USA > California > California gold book : first nugget, its discovery and discoverers, and some of the results proceeding therefrom > Part 9
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Oroville is the county seat of Butte. The county is well supplied with transportation facilities. The first stage, running from Marysville to Shasta, began oper- ations in 1851. Now railroads or stages penetrate to every portion of the county.
UBA COUNTY ranks among the first whose territory gave the world the exciting stories of gold discoveries and all of the interesting incidents attendant thereon. Traversed as it is by the famous Yuba and Feather rivers, both of which were supplied with an endless succession of "bars" rich in the precious yellow metal, Yuba has poured millions into the capacious lap of her country.
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Marysville, which quickly sprang from a riverside rancho to a flourishing busy city, has contributed in the past some of the most thrilling incidents of Cali- fornia pioneer life. About the time that various set- tlers were acquiring Mexican land grants all over the valley of the Sacramento. Theodore Cordua obtained of Captain Sutter in 1842 a lease for nineteen years of the tract of land where Marysville now stands. Cor- dua erected a substantial adobe house, which was called "New Mecklenburg," but the name was soon supplanted by just plain Cordua's Ranch. The house stood near the trail from the upper to the lower portions of the Sacramento valley, thereby becoming a way station for considerable travel. Cordua established a trading post at his place, and did considerable trafficking in various commodities. By 1847 he had thousands of cattle and hundreds of horses at his rancho. There were numerous Indians in the valley at that time. These Indians were about like the balance who over- ran California, being known under the generic term of "diggers." Their habits of dress and eating were on a par with their kind all over the State. Many other settlers joined Cordua before the gold discoveries. In October of 1846 a large number of emigrants arrived, who spread all over the region now covered by Yuba and Sutter counties. During the spring of 1847 the survivors of the Donner party arrived at Yuba, and some remained in that territory.
Yuba and Sutter counties have much early history that is common to both. Neither amounted to much until gold was discovered in the rivers. Jonas Spect and a party under Michael Nye discovered gold on the Tuba about the same time, which was in May, or
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June, 1848. The year 1849 did very little to alter the conditions or prospects of Yuba and Marysville. An instance in that year worthy of note was the residence of a man named John S. Moore, who successfully coun- terfeited quantities of Missouri bank bills. He indus- triously exchanged this paper for the miners' dust. They were very glad to be accommodated, as the difference in weight was very appreciable. The difference in value was also very appreciable, as they discovered when on their way home, rich with the spurious bills, they attempted to cash them. Moore escaped to South America and was never brought back.
In 1850 the growth of Marysville, formerly known as Nye's ranch, was very rapid. By that time the mines all about and on the Yuba river were paying tremendously. In January, 1850, there were about 300 people in Marysville and stores and residences sprang up like magic. A number of steamers from Sacramento soon began to arrive, bringing provisions and supplies, which had to be stacked upon the plaza. The old Cordua place, then known as Nye's ranch, was divided into town lots, the sale of which began immediately. Stephen J. Field, then a young attorney from New York, arrived about this time and began to do lots of work in making documents for land transac- tions. January 18th, when Field had been three days in town, an election was held almost " on the spur of the moment, " and Field was elected first alcalde. He had an opponent who had been in town a week, and his priority almost defeated the attorney. There was 231 votes cast. That same night festivities werc indulged in, with congratulations of the successful
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candidates, and the town after such discussions was christened Marysville, in honor of the only woman there, Mrs. Mary Covilland, whose husband had owned nearly the whole townsite, purchased from Cordua.
The county of Yuba was one of the originals created by the first legislature, on February 8, 1850. The derivation of the name is disputed, some crediting the origin to the Indians, others to a Spanish word, "Uva." At the time when Yuba was finally partitioned off the town of Marysville could hardly hold its popula- tion. There were about 500 regular residents and at least 1,000 transients. Dry goods boxes for shelter were sold for $2 and $3 each.
From the time of the discovery of gold in the Feather and Yuba rivers, the mining industry increased steadily for years. Then exhaustion of gold depos- its became apparent. It has seen the rise and fall of great hydraulic enterprises, and hopes to see the pow- erful monitors again washing mountains into sand and gravel, and compelling them to deliver up the stored gold. Nevertheless it is highly prosperous as it is. Orchards and vineyards are furnishing train loads of green fruit for the Eastern markets, and the drying houses and canneries are preparing other train loads. It is questionable whether the fertile valleys will not create more and safer prosperity than did gold in its palmy days.
The Southern Pacific Company bought the Northern California railroad, running between Marysville and Oroville, and immediately extended it on through Sut- ter county by what is known as the Knight's Landing road. It is built in the thorough manner usual to that company, and lessens the traveling distance between
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Marysville and San Francisco by about thirty miles. Yuba county, as originally formed when California was cut'into but twenty-seven subdivisions, extended from the Sacramento river to the eastern boundary of the State, including its present limits and Sierra, Nevada and a portion of Placer counties.
IERRA COUNTY was formed from a portion of Yuba, with Downieville as county seat. The first explorers of this region are not all known. Along the canyon of the North Yuba men were mining as early as the summer of 1849. Phil. A. Haven went up the North Yuba early in September, 1849, and found notices of seven different claims posted on Big Rich bar. He located on Little Rich bar, and was joined by Francis Anderson, who on the 14th of September, 1849, found the first gold discovered in the neighborhood of Sierra's capital town, Downieville. The news soon spread and by November there were several settlements made, and in the immediate neigh- borhood of the North Yuba there were many populous camps. The discovery in this region of gold by Mr. Anderson was quite accidental. He went up to the forks and just above where the Jersey bridge at Dow- nieville now stands made his find. It was not a rich strike, about $4, but it encouraged him and he went a little further np the stream, where he struck an exceedingly rich gravel deposit. He was almost afraid to go on with his work alone, as the traces of Indians were everywhere about, and he knew not whether they were hostiles or otherwise. He worked for an hour or so, standing in the water, taking out
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from $10 to $20 to a pan, when he heard loud noises on the hillside, and looking around saw a band of men dressed in various bright colors descending toward him. They were whooping and yelling as they clam- bered down the steep descent, and Anderson's first impression was that they were Indians thirsting for his gore. Grasping his knife, he decided to sell his life dearly, but was soon pleased to find there was no cause for fear, as they proved to be the Jim Kane party. They paid no attention to Anderson, but rushing into the water proceeded with their work of washing gravel with their pans. They were very fortunate in their selection of their place of work, for they cleaned up that day $300 to the pan. Anderson hastened back to Mr. Haven in the evening, and told him of the fabu- lous sums which he might carry off with the aid of a rocker. A small party with a rocker started out next day, and although they fell short of their expectations they did exceedingly well. On the morning of the fifteenth, Jim Kane's party netted $2,800. From the bar formed by the forks of the Yuba at this point, there were taken several million dollars, and from that day to this, Sierra county has been noted for its rich mines.
During the year 1892 the mining developments of this section have been numerous and varied, many of which are bright with promise of golden dividends. San Francisco, New York and English capitalists have invested thousands of dollars in some of the most valu- able properties, and are energetically working to place them on a paying basis. Judging by the past years of gold yield of millions of dollars extracted from Sierra's® lava-capped mountains, handsomer interest on his prin-
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cipal than is obtainable elsewhere will reward the ven- turesome prospector. The home people, believing that none should be assisted who do not help themselves, risk all their available funds in prospecting for new mines to replace those which may soon be worked out, and frequently with most gratifying results.
The Young American, William Tell, Sierra Buttes, Chips, Cleveland, Butte Saddle, Biglow, Independence, Phoenix and other quartz mines have been operated with varying success, and there have been cleanups of many thousands of dollars during the year 1892 in and around Sierra City. The Gold Bluff ledge, near Downieville, recently purchased by New York capital- ists, bids fair to become a profitable enterprise. The Oxford, Oro and other as promising locations, will undoubtedly be developed when capital affords the "open sesame " to their secreted treasures.
A few miles from Forest City are the Ruby and Bald mountain Extension drift mines, where quite a number of miners are employed The stockholders of these claims have had dividends of thousands of dollars during the past year, with a showing for many more. An- cient river beds, hundreds of feet below the surface of the mountains, have been reached by long tunnels, that of the Extension being already over a mile and a quarter underground, with a probable auriferous channel of miles northeast up the pliocene lead. At Alleghany the Maple Grove Company, composed of Forest City, Downieville and San Francisco business men, have with a hard bedrock tunnel of about 350 feet recently tapped what is thought to be in the lower part or outlet of the Ruby channel, and the encouraging prospect obtained from a small dump full of gravel has justified the put-
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ting on of several men to thoroughly develop the lead, and a large part of which comes down through the Extension and South Fork locations. Many rich ledges are being successfully worked near this mining camp. In northern Sierra the Gibsonville and La Porte ridge channel is being profitably developed through the Thistle shaft, to which a mile or more of tunnel may in time be run from Wallis creek for an econom- ical working of the mine. Other drift mines have yielded well, especially the Happy Hollow and Pioneer.
Sierra county is exceedingly mountainous, and only Sierra valley, situated in the eastern portion of the county, is adapted to extensive farming. It is thirty miles long, and from ten to fifteen miles wide. Artesian wells have been sunk at small expense, and many of the farms are irrigated with the water thus supplied. The greater portion of the population being engaged in mining, the ranchers obtain good prices for everything they produce, and dispose of it all at Sierra City and Downieville.
OLUSA COUNTY was created in 1850; but before a single house had been erected in Colusa City it had been named and located. It was built on the ruins of the Indian Capital, called Coru, inhabited by Colus Indians, of whom Sioc was the head chief.
The first real settler in Colusa county was a man named Bryant. He raised corn on his place in 1846. When gold was discovered two years later, there were not a dozen whites in the county. The gold excitement populated the rivers, creeks and hills at a lively pace
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in 1849 and 1850. Towns or camps began to be staked out, and civilized houses were erected. By 1852 a hotel was built at Colusa. The Sacramento river afforded easy transportation from Sacramento city, and freight and commodities came that way.
The history of the earliest white settlement of Colusa is almost identical with that of Butte. The reason is that much of the common territory belonged to the former. John Bidwell was one of the pioneers in that section, passing through in 1843. Peter Lassen acquired one of the very first land grants, although his land was not entirely within Colusa. His settlement was made in 1844. Up to this year the Colusa Indians had never seen a white man. These Colusa Indians had a tradition that a flood once ingulfed California. Only an eagle and a mud turtle remained alive, the former flying above the water and the latter floating upon a bunch of tules. They worked together. The eagle tied a string to the turtle, which dove down and brought up mud, placing it upon the floating tules, the eagle helping to pull him up with the load. In this way they built the Butte mountains, which protruded above the water. On this land some elders grew, from which these industrious creatures made a male and female Indian, who in turn populated California.
The minerals of Colusa are of the same character as those of Butte. Quantities of gold were discovered there when the early prospectors had spread out over the whole of the valley of the upper Sacramento. Silver abounds in many places and copper almost in the native form exists in large deposits. Quicksilver is quite plentiful near the line that divides Colusa from Lake county.
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The sandstone quarry near Sites is attracting general attention. It is on the Colusa & Lake railroad, about ten miles from its junction with the Northern railway. The stone is on the surface and is easily quarried, only requiring to be blasted from the hillsides. In color it is a gray blue. The specific gravity is greater than granite. Considerable quantities have been removed, the Oakland Theater having been built of it, and a large amount having been used in the construction of Trinity Church in San Francisco during the year 1892. The supply is simply inexhaustible, inasmuch as it consists of mountains of solid sandstone 400 feet high, and eight miles long. It is the best quarry in the State and easy of access.
A company was incorporated last year to make salt at their works north of Sites. It is said to be superior to Liverpool salt, and the scheme is one which points to a grand success.
UTTER COUNTY was named in honor of Cap- tain John A. Sutter, who at one time claimed to own the territory which composes it, and a considerable portion of Sacramento and Placer and the valley portion of Yuba, and a little of Colusa as well. The Mexican authorities never acknowledged his title to a grant of any such dimensions. Indeed, this was about five times greater than any one was permitted to claim. By getting friends to locate on the more desirable parts, he and they held possession of a good deal more than he was ever entitled to. Captain Sutter con- structed a building so strong in appearance that it was always spoken of as "Sutter's Fort." He began to
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raise wheat on a large scale, using Mexicans, Indians and emigrants as husbandmen, and no doubt had the first flour mill in operation which was known in Cali- fornia. Compared with some of the great flour man- ufactories now operated in California, it could only be . called a " flour-mill " by curtesy ; but it was far more effective than the Mexican and Indian way of grinding the wheat between two loose stones worked by hand.
California pioneers ever held a warm place in their hearts for Captain Sutter. To them an earnest wel- come was given, which could not fail to be apprecia- ted by men and women who had passed through such trying scenes as no description can render real in any sense. Those who shared his hospitality after the long journey across the plains, and who are still in the land of the living, have only good words for, and pleasant memories of Captain Sutter, and all Americans regret the pecuniary misfortunes which overtook him towards the close of his life.
Situated as it was, with mining fields on every side, Sutter county had a lively interest in the success of mines, but contained no very rich deposits of gold within its borders. Its citizens were devoted to rais- ing bread and meat for those who delved for gold. From wheat growing and cattle raising the change to the more profitable business of fruit growing was easy, and more especially as Sutter county was noted for its small thoroughly cultivated ranches. In the last few years its ranches have been among the heaviest ship- pers of green, dried and canned fruits of any section in the State, and the fruits have obtained high favor in the East. Peaches take the lead of all fruits grown in the county. After peaches come apricots, pears,
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plums and small fruits. Citrus fruits do finely, and the cultivation of these is multiplying rapidly every year.
The most flourishing towns in the county are in the order named: Yuba City, Live Oak, Meridan, Nico- laus, Pleasant Grove and Sutter City, the latter place being the most youthful. The first named is the county seat, and has doubled in population since 1880, gaining the most of this in the past five years.
EVADA COUNTY is on the eastern boundary of the State. The name means "snowy." The central part of the county contains rich gold workings, including quartz, hydraulic and placer mines. The western part is especially adapted to horticulture and agriculture, and contains about 250,- 000 acres.
The first settlement in the county was made by John Rose at Rose Bar, near Smartsville, in 1849. A trading post was established in the same year on Bear river, near the mouth of Greenhorn creek, and Rough and Ready was settled by the Rough and Ready company about the same time. Topographi- cally the county is very uneven throughout, the great snowy mountains covering the eastern part and the foothills the western part. These hills and mountains have yielded millions of dollars to the pick and pan of the miner.
A short distance above Nevada City is the famous hydrauling mining region, which formerly added mil- lions annually to the gold product of the county. The stopping of hydraulic mining by the courts was the
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greatest calamity that ever befell the county, reducing its taxable property over $3,000,000, and lessening its inhabitants at least 5,000 souls. Grass valley is the largest town in the county, and has a population of about 7,000. The principal industry is quartz mining. Here are located the pioneer quartz mines and mills of the State.
The county has connection with the outside world by means of the Nevada County Narrow-Gauge railroad, finished in 1876, extending from Nevada city through Grass valley to Colfax, where it connects with the Central Pacific. Truckee, in the eastern part of the county, is noted for its product of lumber, wood and ice. The celebrated "Bartlett pear belt " extends through a portion of the county, and considerable attention has been paid to the raising of this fruit. Nevada county offers to the public a fine climate, excellent agricultural and horticultural land, and the best field for mining investments in the world.
This county is still the banner gold mining section of the Golden State. Within the year just passed there have been no startling discoveries nor remarkably rich "strikes," and, in fact, no extreme activity; but the old mines have continued to yield their full measure of gold, and during the year 1892 there have been many new mines opened up, some of which are already yield- ing in paying quantities, and most of which are prom- ising.
Nevada county is always sure to retain prestige as the peerless mining producer of California. In 1892 a great enterprise was inaugurated that is calculated on its successful completion to almost revolutionize quartz mining in Nevada county. A powerful company has
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been organized for the purpose of placing at a central location a large electric plant which will furnish power for all the mines within the county. Behind this company are prominent capitalists of San Francisco and San Jose. Work on the plant has already been commenced, and at a point on the South Yuba river an immense dam has been built for the development of water-power for running the dynamos. With the opening of spring the work will be resumed, and the plant is expected to be in operation during the year 1893.
A similar enterprise which will follow this is the building of an electric railroad to connect Grass valley and Nevada City with many of the most important mines. Applications have already been made to the supervisors of the county for rights of way extending from the east to the west county lines. The great advantage of these two enterprises to the county can hardly be estimated. The lack of adequate power and transportation facilities for the mines has heretofore been one of the greatest drawbacks to the proper development of the county and its wonderful mineral resources.
One of the surest indications of coming prosperity in Nevada county during the year has been the interest taken and the progress made in horticultural and agri- cultural developments. Those who have heretofore devoted all their capital and energy to the develop- ment of the mines have come to realize that there are other possibilities for this region. The shipments of green fruits, mostly pears and peaches, from Nevada county during 1892, far exceeded those of any previous year in its history. More land was cleared and pre-
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pared for tree planting and grain raising than in any previous five years.
LACER COUNTY formed a part of Sutter. April 25, 1851, the original dividing act was amended, and the additional counties of Placer and Nevada cre- ated. Three or four attempts have been made since to create new counties by slicing off some of Placer and parts of adjoining counties. They have failed, and Placer remains as originally formed, with Auburn as county seat.
Gold was discovered at the " Dry Diggings," in Auburn ravine, Placer county, by Claude Chaua, May 16, 1848, just four months minus three days after its dis- covery by Marshall at Coloma. Chaua, who was intimate with Marshall, made this discovery while leading a party to Coloma to engage in gold digging there. The party were wholly inexperienced, and did not succeed well, and soon after abandoned the field, and proceeded to the Yuba river, where after a year's work they cleared up $25,000. When Chaua and his party left the ravine it was not long allowed to remain neglected. In the "Dry Diggings," near Auburn, during the month of August, 1848, one man got $16,000 out of five car loads of dirt. In the same diggings a good many were collecting from $800 to $1,500 a day. The region soon acquired the name of " The North Fork Dry Diggings," and in the fall of 1849, when the settlement became more concentrated and stores were established, was given the name it now . bears-Auburn.
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In the summer of 1848 the principal tributaries of the American river were explored by a company of Oregonians, and rich prospects obtained upon almost every bar, as far up the Middle Fork as they procceded. At this time the bars were generally explored as high up the Middle Fork as Rector's Bar, which proving as rich as any diggings the explorers expected to find, and it being difficult to go further up the river with horses, they ceased to travel and worked the mines until winter set in, when they returned to the settle- ments in the valley or to their homes in Oregon.
Early in 1849, the system of washing the auriferous dirt with the common rocker was introduced upon the middle fork of the American river, and was regarded as a great improvement to gold mining. During this year miners flocked to the bars in great numbers from " the Old Dry Diggings " and Coloma and elsewhere, and during the summer settlements were formed in many parts of Placer county, including Auburn and Ophir in the foot-hills and many less important camps on the American river.
In the pioneer days Placer was noted for its agricul- tural attainments. Fruits, grain and vegetables were raised in great abundance, while of late years the hor- ticultural industry has taken precedence of all others, and the fine fruits of the Placer foot-hill orchards and vineyards are known all over the West.
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