History of California, Volume VI, Part 39

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 816

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CHAPTER XIV.

UNFOLDING OF MINERAL WEALTH. 1848-1856.

EXTENT OF GOLD REGION IN 1848-9-AMERICAN RIVER THE CENTRE-EL DORADO COUNTY-SOUTH FORK AND SOUTHWARD-MIDDLE BRANCH- PLACER, NEVADA, YUBA, SIERRA, PLUMAS, BUTTE, AND SHASTA COUNTIES -TRINITY AND KLAMATH -GOLD BLUFF EXCITEMENT, 1850-1 -DEL NORTE, HUMBOLDT, AND SISKIYOU-IN THE SOUTH-AMADOR, CALA- VERAS, AND TUOLUMNE-TABLE MOUNTAIN-MARIPOSA, KERN, SAN BER- NARDINO-LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO-ALONG THE OCEAN.

DURING the year 1848 the gold region of California was explored and worked from Coloma to the Tuol- umne in the south, and to Feather River in the north, with a slight inroad upon the country beyond and westward to the Trinity. It might have been ex- pected that observations would have extended farther in the south, since this was in a measure the pathway from Sonora and southern California; but hostile Indians, and the distribution of gold in patches and less regular streaks in dry ground, tended to discour- age the casual prospector. In the north, on the other hand, every bar could be counted upon to contain suf- ficient color for remuneration or guidance, with greater indication of finding in this quarter the supposed mother beds. The inflowing hordes of 18491 and sub- sequent years followed the paths so far opened, and passed onward to the poorer districts beyond the

1 There must have been 10,000 or 12,000 people waiting in August for pas- sage from S. F. to the mines, for small vessels were scarce. Connor's Stat., MS., 2; Crosby's Events in Cal., MS., 14. It was a repetition of the scenes en route given in the chapters for 1848.

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UNFOLDING OF MINERAL WEALTH

Merced, and into the more attractive north-west, be- yond the borders of Oregon and into Nevada.

The attention of new-comers continued throughout these early years to be directed toward the American River, as the chief centre and distributing point for mining movements. It was famed moreover for Mar- shall's discovery, and for a well-sustained production, not merely from placers along the crowded river-beds and intermediate uplands, but. from the auriferous rock belt some thirty miles in breadth, which opened prospects for even greater operations. Coloma, the starting-point for the world-wide excitement, reaped benefit in becoming for a time a flourishing county seat,2 the head in 1848 of numerous mining camps, especially along the line to Mormon Island,3 which multiplied further in the following years, with Michi- gan flat and Salmon Falls as the most prominent.4 Improved methods, and such enterprises as fluming the river, in the summer of 1849, increased the yield and sustained the mining interest for years.5 On the divide southward a still greater development took place, along Webber Creek,6 notably at the old

2 Coloma claimed the first ditch, in this region, the El Dorado, six miles long, for bringing water to her placer field. Here was placed the first ferry on the South Fork, and the first bridge in the county, to attest the popu- larity of the spot. Later, fruit-raising arrested total decline.

3 Dutch Bar, Kanaka, Red, Stouy, Ledge, Missouri, Michigan, and other bars. Negro Hill, opposite Mormon Island, so named after subsequent negro miners of 1849, had in 1833 over 1,000 inhabitants. Uniontown, first called Marshall, was the centre for the miners on Granite and Shingle creeks, with Poague's bridge and the second saw-mill in the county.

4 The former composed of Red Hill, Coyote Diggings, and Rich Gulch; the latter, beginning with Higgins' Point, was laid out as a town in 1850, and attained at one time a population of 3,000, sustained by tributary camps like Pinchemtight, Jayhawk, Green Springs, and McDowell Hill. In the sum- mer of 1849 the Mormon Island Mining Assoc. undertook to turn the course of the South Fork, for the purpose of mining in its bed. Farther down an- other company was prepared for a similar task. Shares sold at $5,000. Alta Cal., Aug. 2, 1849; Placer Times, Apr. 28, June 19, Sept. 22, 1847; Brooks, Four Mo., 51, was there in June. In 1850 a 'green ' hand took out $19,000 in three days, and three pounds of dust one afternoon. Sac. Transcript, Aug. 30, 1850. In Oct. 1850 there were 1,500 miners at Mormon Island making more money than ever. Id., Oct. 14, 1850; Jan. 14, 1851; Pac. News, May 27, etc., 1850; Crosby's Events, MS., 16-17.

5 "The mines were never yielding better,' writes one to the S. F. Bulletin, Dec. 10, 1855, of the Coloma region.

6 See previous chapter on mines of 1848. Iowaville and Dogtown, later Newtown, were among the camps of 1849. Sac. Transcript, Apr. 26, 1850, etc.

353

AMERICAN RIVER.

dry diggings, which after 1848 acquired the name of Hangtown, subsequently Placerville, the county seat.7 Below sprang up Diamond Springs and Mud Springs, each in a rich district,s and along the north- ern line of the Cosumnes rose a series of less im- portant bars, surpassed in wealth by several diggings on the divides between the forks.9 The adjoining Sac- ramento county came in for a minor share in the gold sand of both the American and Cosumnes, which was collected at a number of camps;10 and along the upper border ran a quartz belt half a dozen miles in width, which was slowly opening. Eastward El Dorado miners had penetrated as early as 1850 into Carson Valley.11

North of the American South Fork, Kelsey and Pilot Hill formed the rival centres of two important groups of mines,12 and above them Greenwood and

7 In 1854 it polled the third largest vote in the state. The diggings con- tinued rich all around for years, and were several times rewashed. Cal. Courier, Oct. 18, 1850; Pac. News, id .; Sac. Transcript, Apr. 26, Oct. 14, 1850, etc.

8 The latter renamed El Dorado. Diamond Springs competed in 1854 for the county seat. Cold Springs, above Placerville, attained at one time to 2,000 inhab. Shingle sustained itself.

9 As Grizzly Flat and Indian Diggings of 1850, the latter, near Mendon, having for a time, in 1855, a population of 1,500. Among the bars were Big, Bucks, Pittsburgh, and Nashville. Quartz excitements were rife in this re- gion at the close of 1850. Pac. News, Oct. 18, 1850; Sac. Transcript, Nov. 29, 1850; Placerville Repub., June 27, 1876, gives a history of Grizzly Flat, and contributes in other numbers to different local reminiscences.

10 Below the well-known Mormon Island lay Negro Bar with 700 people in 1851; Alabama Bar, Big Gulch, later Ashland; Prairie City, the centre for several interior diggings, with a tributary popul. in 1854 of 1,000, quartz-mills near by in 1855; Texas Hill; the rich Beam Bar of 1849. The branches and extensions of several ditches reached this region in 1851-5, as did others along the Cosumnes, including Knightsomer's ditch, possessing since 1851 the old- est water right on this river. In 1855 there were 4 ditches in the county, 29 miles in length, which by 1860 increased to 11 ditches of 135 miles. Along the lower Cosumnes lay Michigan and Cook bars of 1849, the former with over 1,000 inhab. at one time. Katesville and Sebastopol rose later. For other details, see Hist. Sacramento Co., 214-29, and references of later notes.

11 Pac. News, Ang. 21, Oct. 10, 1850; Cal. Courier, July 15, 1850. See Hist. Nevada, this series.

12 The former at one time having extensive business tributaries in Louis- ville, Columbia, Irish Creek, American Flat, Fleatown, Elizaville, Yankee, Chicken, Stag, Barley, and Union flats. Spanish Flat was named after Spanish diggers of 1849, when Mosquito Valley also claimed prominence with two camps. At Pilot Hill, later Centreville, discovered late in 1849, 32 miners wintered; yield $8 to $60 daily per man; many small nuggets. Id., Apr. 26, 1859; S. F. Picayune, Dec. 21, 1850; Connor's Stat., MS., 2.

HIST. CAL., VOL. VI. 23

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UNFOLDING OF MINERAL WEALTH.

Georgetown, both dating from 1848,13 as did Spanish Dry Diggings.14 On the Middle Fork the develop- ments made in 1848 15 led to a series of camps along its entire length, from Beal Bar to the headwaters.16 It was esteemed the richest river for a regular yield in California, with more bars than any other, several of which were said to have produced from one to three millions each, and to have sustained themselves to some extent until recent times.17 Meanwhile hydrau-

13 The latter competing in 1854 for the county seat; a pretty spot; it con- tinued to thrive though ravaged more than once by fire. Greenwood, first called Long Valley, then Green Valley, and Lewisville, also aspired to the county seat. Near by were Hoggs diggings, Oregon canon, Hudson gulch, and Georgia slide or flat.

14 Called in 1849 Dutchtown, where quartz was found. Near by was Jones Hill. Little, Stat., MS., 8, says that from one to four ounces a day could readily be made here.

15 Notably at Michigan Bluff, which experienced its real 'rush'in 1850, and developed best under hydraulic operations after 1852. Rector Bar, Sailor's Claim, and Horseshoe Bar were long active.

16 Including Massachusetts Flat, Condemned Bar, Long, Doton, Horseshoe, Whiskey where the pioneer wire bridge opened in 1834, Rattlesnake which in 1853 took the lead, Lacey, Milkpunch, Deadman's, Granite, Manhattan, and other bars, up to the junction of South Fork. Then the bars of Oregon, Louisiana, New York, Murderer's, Wildcat, Willow, Hoosier, Green Moun- tain, Maine, Poverty, Spanish, Ford, at Otter Creek, Volcano, Sandy, Grey Eagle, Yankee Slide, Eureka, Boston, Horseshoe, Junction, Alabama-all on the south side of the middle fork. Along the north bank lay Vermont, Buckner, opposite Murderer's, Rocky Point, Mammoth, Texas, Quail, Brown, Kennebec, Buckeye, American, Sardine, Dutch, African, Drunkard's, Pleas- ant, and yet farther Greenhorn, Fisher, Menken Cut, Mud Canon, Niggers' Bluff, Missouri Cañon, and Grizzly Canon. In the summer of 1850 fully 1,500 men from Oregon were at work up the stream. Murderer's Bar, so named from the murder by Indians of five men in Ross' party, Ross, Narr., MS., 13-19, was remarkable for a very rich crevice, but so deep and dangerous to work that it has not yet been thoroughly exploited. In 1853 one of the largest and best river bars in the county was constructed here, although fluming had been done in 1849. It was a lively place during the entire decade. Placer Times, Apr. 23, May 19, June 2, July 20, Oct. 13, 27, Nov. 24, Dec. 15, 22, 1849; March 9, May 3, 8, 24, 1850; Sac. Transcript, Apr. 26, May 29, Aug. 30, Sept. 30, Nov. 29, 1850; Jan. 14, Feb. 1, 14, May 15, 1851; Woodward's Stat., MS., 5; Fowler's Dict., MS., 14 et seq .; S. F. Picayune, Sept. 11, 1850; Cal. Courier, July 18, Aug. 5, 1850, with allusion to hill tunnel; Pac. News, Jan. 10, Oct. 25, 1850. A rise in the river Aug .- Sept. 1850 caused great loss and delay. Placer Times and Trans., 1851-2, passim; Barstow's Stat., MS., 6-7, 14; Moore's Exper., MS., 6-7; Alta Cal., Ang. 2, 1849, etc.

17 Mud Cañon and American Bar are credited with $3,000,000 each; Horse- shoe Bend, Volcano Bar, Greenhorn Slide, and Yankee Slide, with sums ranging down to $1,000,000, and a number of others with several hundred thousand each. In El Dorado Co. Hist., 76, 85, the yield of the county is placed at $100,000,000. Sac. Union, Nov, 9, 18, 1854; Jan. 13, Feb. 19, 26, Mar. 23, Apr. 6, 12, 23, June 10, 20, 26, Oct. 23, 1855; Dec. 22, 1856; Alta Cal., July 30, Dec. 5, 1852; Nov. 25, 1855; Apr. 29, Oct. 14, Nov. 29, 1856; S. F. Bulletin, Dec. 3, 21, 1855; Mar. 3, Apr. 29, 1856, with allusions also to ditches.

355

BEAR RIVER.

lic and quartz mining stepped in to supply the defi- ciency, assisted by numerous ditch enterprises, which by the end of 1855 covered in El Dorado more than 600 miles, at a cost of $1,000,000.18

The narrow divide between the Middle and North forks was exceedingly rich, as shown by the number of important camps which sprang up, notably Yankee Jim's, Todd Valley, Wisconsin Hill, and Iowa Hill ; 19 and of this wealth the North Fork had an ample share, distributed along numerous bars,20 with many fine nuggets.21 One of the most famous diggings here was opened in 1848 round Auburn,22 which throve so well as to secure in due time the county seat. On the adjoining Bear River, Dutch Flat became the

18 In Cal. Jour. Ass., 1856, 26, are given 20 ditches of 610 miles, valued at $935,000. A later version increases the mileage to 800 and the value to $1,400,000, pertaining to 16 leading canals, the main trunk of which measured 475 miles. Of quartz-mills, to be treated in vol. vii., there were then 7 crushing 56 tons daily. The history of the chief canals is given in El Dorado Co. Hist., 104 et seq. Near Placerville was a ridge of quartz. Sac. Union, Mar. 13, 1855; S. F. Bulletin, Jan. 19, 1836; instance rock yielding $225 per ton. 19 The first two dating from 1849. Near Yankee Jim's, long a leading town of Placer county, rose Georgia Hill, which proved one of the richest surface diggings. Here abutted also Shirt-tail, Brushy, and Devil's cañons. Bird's store, El Dorado, and Antoine canons above Michigan Bluffs, worked since 1850, when Bath, of many other names, came into prominence, to be eclipsed soon after by the contemporary Forest Hill. Not far off lay Bogus Thunder, Damascus or Strong Diggings, Deadwood, which belied its name only between 1852-5, Humbug Canon, Euchre Bar, the rich Grizzly Flat. Iowa Hill yielded $100,000 weekly in 1856 from its hydraulic mines, and continued to prosper. Its yield for thirty years was placed at $20,000,000.

25 Such as Kelly, Barnes-discovered by Barnes, Or. and Cal., MS., 14-18, early in 1849-Smith, Spanish, and Oregon Gulch, the last spoken of by Thompson. Stat., MS., 21-6; Crosby, Stat., MS., 19-20; Moore, Exper., MS., 7-8; Placer Times, May 26, July 25, Dec. 15, 1849; S. F. Picayune, Sept. 11, 1850; Alta Cal., Aug. 2, 1849; Directory Placer Co., 1861, 13, etc. Among other bars were Calf, Rich, Jones, Mineral, Pickering, and the noted Mormon Bar.

21 In 1849 two nuggets of 40 ounces and 25 pounds respectively were re- ported. Placer Times, June 23, 1849. Two weighing 25 lbs. and 16 lbs. Sac. Transcript, Apr. 26, 1850.

22 By Claude Charnay and party near Ophir. It was first called North Fork Dry Diggings, and in 1849 Auburn. Ophir, first called Spanish Corral, was in 1852 the largest place in Placer county, quartz veins and fruit-growing tending to avert any serious decline, and to keep it above its former rival, Frytown, which died after contributing to raise Auburn to the summit. The story is told that some of the richest ground was found beneath House's hotel, and so enabling him to devote his leisure moments to digging under cover, and earning about $100 a day. A $4,000 nugget was reported. Ala- meda Co. Gaz., Apr. 19, 1873; June 19, 1875; Sac. Transcript, May 29, 1850; Armstrong's Exper., MS., 13-14.

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UNFOLDING OF MINERAL WEALTH.

leading place.23 The several streams running in close proximity were a welcome source for the many ditch enterprises required for hydraulic and tunnel mining, which here predominated, gravel beds of 100 feet in depth being abundant from Todd Valley north-west- ward.24

Nevada stands forward preëminently a mining county, with placers as rich as any along the branches of the Yuba, followed by extensive gravel deposits through the central and eastern parts, where runs the famous Blue Lead, and finally by wide quartz belts. The lodes did not prove very heavy, and the veins averaged only two feet in width, but the ore was of a high grade, very tractable, and mostly asso- ciated with sulphurets. 25 The first recognized discov- ery of auriferous ore was made in June 1850 at Grass Valley, which, by opening the first mill, became the initial point in California for a new era in mining. An excitement soon set in, and machinery was intro- duced by different parties; but owing to inexperience and imperfect methods, the cost of reduction ranged so high as to absorb rich yields, and spread general discouragement. A few rich mines alone managed to sustain themselves, and their improvements, by which

23 Mining was done in June 1848 at Steep Hollow. In 1849 a number of bars were opened, and Alder Grove or Upper Corral, near Colfax, and Illinois- town attracted a large influx. Placer Times, May 17, 1850, dilates upon the yield of Gold Run.

24 In 1855 there were 29 canals 480 miles long in Placer county, valued at $649,000, yet costing much more. Cal. Ass. Jour., 1856, 26. The tunnels at Michigan Flat were estimated to be 28 miles in length, costing $1,330,000. There were in 1856 only four quartz-mills in the county. The total produc- tion for 1856 was placed at $6,000,000. County surveyor's report. S. F. Bul- letin, Dec. 10, 1856; Aug. 3, 1857. The largest canal belonged to the Auburn and Bear River W. Co., with main line of 50 miles and 150 miles of branches. A short railroad was built in 1853 from Auburn to Virginia Hill, but a ditch soon replaced it. Placer Co. Hist., 271, 224. For early mining operations in this county, see, further, Placer Times, May 12, June 30, 1849; Jan. 26, 1850; Nov. 15, 1851; S. F. Picayune, Sept. 11, 27, 1850; Sac. Transcript, Apr. 26, June 29, Aug. 30, Oct. 15, 1850; June 1, 15, 1851; Cal. Courier, July 15, Sept. 27, 1850; Pac. News, May 17, Dec. 22, 1850; Fay's Stat., MS., 11-13. Concerning later progress and excitements, see Sac. Union, 1854-6; Alta Cal., 1852-6, passim.

25 The auriferous belt turns here and runs more directly north and south. In the south-western part of the county the limestone belt is conspicuous

357

YUBA RIVER.

the cost of extracting and reducing was lowered, gradually regained confidence, so that by 1856 three quarters of a million of dollars had been invested in this branch, employing 500 men, with the prospect of rapid increase. Nevada City was the chief participant with Grass Valley in the threefold development of placer, gravel, and quartz resources, which secured for her the dignity of county seat. Few places were so favored, and the most of these had but a temporary success as camps, a few alone surviving till late days, chiefly as agricultural centres. They sprang up along the south and middle Yuba, the upper part of Bear River, and in the ravines and flats of the intervening divides, some yielding large sums, Rush Creek being credited with three millions, Poorman's Creek with one million, and Grass Valley four millions within six years from her placers, her total production for four- teen years being about twenty-four millions. The broad gravel belts of the central and northern parts of the county helped, not alone in swelling the an- nual total, but in promoting the construction of a vast water system, which in 1856 embraced 100 ditches and canals, 800 miles in length, one of 16 miles costing $350,000, while others, in favorable ground, had in- volved an expense as low as $200. These belts thus developed likewise gave to Nevada the credit of per- fecting and introducing such mining appliances as the tom, sluice, and hydraulic methods.26

26 The miners who wintered on the Yuba in 1848-9 made several new de- velopments which were amplified by the fast inflowing gold-seekers. Rough and Ready sprang up rapidly as a mining centre, casting in 1850 nearly 1,000 votes; but after this decade it declined. Near by were Randolph, Butte, Rich, and Texas flats, and Squirrel Creek. In 1851 the Kentucky Ridge quartz ledge was opened. In the following decade a brief excitement in cop- per mines gave rise to several settlements, of which Spenceville alone proved a feeble survival. Eastward, past Newtown, or Sailor Flat, and along Wolf Creek, miners drifted into the renowned Grass Valley, where D. Stump and two other Oregonians had found gold in 1848. Boston Ravine became the starting-point for the several placers here, which, within six years, yielded nearly $4,000,000, and led to the discovery of gold quartz at Gold Hill, in June 1850. Little attention was paid to it till October, when one Mcknight opened a rich vein two feet wide, and created a furore for all claims in every direc- tion. Round Grass Valley were located, within a few months, a number of other hills, as Massachusetts, the second in order of discovery, Ophir, Osborn,

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UNFOLDING OF MINERAL WEALTH.

Mining in Yuba county has been restricted to the north-eastern part, and to bar and gravel claims; for

Lafayette, and Eureka, which latter failed to pay for several years, till a rich ledge was struck; the Allison, one of the richest in the world, opened in 1853 by following a placer vein; but owing to the disrepute then cast upon quartz mining from the ill success of inexperienced men, the ledge was long ne- glected. A few mines did well, however, and the occasional finds of rich quartz chunks by diggers, as at Coyote, Sac. Transcript, Sept. 30, 1850, tended to revive confidence. Similar were the experience and condition of Nevada City, which had an earlier start, and was in March 1850 organized as a town, and subsequently as a city, with the dignity of county seat. All around rose flourishing camps, especially along Deer and Brush creeks, the latter yielding within a few years some $3,000,000. There were the hills of Selby, Phelps, Oregon, Coyote, Lost, Wet, and American, the latter famous as the scene of Matteson's first hydraulic venture; the flats known as Gold, Thomas, and Selby; the rich Gold Run where claims sold in April 1850 at from $5,000 to $18,000; Gold Tunnel sold in March 1831 for $130,000-Alta Cal., March 28, 1851; Sac. Transcript, Apr. 26, 1850; S. F. Picayune, Sept. 14, 1830-Beckville, and Coyoteville, so named from its peculiar coyote min- ing. Its lead is said to have yielded SS,000,000. In Oct. 1850 the quartz excitement led also here to the opening of several promising ledges. Three men bought quartz claims for a trifle, and by employing men to break the rock with hammers, and picking out the goll, they netted $20,000 in ten days. One piece of 25 lbs. yiel led $200. Sac. Transcript, Feb. 20, 1851. There were then three companies at Nevada operating quartz machinery; one six- horse machine crushed ten tons daily. At Grass Valley the pound of rock produced from 10 to 30 cents. Id., Feb. 1, 14, 28, March 14, 1851; Placer Times, Oct. 26, 1831, contains a list of quartz-mills; Simonin, l'ir Souter., 419. According to the Nevada Democ., the capital invested in quartz mines and machinery in the county in 1856 exceeded three quarters of a million, giving employment to 500 men. The cost of crushing was about $12 per ton. The Grass Val. Intelligencer reduced this to $IO per ton for many mills, or nearly double when custom mills were used, raising and hauling included. S. F. Bulletin, Nov. 29, 1856. Of the Grass Valley mills five were reducing ore yielding not less than $60 per ton, some exceeding $100 per ton, and Allison reaching $300. Alta Cal., Dec. 5, 1856, et seq. East of Nevada City lay a broad belt of gravel which extended from the Middle Yuba to Bear River and beyond, expanding iu Little York township into several eastern branches. Placer mining had here spread from Scott Ravine-though Union Bar and Nigger Ravine were the initial mining points-to Little York, which, in 1832, rose to a stanch town on the strength of the gravel discoveries; so did Red Dog, which after 1836 moved almost entirely to You Bet, dating from 1857. It also absorbed Walloupa without gaining any permanent strength. In the adjoining Washington township, Alpha and Omega marked two min- ing centres, dating one year subsequent to Indiana Camp, or Washington, of 1349, on the south Yuba, which in 1850-1 had 3,000 miners in the vicinity. Along the South Yuba, in this region, were the bars, Canal, Long, Keno, Jimmy Brown, Boulder, later Rocky, Grissell, and Brass Wire; the flats, Whiskey, Brandy, Jackass, Lizard, and Virgin. Jefferson, or Greenwood, was a lively place; likewise Gold Hill. Poorman's Creek is supposed to have yiel led a million. Crosby's Stat., MS., 21-2. On the divide toward the Mid- dle Yuba, Eureka South was opened in 1850 to become a bustling town for half a dozen years; in 1866 quartz discovery revived it in a certain measure Lower were Orleans, Woolsey, and Moore flats, which rose in close rivalry in 1851, the first leading a while, but declining with the second, and leaving Moore's alone a thriving town. Like them, North Bloomfield, Lake City. Columbia Hill, or North Columbia, and Relief, or Grizzly Hill, owed their existence from 1831-3 to the gravel belts, of which a branch entered Bridge-

359

THE GRAVEL BELTS.

quartz, while freely scattered, has proved unprofitable in almost every instance. Among river bars the rich- est were found on the main Yuba, near the end of the auriferous line, as at Long, Rose, and notably Parks, the first of long duration and the last productive of several rapidly acquired fortunes. These deposits were drawn by the river from the ancient blue lead a short distance above. The gravel belts here, although of comparatively small extent, have been very remu- nerative, particularly at Sicard Flat, between Timbuc- too and Mooney Flat, and between Camptonville and Oak Valley, their wealth causing the construction by 1855 of a score of ditches about 360 miles in length.27

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History of California, Volume VI, Part 39

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885-1890 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 816

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 816