USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 53
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DREDGING THE RIVER.
The American River Dredging Company was an enterprise organized in 1878 by Boston capitalists to work the Big Crevice Claim and the locality
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HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
known as Brown's Cut, between Kennebec and Murderer's Bars, on the Middle Fork of the Ameri- can, whence millions of dollars had been taken and the bottom not yet reached. A dredging machine was tried, consisting of an iron tube forced by steam power into the sand or gravel, the air exhausted from the tube which filled with the auriferous mat- ter, and was then raised and swung over a sluice and discharged. This was assumed to have a capacity of taking ont one thousand tons of matter in twenty- four hours, but a miscalculation of the power re- quired to perform the work caused a failure of the apparatus.
THE ST. PATRICK MINE.
The St. Patrick Mine was purchased by Mr. Eaton in 1869, and worked by him in a small way with vary- ing success until sold to Messrs. W. H. V. Cronise, Capt. S. Lee and Melville Atwood, formerly of Grass Valley, in 1870, for the sum of $46,000, who trans- ferred it to a San Francisco Company. The San Francisco organization proceeded with its develop- ment with much energy, and produced a large amount of bullion. In 1871 this company erected a fifteen-stamp mill, combining all the most complete apparatus used in the improved methods of benefici- ating ores. The mining property comprised 18.000 feet of quartz veins, including fourteen different mines, purchased in addition to the St. Patrick, and the stock of the corporation was divided into 5,000 shares. Col. James H. Crossman was Superintendent in 1872 and '73. The success of the mining opera- tions was more apparent in the stock-boards at San Francisco, than in dividends to stockholders, the stock selling in May, 1871, at 851.00, in January, 1872, 846.00, and in August, 1873, at 82.50 per share. The assessments in 1873 had aggregated $110,000, and no dividends were ever paid. The Superintendent's report for the year ending July 1, 1873, says he had worked 3,000 tons of ore in the company's mill of fifteen stamps; average yield $20.00 per ton; total bul- lion produet $60,000, cost of milling, $2.68 per ton; miner's wages, $3.00 per day; number of miners em- ployed twelve. Total disbursements, $84,332; receipts from ore crushed, $60,000; two assessments, $20,000: other sources, $4,332. The largest item was for labor at mine and mill, amounting to 843,722; for salaries, 83,600; mine and mill supplies and repairs. $19,540; purchase of mine property, $6,000; inci- dentals, $9,946.
The St. Patrick Mines are located about three miles west of Auburn, in the Ophir Distriet.
THE GREENE MINE.
In 1870, Mr. William G. Greene discovered Nome very rich ore in a vein about half a mile east of the St. Patrick. This vein he located and developed, and obtained a large amount of gold. by working the rock in a hand mortar. In 1871, he erected a mill of four stamps, and proceeded to crush the ore. The commissioner of mining statistics, in his report in 1873, says of this :-
The Greene Mine has a length of 1,132 feet, the ledge running east and west, and dipping south. (The ledges generally run north and south.)
The improvements consist of fine hoisting-works, run by a 30-horse-power engine; the pumps (Cor- nish), are run by a 40-horse-power engine. The company also owns a mill, run by water power, and used principally for reducing specimen rock. It contains four stamps, and two Hepburn pans. The ledge is a little over two feet thick, and the rock from the 240-foot level, will, it is thought, yield over $100 per ton. There has been, in all, more than 500 tons of rock crushed from this mine, the average yield of which has been about $100 per ton. Most of it was taken from and above the 125-foot level. In sinking the shaft from that level to its present depth, the rock has maintained its almost unsur- passed richness. This mine has never levied an assessment, having paid its way from the croppings down.
The remarkable body of ore continued to a depth of over 500 feet, and yielded, in 1871-73, 8150,000, realizing a fortune for Mr. Greene, its discoverer and principal owner.
RISING SUN MINE.
Gold-bearing rock was first discovered near Colfax, in March, 1866, which, proving to be rich, created quite an excitement, and the ledge was named the " Rising Sun." In Angust, following, a working test of the rock was made at Grass Valley, in Nevada County, proving it to be worth between $27.00 and $28.00 per ton. This was sufficiently encouraging to justify the organization of a com- pany, and the construction of a mill. After an expenditure of over $60,000 in developing the mine, erecting hoisting-works, mill, etc., the mine became a source of profit to the owners, and so continued paying dividends for many years. The gold is of a pure quality, superior to that found in Auburn and Ophir Districts, being worth $18.50 per ounce. The vein is four feet in thickness, and the company's claim extends 3,000 feet. The mill, built in 1869, had five stamps of 800 pounds each, run by steam power, and was capable of reducing ten tons per day. The mill was subsequently increased to ten stamps, and, in 1881, to twenty stamps, and con- tinues a paying mine, according to its latest reports, in November, 1881.
THE PARAGON MINE.
Among the many mines of the "Divide " that have become celebrated for their great wealth, and the fortunes they have yielded to their owners. is the Paragon, of Bath, owned by Abraham Breece and Judson Wheeler, cr, as commonly expressed, Breece & Wheeler. As it is a Paragon in name, so it is a paragon of mines, admitting of no superior. This has been worked many years, but in a quiet manner, its owners contenting themselves with reap. ing their golden harvests, rather than making an ostentatious show of their wealth to the world. The mine has been worked for more than twenty years, being first opened by a tunnel, which extended
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MINING LAWS.
three-fourths of a mile into the mountain, under a superincumbent mass of gravel, 450 feet in depth. In 1870, a shaft was raised and sunk through the overlying earth, for the purpose of ventilation, strik- ing the underground workings at a point 3,500 feet from the mouth of the working tunnel. This incom- parable mine has continued its even tenor through all its years of working, quietly. " drifting " its life away. The latest reports, closing the year 1881, are about the same as those of nearly every month of every year, showing a product of about $13,000 a month, a great portion of which is profit, as only a few men are employed in the mine.
ABRAHAM BREECE
Was born at Leesburgh, Loudoun County, Virginia, February 12, 1825. At the age of twelve years he removed with his parents to Knox County, Ohio, where he remained until he reached his majority. His early years were passed in school, until the proper time arrived for him to decide upon what trade he should learn. He was apprenticed to a tailor, and before reaching his twenty-first year had thoroughly mastered his trade. In 1846 he went to Cincinnati, and for one year followed the business. The next year was passed in like manner at Madison, Indiana, and then he settled in Law- renceburgh, in the same State, and remained six years. While in the latter place he formed a part- nership with James McCormick, and they carried on an extensive business as merchant tailors.
In 1852 Mr. Breece came to California, by way of the plains, and settled at Hangtown (Placerville), El Dorado County, arriving at the latter place on the 4th of August, that year. During the succeed- ing four years he was engaged in mining at differ- ent points in the county, and in 1857 came to Placer County, locating at Forest Hill. He has since that time resided permanently at the latter place. His years of experience in the mines places him in the front rank as a practical miner. fle is at present largely interested in the Paragon Mine, owned by Breece & Wheeler, which is a valuable one, and has yielded large returns to its owners.
Mr. Breece was married to Miss Margaret Bowen, a native of Wales, on the 9th day of August, 1866. After many years enjoying the profits of the Par- agon Mine, he is well situated to most happily pass the remainder of his life in the ease and comfort of a well-spent manhood.
THE BANKER MINE.
The mining peeple of California were aroused to quite an excitement in 1866 by the frequent and sensational reports of the extraordinary character and yield of the Banker Mine, known commonly as the Harpending Mine, but incorporated under the name of "Gold Quartz Company." This prop- erty was situated at Whiskey Diggings, on the Bald Hill Range, about four miles from the village of Lin-
coln. The meteorie career of the owner, Mr. Asbury Harpending, who had figured as a would-be pirate, rebel and filibuster in the time of the Rebellion, the energy with which he worked and puffed up his mine, and the great price he obtained for it, added more to the interest of the story than the wealth of the property or its product of gold. The success- ful manipulation and sale of the mine are among the brilliant exploits of this gentleman, whose last Cali- fornia operation was in connection with the great " diamond fraud " of 1872.
The Banker Mine was described in the San Fran- cisio Miner, of May, 1866, as probably the richest ever discovered in the State, differing from any other gold mine known; saying: " The gold is not found in quartz or gravel, as is usually the case, but is disseminated through an entire mountain of ochery clay, through which run veins of red oxide of eop- per, mundic, variously colored seams of carbonate of magnesia, and other minerals, all of which contain valuable proportions of free gold. So unusual is such a formation as a deposit of gold that the miners who worked for years in the rich gulches on each side of this extraordinary hill actually sunk several shafts on it, through ore which yields $20.00 to $100 per ton, looking for quartz, without suspect- ing that they were throwing away their fortunes.
"The owner of the mine has been working it with Chinamen, crushing the dirt in a mill and sluicing it away after extracting $6.00 or $7.00 per ton from it, considering that he was doing a good business when a couple of Chinamen, with a five- stamp mill, crushed forty tons per day. Recently, however, suspecting that he did not get all the gold out of the dirt, he tried several tons of it in one Banx pan, and found it to yield 836.00 per ton, and now he is having a dozen of these pans put up. With sufficient mill accommodation, ten men could take out $1,000 per day from this extraordinary claim, which gives indications of also containing one of the most extensive copper veins in the State. The ledge on this mine is some 200 feet in width, and has been traced 1,000 feet. The entire ledge, including the vein of copper ore, is worked for gold and pays well." In December, 1865, Mr. Harpending is reported to have cleaned up thirty-five pounds of hard amalgam from a run of four days.
This was a very encouraging account of an extra- ordinary deposit of gold, and naturally attracted much attention. On the 18th of August, 1866, the Placer Herald published the following: " Within the past weck an important sale of mining ground has been made by Treadwell, Harpending & Co., owners of the celebrated Banker Mine (formerly the Crosby & Baker claim), at Whiskey Diggings, four miles north of Lincoln, in this county. They have sold one-half of their ground for $175,000 to parties in San Francisco, Messrs. Geo. D. Roberts, Melville Atwood, Ogden Hoffman, Archibald C. Peachy, and Edmund Wertheman, who will immediately put in
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HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
operation a twenty-stamp mill. This claim, in the character of the earth, ehalk, rock, or whatever it may be termed that carries the gold, is. perhaps. an exception to any other in the State. The gold bearing matter is a conglomeration of indurated earth and siliceous chalk. generally very friable and easily crushed with the hand. This mass crops out on a bill, or mound, and is about 150 feet in width. It is said it is raised from the mine and reduced at a eost not exeeeding $1.00 per ton."
The great quantity of ore, and the product reported, was very encouraging to miners, who opened other deposits in the vicinity, and quite a village grew into existence. "Valley View" was the name of this hamlet, and in March, 1867, it was reported as containing thirty houses, with aspirations of equal- ing the great quartz mining town of Grass Valley, in Nevada County.
In December, 1866. the other half of the Banker Mine was sold by Mr. Harpending for the sum of $225,000, making, for the whole, $450,000.
In 1867 a forty-stamp mill was constructed. which crushed 200 tons daily, the labor being chiefly done by Chinese. The entire cost of mining and milling was reported as within 81.00 per ton.
Professor Silliman, in a paper on this deposit, referring also to a similar formation at Quail Hill, in Calaveras County, says :-
Accompanying the entire mass of decomposition. at both localities, occur both gold and silver, dissem- inated with remarkable uniformity in all parts of the ore ground. At Whiskey Ilill films of metallic silver are visible upon the talcose masses, stained green by malachite or chrysocolla. The gold is rarely seen in situ, being mostly obscured by the very rusty and highly stained character of the associated materials. But it is rare, that, on washing a small quantity of any of the contents of these great deposits gold is not found in angular grains or small ragged masses, from the size of a few grains' weight to impalpable dust. Nuggets of several pennyweights occur occasionally. This gold has evidently aecom- panied the sulphurets and been left in its original position and condition by their decomposition. There can be little doubt that the gold of the gulches adjoining these deposits has been derived from them. At Whiskey IFill, the gulch gold eeases to be found as soon as the limits of this deposit are passed, and the same is true of Quail HFill. The occurrence of depos- its of this nature throughont the range of the foot- bills seems to offer the best solution which has sug- gested itself of the origin of the placer gold, which is found in situations so far removed from the gold- belt of the upper Sierra, and away from sources usually recognized as those to which placer gold may be referred. * * * * * *
The chemical results of the extensive decomposi- tion of metallic sulphides which has in former times occurred at these localities offer an interesting prob- lem in chemical geology. The sulphur has been removed chiefly as sulphurie acid, beyond doubt. which has combined with iron and copper to form sulphates of those metals. These have, for the most part, disappeared, being washed out by the atmos- pherie waters, and have followed the drainage of the country. At Whiskey Hill I found the sulphate of
iron (eoquimbite), sulphate of copper (cyanosite), and alum. The water of the shaft contains copper * enough to redden the iron tools. * *
From all the evidence presented, we seem justified in regarding these remarkable metallie deposits as segregated veins, holding a pretty uniform and high tenor of gold and silver, associated with and derived from the decomposition of extended masses of metal- lic sulphurets and quartzose matter, and carrying, at times, ores of copper, the commercial value of which is, however, entirely subordinated to that of the pre- eious metals, which are found to characterize these veins or ore channels.
THE FOREST HILL DIVIDE.
The following particulars of the claim belonging to the Blue Gravel Range Company is from a corres- pondence in the Mining and Scientific Press, of San Francisco, in May 18, 1878 :-
" This being one of the most promising and access- ible localities of the kind yet fixed upon for explor- ation, a description of it will convey a tolerably good idea of all the others.
"The property of this company, which embraces an area of nearly 1,000 aeres, is situated on the For- est Hill Divide, in the neighborhood of Todd's Val. ley, being about eighteen miles from Auburn Station, on the Central Pacific Railroad. It lies on the south- erly slope of the ridge overlooking the Middle Fork of the American River, which runs in a narrow gorge more than 1,000 feet below. Centrally through this traet passes one of the ancient gold-bearing ehan- nels, buried here to a depth of about 130 feet. Por- tions of the ground in this vicinity were at one time covered with rich surface placers, fragments of which still remain. There are also within the boundaries of the company's tract extensive tracts of auriferous gravel, some of which might be washed toadvantage by the hydraulie method, and will most likely some day be so handled. The deposits resting in the beds of the buried river constitute here, however, the feature of peculiar interest and greatest valne, these being also the most easily available for productive operations.
" As the section of the old channel owned by the company covers a linear extent of nearly 10,000 feet, having an average width of about 16,000 feet on the surface, they are supposed to have something like five or six million cubie yards of rich bottom gravel, which, according to all precedent, will yield at least $1.00 per yard, the average elsewhere having been much higher. There are two main channels bearing south- east across the country here-the one coming in by Forest Hill and Todd's Valley, and the other from Yankee Jim's, both distinguished for the large quan- tities of gold that have been extracted from them. first by drifting, and afterwards by the hydraulie process. The group of claims worked along the Forest Hill branch have yielded as much gold, for the area of ground worked, as any other in Califor- nia, the following being the product of some of the more noted of the number :-
RESIDENCE OF MRS.A.E.A. GARDNER. DUTCH FLAT PLACER COUNTY, CAL.
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MINING LAWS.
" The Independence, $450,000; New Jersey, $850- 000; Deidesheimer, $650,000; the Jenny Lind, $1,100,- 000-mostly from the upper and poorer red gravel; the area of ground worked over in these several claims not having exceed more than four or five acres.
" A short distance above this claim these two channels come together, the united channel thence pursuing its course through their ground to its lower end, where the old river-bed finally disappears, having been eroded and swept away by the North Fork of the American. That this section of the channel, so deepened and angmented, is well stocked with gold, would be fairly deducible from its ascer- tained character above, had not this fact been established by actual workings and experimental tests. The Spring Garden claim adjoining this on the north, has been opened and shown itself prolific in gold.
"The shaft put down by this company at a central point on their own ground, had also reached good gravel at the time the water broke in upon them, stopping further operations. The fertility of the channel here has, in fact, never been with the owners, mostly poor men, a question of such serious import as that of commanding the means for properly opening it. They know, as a matter of fact, that they have a section of the old Pliocene River here, and they know inferentially that it is rich in gold, but they have never been able to get it so thoroughly opened that they could reach and remove its contents. Even in the flush times this was looked upon as a favorable site for a prospecting operation. As early as 1857, a company of miners started a tunnel from the bank of the North Fork. with a view to developing the lower end of this channel. Having been disrupted by the Frazer River excitement, this company scattered the next year and never re-assembled, nor, so far as known, has any of them come back to prosecute the work or assert any claim to the ground, which has now for a period of nearly twenty years been in the peaceful possession of the present company. After sinking a shaft to the depth of nearly 100 feet at the point mentioned, and being then prevented from going on, by an influx of water too great for them to handle with their inadequate pumping apparatus, this company drove a tunnel from the lower end of their claim. After getting in several hundred feet they found the bed-rock pitching before them, show- ing that they were too high to bottom the channel. The tunnel was then carried down with the incline of the bed-rock, and a steam pump rigged for hoist- ing the water.
"But the machinery here again proved insufficient, forcing the company to once more suspend opera- tions. This occurred several years ago, and, as the limited means of the company were by these efforts exhausted, nothing further has sinee been done towards the development of this property."
MINING AT DUTCH FLAT.
The two localities of Dutch Flat and Gold Run are distinguished for the extent and value of their hydraulic mines, a more extended reference to which will be given in the history of those towns. As a description of one of the mining properties-all having a general similarity the following is given, copied from the Placer Herald of April 9, 1881:
CEDAR CREEK MINING COMPANY.
" The extensive mining property of the old Cedar Creek Company near Dutch Flat, which, owing to certain complications, han lain idle for about three years, has at last fallen into the bands of J. P. Hickey, of San Francisco, whose intention it is, we under- stand, to work it extensively and systematically. Mr. Hickey, while giving much of his time to the general supervision of affairs, has secured the services of John Simons, who, besides being familiar with the grounds, is one of the best hydraulie miners in the State, and placed him in charge as foreman. The property embraces what are known as the Yankee Claim, the Potosi, Whynot, Badger, Baker, Wisconsin, New York and Wisconsin, Michigan, Deep Shaft, Somersett, Waukegan, Cañon, Enter- prise, one-fourth of the Iowa, etc., all forming one continuous body of gravel some 3.000 or 4,000 feet in extent, on the main bine channel that crosses near Dutch Flat. They commenced last fall the work of refitting for washing, which, considering the shattered condition of the property, the natural result of three years neglect, was no small under- taking. By dint of hard work and the aid of a large force, however, they succeeded in getting the water on early in January, and have already made one successful clean up, and are well commenced on the second run.
"They were washing on what is known as the Baker ground, and have this claim fitted up in good condi- tion. They have four giants, but only use two at a time. The double member prevents any delays from changes, as when it is necessary to move a giant, the water is turned off that one, and on to another already in position and the work goes steadily on. Through two nozzles five and one-half or six inches in diameter, they nse 1,600 inches of water under a pressure of 500 feet. The old Cedar Creek ditch which has a capacity of 5,000 inches, is owned by Mr. Hickey, being included in the purchase of this property. The pipe for conducting the water to the Baker is over a mile long. It is thirty-six inches in diameter at the head, and tapers toward the claim to fifteen inches. The surplus water in the ditch is disposed of by Mr. Hickey. in supplying several other claims. They have on the claim a most exeel- lent derrick, run by a hurdy-gurdy wheel, which is driven by water from their main pipe for hoisting out of the claim such bowlders as are too large to go through their sluices. They are washing through the old bed-rock tunnel which was cut by the Old
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HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Cedar Creek Company, some 2,200 feet from Bear River in under the channel. By the aid of this tunnel they are enabled to wash the bed-rock, which for an outlet has not been done heretofore in any of the many claims in that district, (unless we except the Polar Star claim which has a different outlet.) An excellent sluice is constructed all the way through this tunnel, the head of which is riffled with railroad iron and the lower portion with blocks. The whole body of gravel included in this property can be washed off to the bed-rock through this tunnel, and when we consider the immensity of the deposits, embraced in the lower strata, not only of these claims but of all the country round about, and reflect that it is richer than that taken in past years from the surface, we can well realize the force of the expression that hydraulic mining is yet in its infancy. In addition to his operations in the Baker claim, where some thirty or forty men are employed, who, we are pleased to say are all white, Mr. Hickey also has a forec engaged in sluicing on an extensive scale, the heavy deposits of tailings out of Dutch Flat Cañon. Different claims have dumped into this canon for over a quarter of a century, and by driving the tailings down with a heavy stream of water, and cleaning up the bed-rock, it is only reasonable that he should expect to find a large quantity of gold. For this purpose some 2,800 inches of water are turned into the cañon every night, when it can be spared from the other claims. Mr. Hickey expects to greatly improve and increase his facilities by another year, and we think it can be safely said that his operations, present and prospective, on this ground that has for some years been so managed as to be rather a drawback than a benefit to the com- munity, taken in connection with the activity dis- played in other directions in the district, gives a brighter outlook to the future of Dutch Flat than it has enjoyed for a long time. Of course the shadow of the debris agitation clouds their otherwise very bright horizon a little, though not to an extent calculated to cause that degree of alarm which shakes the confidence of determined men."
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