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Collection: Directories and Documents > Pamphlets
Nevada County, California (PH 1-19)(1926) (19 pages)
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Page: of 19
INTERIOR OF CYANIDE PLANT
and, mounting his mule, started on his journey. When half
way up the Slug canyon trail a man stepped out of the chaparral and ordered him to throw up his hands and deliver
is valuables. The Judge obeyed without hesitation so far
as clevating his hands, but, recognizing the highwayman,
exclaimed in perturbed tones: “Good Lord, Williams! I haven't
got a cent, the boys cleaned me out in a little game last night.”
Williams lowered his pistol with a “Hello, Judge, is that you?
I didn’t know you or . wouldn't have held you up. I knew .
had no chance against those Downieville sports. But say, Judge,
do me a favor, will you? Hurry on; there's another fellow coming
up the trail and I've got to get out of this country somchow.”*)
EVENING IN THE FOOTHILLS
April 13, 1852. I don’t think there is any other place o:
earth where the evenings are as beautiful as they are here. W
ride up to Sugar Loaf gap and look off on the country; the s
all aglow with the setting sun, a great ball of red fire dropping
down behind the Yuba ridge, Deer Creek winding down the
canyon, the pine trees on the opposite slope standing our like
black giants against the background, and as the darkness falls
the lights twinkle and flash in the town lying at our feet, a breeze
stirring as soft and caressing as—well, . am at a loss for words,
but it is just good to live.
(Note: Now that the time is fast approaching when the hero
and his “Pard” are going to leave, he begins to realize how powerfully the environments and the climate of these golden foothills have gripped him. And as in the days of “49 so it is today;
the wonderful climatic and home environments draw hither
the miners from all parts of the globe, and the efficiency of the
miners and the permanency of the mines of the Nevada County
District are the standard of comparison wherever miners congregate.)
e
AN AFFECTIONATE FAREWELL
June 13, 1852. Pard and . sat out under the old pine tree
tonight for the last time—we will be busy tomorrow getting our
traps into town—and neither one of us was in the best of spirits,
although as far as we can see there is nothing but happiness
ahead of us, The moonbeams shimmered down through the
pine needles, the frogs croaked in the creck, a coyote barked up
on the hill, the echo of the hoot of an owl drifted up from the
trail. We have listened to the same sound every night for
years, but somehow this evening it seemed as if they were all
saying “Good-bye.”
ck ee
Thus, were contributed by Nevada County many of the most
brilliant and thrilling pages of California’s history. Here one
can trace the evolution of gold mining from its inception in
1848, by the crudest of methods, to the present cra of efficiency.
Always leading the procession, it is literally true that Nevada
County gave alike placer mining and quartz mining and hydraulic mining to the world.
And how lavish the hand with which nature has poured out
her golden treasure stream! How tremendous the amount of gold
this county has contributed to the world’s supply!
Those remantic days of old have passed, and with them have
passed the pioneer of the very early days. But to us who love
these golden hills, their deeds will always live as an inspiring
memory. Time has healed most of the scars wrought by the
first mad gold rush. Carpets of green have covered the diggings
by which they set such store. A second growth of pines has
replaced the giant trees which they felled for the cabins and
flumes and “long toms.” No more are “ounce diggings” to be
found along every little stream, gulch and ravine. But the steady
stream of precious metals continues as of yore and it is probable
that no person now living will see its diminution.
During the period covered by the narrative of “The Diary of
A 49% er” (May 1850 to June 1852), perhaps $15,000,000 was
extracted. Since that time the district has poured over $200,000,000 in gold into the coffers of the world. With time, the
spectacular features have lessened in some degree, but the golden
stream has never stopped.
In this district one can vision, in a single mine, the story of
deep gold mining from 1850 to the present day. The veins of
quartz extend for thousands of feet into the bowels of the earth,
and the miners delve deeper and deeper without reaching the
limit of profitable mining, Some of the original discoveries, made
during the first rush, are still operating, and the pounding stamps
furnish music to the ears of their fortunate owners.
Knowledge gained by recent experiences has taught us that
many and varied are the paying veins inthis “vast treasury lot”
of Nevada County. After seventy-five years, the full measure
of nature's munificence here is still unrealized and it is reasonable to believe that the thrill of the “strike” will be enjoyed by
the generations yet unborn.
ROUGH AND RUADY