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 BRANCHPLACER, 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, CALAVERAS, 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 Tuolumne 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 expected 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 discourage the casual prospector. In the north, on the other hand, every bar could be counted upon to contain sufficient color for remuneration or guidance, with greater indication of finding in this quarter the supposed mother beds. The inflowing hordes of 18491 and subsequent 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.

Merced, and into the more attractive north-west, beyond 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 Marshall'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, the head in 1848 of numerous mining camps, especially along the line to Mormon Island, which multiplied further in the following years, with Michigan flat and Salmon Falls as the most prominent.* 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, notably at the old

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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 popularity of the spot. Later, fruit-raising arrested total decline.

Dutch Bar, Kanaka, Red, Stony, Ledge, Missouri, Michigan, and other bars. Negro Hill, opposite Mormon Island, so named after subsequent negro miners of 1849, had in 1853 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.

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 summer 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. 13, 1855, of the Coloma region.

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

AMERICAN RIVER.

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dry diggings, which after 1848 acquired the name of Hangtown, subsequently Placerville, the county seat. Below sprang up Diamond Springs and Mud Springs, each in a rich district, and along the northern line of the Cosumnes rose a series of less important bars, surpassed in wealth by several diggings on the divides between the forks. The adjoining Sacramento 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."1

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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

In 1854 it polled the third largest vote in the state. The diggings continued 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.

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.

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 region 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 oldest 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, Aug. 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 Louisville, 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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Georgetown, both dating from 1848,13 as did Spanish Dry Diggings. On the Middle Fork the developments made in 184815 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." Meanwhile hydrau

13 The latter competing in 1854 for the county seat; a pretty spot; it continued 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 cañon, Hudson gulch, and Georgia slide or flat.

1 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 1854, 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 Mountain, 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, Pleasant, and yet farther Greenhorn, Fisher, Menken Cut, Mud Cañon, Niggers' Bluff, Missouri Cañon, and Grizzly Cañon. 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., Aug. 2, 1849, etc.

17 Mud Cañon and American Bar are credited with $3,000,000 each; Horseshoe 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.

lic and quartz mining stepped in to supply the deficiency, 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," 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, 1856; 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 cañons 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 Cañon, 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-Sinith, 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 reported. Placer Times, June 23, 1849. Two weighing 25 lbs. and 16 lbs. Sac. Transcript, Apr. 26, 1850.

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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. Alameda Co. Gaz., Apr. 19, 1873; June 19, 1875; Sac. Transcript, May 29, 1850; Armstrong's Exper., MS., 13-14.