Nevada County CA Archives History - Books .....Mines And Mining 1867
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Book Title: Bean’s History And Directory Of Nevada County, California

THE MINES AND THEIR PRODUCT.

  It is an easy matter, comparatively, to obtain the statistics of mines at
present worked in the county. The curious will find much valuable information in
this respect in other parts of this volume. But, to go back and gather up the
facts in relation to the product of the mines now exhausted; to obtain even the
names of the ravines, river-bars, gulches, hills, etc., from which thousands
have been enriched; to approximate the amounts of gold that have been extracted
in all the various localities of the county, is too laborious a work for a
volume of this character, if it were practicable.

  The mines of Nevada were, when first discovered, exceedingly rich and easy of
development. The first claims were on river-bars or in ravines, where men with a
common rocker, without more than from a few hours to a day or two of preparation
could proceed to collect from, a half ounce to two ounces per day, and in
frequent cases hundreds of dollars per day to the man were extracted. Men in a
few weeks were known to return to the Eastern States carrying from, ten to
fifty, and as high as a hundred and sixty pounds of gold dust each, as a reward
for their enterprise. Gold Run, near Nevada City, and Gold Flat, were
extraordinarily rich. They must have been so, for the claims allowed by the
early mining laws were small, fifteen feet in length, and yet some of the
reported results of single claims are scarcely credible. The ravines falling
into Deer Creek on the site of the present City of Nevada, were also rich beyond
precedent. Deer Creek, below the town, afforded splendid claims. Selby Flat was
another magnificent locality for miners, and Brush and Rock creeks also. Wood's
Ravine yielded immensely. The mines about Newtown, for a time, were extremely
profitable. The region, about Grass Valley was one of enormous product. The
ravines of Rough and Beady could scarcely be excelled, yielding gold, it is
said, by the pound daily. The bars of the South and Middle Yubas were splendid
ground for the early miners. The ravines about French Corral yielded
magnificently. Shady Creek and other localities in Bridgeport Township, were
excellent, and good mines were worked at Humbug and Eureka. Some fine claims
were worked on Greenhorn Creek, by emigrants in 1849.

  But the discovery of the ancient river bed near Nevada opened a new class of
mines, that required a large outlay and more risk to work than the river or
ravine claims that engaged the attention of the pioneer miners. These ancient
gravel drifts were soon found in many parts of the county, and from these the
bulk of the gold has been extracted. We have no means of knowing the amount
taken from the "Coyote diggings," above Nevada, but from the fact that all the
gravel hills were rich, and the Live Oak and Nebraska claims, the last ones
worked on the northern end of the range, yielded, probably, a million and a
quarter dollars, it is presumed that not less than eight or ten millions were
extracted, in half a mile on the lead. The sums taken from the gravel range
extending from North San Juan down to French Corral must have been immense. At
Grass Valley a very large amount was obtained from the same class of mines.
Randolph Flat, in Rough and Heady, yielded handsomely. Orleans, Moore's and
Woolsey's Flats, in Eureka township, have been nearly washed away, and immense
sums taken. Alpha and Omega, Quaker Hill, Hunt's Hill, Little York, and many
other places, have yielded their share to reward the miners, It is variously
estimated that the basin in which Nevada is situated, has produced from fifteen
to thirty millions in gold, and by some the whole gold product of the county is
placed at not less than seventy-five millions of dollars. I am disposed to
believe that a higher figure is warranted; but at this time the facts cannot be
obtained and statements in regard to the question must be based on conjecture
only. One assertion we may safely venture, that no part of California, or the
world, has produced a richer auriferous section than Nevada county.

  The ancient river beds of the section are not yet exhausted. Indeed, the
gravel deposits are as yet comparatively un worked. Gold is still obtained in
ravines and on river bars that have been worked over repeatedly, the decrease in
wages and improved modes of mining enabling miners to obtain compensation for
their labor. But, the reliance of the miners is on the old drifts of gravel and
quartz for gold. The latter source is almost unlimited, gold-bearing rock being
found in several distinct districts in the county. Formerly Grass Valley came
near reckoning quartz mining as an industrial interest peculiarly her own. Now,
Nevada has a few quartz mills, Eureka is fast developing into an excellent
locality for rock mining, and Meadow Lake promises, from its large and numerous
ledges, to become the chief quartz-crushing district in the county, if not the '
State. The spirit of enterprise and discovery is so active, that no danger is
apprehended that Nevada county will lose any of its character as the first gold
producing section on the coast.

  The mines of our county yield, in combination with gold, a small quantity of
silver. Some excitement was manifested in the Summer of 1866 by the discovery of
copper mines on the Greenhorn creek, near Bear river. Some very rich specimens
were exhibited, taken from the cupriferous ledges, and strong hopes are
entertained that mines of copper will be opened in that section which will prove
valuable.

  A belt of copper bearing rock crosses the county through Rough and Ready
township, in which various efforts have been made to open remunerative mines,
but, since the active year for prospecting for copper, 1863, the hopes of those
who had an interest in the enterprise have been depressed. The "Well Mine"
developed a solid mass of sulphurets full fifty feet thick, inclosed in
metamorphic slate. A portion of the ore was shipped to Swansea and yielded, it
is said, from nine to ten per cent. It is the opinion of many that this mine
will yet prove a valuable one, though work upon it at present is suspended. The
"Last Chance," and "Green" ledges, in the same general district, as well as the
"Distillery Mine," are by many thought to show indications of value. It is
predicted, from the results of the prospecting after copper, that Nevada county
will in the future possess copper mines of great importance.

  Manganese is found near Sweetland in considerable quantities. Ledges of galena
have been discovered near Meadow Lake. Nickel, arsenic and antimony exist in
combination with gold in the quartz of that section rendering the ores, in some
cases, refractory by the ordinary processes. Limestone, in a metamorphic state,
is found on Wolf Creek, on the South Tuba, six miles from Nevada, on the same
stream above Bear Valley, and in several other parts of the county.

IMPROVEMENTS IN MINING.

Nevada county is entitled to the credit of introducing or inventing most of the
improvements in mining. Here the long-tom was first introduced in 1850. The
sluice came next, and was first used in the ravine near the African Church in
Nevada City. B. B. Mattison soon after adopted a mode of washing down high
banks, which gave a great impetus .to mining, rendering immense ranges of gravel
productive that could be worked in no other way profitably. This was to threw a
large stream of water compressed through a small nozzle, upon the bank, as water
is thrown through a hose upon fires in cities, and now known as the hydraulic
mode. Improvements have been frequently made on the hydraulic pipes, one of the
best of which was suggested by Macy of Little York township, which prevents the
water whirling when passing through the pipe, thereby scattering and losing its
force before striking the bank. Several improved couplings for hose originated
in the county. Mattison applied hydraulic power to the derrick, causing a vast
saving of expense where a derrick is much employed. A hose sewing machine was
invented and put in operation here. French invented a machine for drilling
rocks. Dunning's under-current sluice was first used at North San Juan. The
Crall, or waltzing pan, was originated in that place, and the practice of
blowing up and pulverizing gravel banks by gunpowder was adopted there also. As
many as five hundred and fifty kegs of powder have been used at North San Juan
in one blast. The hurdy-gurdy wheel is another of the simple machines to save
expense. It would be a tedious task to name all the little contrivances for
saying gold that have been produced by the genius and experience of the people
of our county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

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, THE NAMES AND OCCUPATION OF
RESIDENTS; ALSO, FULL STATISTICS
OF MINING AND ALL OTHER
INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES.

COMPILED BY EDWIN F. BEAN.

PRINTED AT THE DAILY GAZETTE BOOK AND JOB OFFICE,
1867.


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