Volume 006-4 - October 1952 (2 pages)

ABOUT MINES AND MINERS E. E. MATTESON, the first man who ever used the hydraulic hose for washing down banks to uncover the gold bearing gravel channels, commenced mining on American Hill near Nevada City in March, 1853. During that month he proposed to his Partners that, as he had once narrowly escaped being killed while digging under a bank with a pick, they try directing a stream of water from a hose against the dirt. At first they opposed the idea, urging that it would not pay to go to the trouble and expense of fitting up the necessary apparatus. He shortly convinced them that the experiment was worth trying, and as he had anticipated, it proved a success. In 1860, he left American Hill and went to mining at Omega, using the hydraulic method. While at the latter place, he invented a derrick with reaction water wheel and hydraulic pressure which worked so _ satisfactorily that he removed to Nevada City and opened a shop for the manufacture of them. — Nevada Transcript, March 9, 1879. A HYDRAULIC DUEL: A _ most amusing duel occurred in Nevada City, July 12, 1861, between Messrs. Tomkins and Curley. One of these gentlemen having become offended, became thoroughly convinced that water as a cleansing agent was far superior to blood, and besides he had more of it to spare, so he accepted the challenge to fight, instead of the bloody sands the scene to be a muddy pavement, and instead of the death dealing pistol, which might miss both of them, the weapon was to be a section of hose, from whose unerring aim there was no escape. The terms were agreed upon; seconds were chosen; everything was conducted after the manner prescribed by the code. Each was armed with a twenty-five foot hose with a quarterinch nozzle, the hose attached to hydrants in which there was a pressure of one hundred and fifty feet. When the word was given the water was turned on and for sometime the air was rent with the hilarious shrieks and yells of the spectators as the drenched but valiant combatants dodged the rushing streams of water. Neither would submit or call for a truce, and the aqueous strife was only terminated when the hose of one of the parties suddenly “busted.” It was here demonstrated that in removing stains of honor one drop of blood is equal to a thousand gallons of water—Thompson & west, 1880. AN ACCIDENTAL INVENTION: Col. Eddy, father of the proprietor of the National Exchange Hotel of this city, claims the credit of having originally introduced the sluice box and riffles for mining purposes, the first being evolved as a matter of necessity, and the latter owing their origin to an accidental discovery. He gives the following account of his connection with this important subject. In the spring of 1850 when all operations were being carried on by the aid of the long tom and rocker, he located a claim in the ravine just above the Catholic Church in this city. There were several claims below him, the holders of which refused to permit him to run tailings upon their ground, so he made a trough leading from his location through theirs and to a point below. On the bottom of the siuice, wherever the different sections joined, he nailed wooden cleats to keep the water and gravel from leaking through. At the lower end of the sluice he placed a rocker, and for one day manipulated the dirt that came down to it. At the end of that day he found that the rocker had saved scarcely any gold. Going up along the sluice he found behind each of the cleats numerous sparkling particles of gold that had lodged there. He abandoned the use of the rocker, increased the number of cleats and then commenced what he says was the first sluice mining ever carried on in California and probably in the whole world as far as he knows. The sluice and riffles immediately became popular, causing the price of lumber to advance rapidly. The Colonel says the only thing he regrets about his discovery is that he did not have it patented and thus win fame and forart Daily Transcript, March 10, 1881. NORTH SAN JUAN TIMES, Jan. 20, 1877. On Monday last our town was honored by the presence of two distinguished gentlemen from the Empire of Russia, who came to this county under order of the Czar, to examine the mines. Their names are as near as we can make out, Blominosoff and Biteminosoff. On Monday they made a visit tc the American Mine at Sebastopol and appeared to be much pleased with the works. It is said that if they make a favorable report the Czar of Russia will immediately commence negotia-tions with our government for the purthe whole state, then for all the paying es in it. ‘chase of this state, or if he cannot get fe: Nevada County Historical society October, 1952 Volume 6, No. 4 Boulder Street Monumental Works, Nevada: City W. W. WAGGONER Of Mr. Waggoner, H. P. Davis says: “Waldo Wade Waggoner, civil and mining engineer, was for many years, until his death in 1939, an outstanding personality in the social, political and industrial life of this community. Trusted associate of men who initiated and directed important mining operations in this and adjacent counties, ‘W. W.’ as he was affectionately known by his innumerable friends and admirers, played an important part in the development of the gold mining industry upon which the prosperity of these northern mining counties were founded and for many years, flourished abundantly. To Mr. Waggoner, mining men and historians who have particular interest in this area, owe a deep debt of gratitude.”

ABOUT MINES AND MINERS E. E. MATTESON, the first man who ever used the hydraulic hose for washing down banks to uncover the gold bearing gravel channels, commenced mining on American Hill near Nevada City in March, 1853. During that month he proposed to his Partners that, as he had once narrowly escaped being killed while digging under a bank with a pick, they try directing a stream of water from a hose against the dirt. At first they opposed the idea, urging that it would not pay to go to the trouble and expense of fitting up the necessary apparatus. He shortly convinced them that the experiment was worth trying, and as he had anticipated, it proved a success. In 1860, he left American Hill and went to mining at Omega, using the hydraulic method. While at the latter place, he invented a derrick with reaction water wheel and hydraulic pressure which worked so _ satisfactorily that he removed to Nevada City and opened a shop for the manufacture of them. — Nevada Transcript, March 9, 1879. A HYDRAULIC DUEL: A _ most amusing duel occurred in Nevada City, July 12, 1861, between Messrs. Tomkins and Curley. One of these gentlemen having become offended, became thoroughly convinced that water as a cleansing agent was far superior to blood, and besides he had more of it to spare, so he accepted the challenge to fight, instead of the bloody sands the scene to be a muddy pavement, and instead of the death dealing pistol, which might miss both of them, the weapon was to be a section of hose, from whose unerring aim there was no escape. The terms were agreed upon; seconds were chosen; everything was conducted after the manner prescribed by the code. Each was armed with a twenty-five foot hose with a quarterinch nozzle, the hose attached to hydrants in which there was a pressure of one hundred and fifty feet. When the word was given the water was turned on and for sometime the air was rent with the hilarious shrieks and yells of the spectators as the drenched but valiant combatants dodged the rushing streams of water. Neither would submit or call for a truce, and the aqueous strife was only terminated when the hose of one of the parties suddenly “busted.” It was here demonstrated that in removing stains of honor one drop of blood is equal to a thousand gallons of water—Thompson & west, 1880. AN ACCIDENTAL INVENTION: Col. Eddy, father of the proprietor of the National Exchange Hotel of this city, claims the credit of having originally introduced the sluice box and riffles for mining purposes, the first being evolved as a matter of necessity, and the latter owing their origin to an accidental discovery.

He gives the following account of his connection with this important subject. In the spring of 1850 when all operations were being carried on by the aid of the long tom and rocker, he located a claim in the ravine just above the Catholic Church in this city. There were several claims below him, the holders of which refused to permit him to run tailings upon their ground, so he made a trough leading from his location through theirs and to a point below. On the bottom of the siuice, wherever the different sections joined, he nailed wooden cleats to keep the water and gravel from leaking through. At the lower end of the sluice he placed a rocker, and for one day manipulated the dirt that came down to it. At the end of that day he found that the rocker had saved scarcely any gold. Going up along the sluice he found behind each of the cleats numerous sparkling particles of gold that had lodged there. He abandoned the use of the rocker, increased the number of cleats and then commenced what he says was the first sluice mining ever carried on in California and probably in the whole world as far as he knows. The sluice and riffles immediately became popular, causing the price of lumber to advance rapidly. The Colonel says the only thing he regrets about his discovery is that he did not have it patented and thus win fame and forart Daily Transcript, March 10, 1881. NORTH SAN JUAN TIMES, Jan. 20, 1877. On Monday last our town was honored by the presence of two distinguished gentlemen from the Empire of Russia, who came to this county under order of the Czar, to examine the mines. Their names are as near as we can make out, Blominosoff and Biteminosoff. On Monday they made a visit tc the American Mine at Sebastopol and appeared to be much pleased with the works. It is said that if they make a favorable report the Czar of Russia will immediately commence negotia-tions with our government for the purthe whole state, then for all the paying es in it. ‘chase of this state, or if he cannot get fe: Nevada County Historical society October, 1952 Volume 6, No. 4 Boulder Street Monumental Works, Nevada: City W. W. WAGGONER Of Mr. Waggoner, H. P. Davis says: “Waldo Wade Waggoner, civil and mining engineer, was for many years, until his death in 1939, an outstanding personality in the social, political and industrial life of this community. Trusted associate of men who initiated and directed important mining operations in this and adjacent counties, ‘W. W.’ as he was affectionately known by his innumerable friends and admirers, played an important part in the development of the gold mining industry upon which the prosperity of these northern mining counties were founded and for many years, flourished abundantly. To Mr. Waggoner, mining men and historians who have particular interest in this area, owe a deep debt of gratitude.”