in order to reach the bottom of the lead, which was found to be from one to 200 feet in depth. The total cost of the various cuts and tunnels of this locality, cannot be less than a quarter of a million of dollars, and the amount of gold taken out must be among the millions.
A large extent of valuable mining ground remains to be worked. In addition to the hydraulic mines, there is a broad, deep stratum of " blue cement," so called, underlying the red gravel, which is rich in gold. This will have to be worked by the mill process, as is already being successfully done in other parts of the county. This, undoubtedly, will give remunerative work to several mills for years.
There are good indications of valuable quartz lodes in the vicinity, but very little, however, has been done to develop them. The principal placer mines are now owned by the Empire Flat Co., Messrs. Bird & Smith, Messrs Black & Alger, H. French, W. Glaislee, G. Ryan and the Nevada Water Co. The two ditches brought in in 1852 and 1853, are now owned by the Nevada Water Co., and the Simpson & Co. ditch by the Empire Flat Co. Valuable tail sluices are owned by the Caledonia Co., T. P. Otis & Co., Keenedy & Neville, Dr. Farrelly, Alexander & Smith and C. P. McClelland. The present population is between three and four hundred.
CHEROKEE.
The first prospecting done here was in 1850, by some Cherokee Indians, on what is called, at present, the Cherokee ranch. The earliest mining wilh rockers was done by the Sack brothers, on Shady Creek, just below the village of Cherokee. The first sluice mining was done by Dr. Wm. Patterson, our former County Clerk, and John McGraw, in 1851, and the same year the Grizzly ditch was surveyed, by Charles Marsh and others, and a company formed to bring water to this flat from
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BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
Grizzly Canon, and was finished in the fall of 1852, proving a very profitable in- vestment, furnishing water about five months of the year, and causing a rapid growth of the present village of Cherokee. The whole flat was staked off, and yielded large returns, some companies making as high as fifty dollars a day to the hand.
The vote of this precinct in 1854 was three hundred and ten. The citizens of this place built a comfortable school house, by subscription ; the first teacher was J. B. Johnson, now of North San Juan. The present number of scholars is about fifty-five ; the whole number of children enumerated in the School Marshal's report was sixty-eight.
The present mining companies are John Ryan & Co., Hunter & McCarthy, Gill, Quick & Co., on Badger Hill, R. Nelson & Co., Wm. Kilevy & Co., John Poulson & Co., Martin, Yauch & Co., and others.
There is one church edifice here, Catholic, with a large congregation. The other denominations have free access to the school house for religious worship. There are three stores, two hotels, one shoe shop, one blacksmith shop, and one saw mill, with a capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber per day. The first post office established here was in 1855, and was called Patterson, after Dr. Patterson, as he was one of the first miners in the place. As there was a town in Butte county called Cherokee the name of the post office was called Patterson, as the rules of the Department would not establish two offices of the same name in the State.
There is a company engaged in sinking a shaft six by twelve feet. They have a steam engine for hoisting purposes, and are down now one hundred and seventy feet, and it prospects from the top to the bottom. The company, as soon as they reach the bed rock, contemplate running a tunuel to the Middle Yuba, for fall. When completed, the best and richest diggings in California will be opened.
N. D. MORGAN, President,
T. T. MERWIN, Vice-President, J. W. MERRILL, Secretary.
NORTH AMERICA
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK. [MUTUAL.]
Its POLICIES are INDISPUTABLE from time of issue. POLICIES granted, the Payment of which is GUARANTEED by NEW YORK STATE. THIRTY DAYS GRACE given on all renewal payments.
Cash Assets, January 1st, 1867 $1,539,019 Cash Income for 1866 .. $1,303,566
Dividend, January 1st, 1867 .... 40 per cent. J. A. EATON & CO., General Managers, 302 Montgomery Street, San Francisco. WM. F. BRANDRETH, Traveling Agent. P2
THE
BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.
For the Year commencing January 1st, 1867,
ABBREVIATIONS:
ag't. Agent.
cor Corner.
F. French.
st .. Street.
sup't .. Superintendent. N .. .North.
ABBEY RICHARD, sup't Eureka Lake & Middle Yuba Canal Co.
Abbott & Bailey, butchers, French Cor- ral & N. San Juan.
Abbott Charles, meat market, French C. Abrahams Lewis, miner, Birchville.
Abrahams E. merchant, N. San Juan.
Adams Theo. carpenter, Hoit's Crossing. Ahart J. W. miner, Shady Creek.
Ahart S. K. miner, Shady Creek.
Alexander & Smith, miners, Empire F.
Alexander David, miner, F. Corral
Allen J. S. farmer, Shady Creek
Allison Edward, rancher, Allison ranch Allison James, miner, Allison ranch Anderson Benj. miner, F. Corral
Anderson Harry, miner, N. San Juan Andress James, laborer, N. San Juan Angier P. J. teamster, Sweetland Armstrong John, laborer, Sweetland Arnold W. H. miner. Shady Creek Arthur Henry, miner, Jones' Bar American Co. hydraulic mining, Manza- nita Hill
B
Badger Co. hydraulic mining, Manzanita Hill
Banks Fred. miner, N San Juan
Barbarie G. miner, Sweetland,
Bart Henry, miner, N San Juan
Basilaiske A. miner, Empire Flat Baudoin Chas. merchant, Empire Flat Beach Chas. miner, N San Juan Beach Erastus, miner, N San Juan Bean Edwin, laborer, Cherokee Beard J. E. miner, N San Juan Bec John, miner, Empire Flat Beck Harmon, miner, Sebastopol Behrens F. H. miner, Cherokee Bell Solomon, rancher. near Cherokee Bell V. G. ditch ag't, Birchville Benjamin R. P. miner, Sweetland
Besancon B. miner, Empire Flat
Bickford L. H. carpenter, N San Juan
Billings John, miner, N San Juan
Billings J. A. livery stable, F Corral
Bird Edward E. miner, Manzanita Hill
Bird W. H. miner, F Corral
Bird & Smith, hydraulic miners, Empire Flat
Black & Bro. hydraulic miners, Empire Flat
Black A. miner, Empire Flat
Black H. miner, Empire Flat
Black Matthew, ranchman, N San Juan
Blake John, shoemaker, Cherokee
Block & Furth, merchants, Main st. N San Juan
Bloss A. A. teamster, Cherokee
Bonham A. J. driver meat wagon, French Corral
Boure Jules, miner, Empire Flat
Bowden Joseph, miner, Badger Hill
Bowen & Morgan, hydraulic mining, N San Juan
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