Volume 026-1 - January 1972 (6 pages)

MAIN ISSUES OF 1872 as presented by Explorer Scouts, Craig Meyer, Dan Gillming, with Scoutmaster Art Meyer, at the February 3 meeting of the Nevada County Historical society, GIANT POWDER vs. BLACK POWDER Giant powder was introduced into the Grass Valley mines in 1872, over the objections of the miners, who claimed that the fumes gave them headaches and made them ill. The Miner’s Union stood by their men requiring them to quit a mine using Giant powder. Men fought among themselves if one or the other was caught returning to a mine working Giant powder. There were miner’s strikes, and attempted assassinations, however, management required the use of Giant power because of the safety in transporting it. One could cut a stick in two without its exploding. Not until properly fused would it ignite, and then with such a tremendous blast, that vast amounts of rock were torn away from a ledge. Approximately forty feet could be made through hard rock with the use of Giant powder each month, while an average of twenty-one feet was made with black powder. The cost wascheaper too,Giant powder running $14.39 a foot and black powder, $23.39. To prove that miner’s headaches were a figment of the imagination, one superintendent carried six sticks of Giant powder into a mine before the watchful eyes of his men. They saw him go in, heard the explosion, and on his return, were beginning to suffer headaches. These were quickly cured when the superintendent produced the six sticks of Giant powder. He had exploded black powder in its place! The Miner’s Union decided that every man was free to work in any of the mines regardless of the powder used. 6. WHICH ROUTE FOR THE NARROW GUAGE COLFAX, AUBURN OR MARYSVILLE? There was much discussion and money spent in securing surveys and estimates for the best possible railroad route from Nevada City andGrass Valley to an outside line. Early in 1872, the Nevada City Transcript and Grass Valley Republican, bandied the topic back and forth. The Transcript advocated ahorse railroad to Colfax over their stage road, but the Republican, switched off to a road from Clipper Gap. Grass Valley feared being cut off altogether, and claimed a railroad would benefit Nevada City more as freight for the mines above would be handled there, while Grass Valley’s share would be occasional visitors to the mines. The Sacramento-Placer Railroad Co. representedby capitalists, proposed a route to Auburn, a distance of thirty miles on an easily graded road. From Auburn it would go to Folsom, nineteen miles away, where most of the road had already been graded, and then onto Sacramento, Subscriptions were taken up for $30,000, Nevada County’s share of the $150,000 project. Another alternative, was a route to Marysville, by the way of Smartsville and Timbucktoo, at a cost of $6,000 per mile. This route suggested by Central Narrow Gauge Company, would then run on to Colusa. By December, 1872, no decision had been made, but discussion had again reverted to the Colfax route, the shortest line (twenty miles) at a cost of $120,000. The Central Pacific backed this approach, and assured the Nevada County Railroad Committee that engines could be purchased at a cost of $4000 to $9000 each. By the end of the year, the horse tram was again explored, this time from one horse to four, or until it became feasible to add a light locomotive to the project. 1872 ‘‘FIRSTS'' Judge Niles Searl’s law office wus completed November 19, 1872. Hydrauli¢ Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West, and the Nevada County Historical society are planning a rededication of the building this summer. The schoolhouse at North Bloomficld was dedicated December 25,1872, with a party to aid in the project. $200 being cleared. The supper was donated by the ladies of North Bloomfield, and the music furnished by the san Juan string orchestra. Praise was given to the trustees, especially Dr. George S. Farley and George Victor for their energy and interest. Mr. McAllister was the first teacher in the building. A postoffice was fitted up in the National Hotel where the Aney Real state office is now located. It first opened Aug. 27, 1872. Elza Kilroy who was Citizen of the Year in 1955 and President of the Historical Society in 1960, worked here in the 1920’s. Mrs. Rudoph, Nevada City’s first woman photographer, opened a gallery in Nevada City. Dr. Weaver completed his ditch from Weaver Lake on December 20th, 1872. Itran through the town of Graniteville to hydraulic mines below. ENDPICTURE TAKEN BY RUDOLPH Mrs. Rudolph, Nevada City's first woman photographer, set up a gallery in 1872 MAN 1S UNKNOWN. BOWMAN DAM AS IT LOOKED IN 1871 BEFORE BEING DESTROYED BY FIRE. RECONSTRUCTED AND ENLARGED WITH STONE IN 1972.

MAIN ISSUES OF 1872 as presented by Explorer Scouts, Craig Meyer, Dan Gillming, with Scoutmaster Art Meyer, at the February 3 meeting of the Nevada County Historical society, GIANT POWDER vs. BLACK POWDER Giant powder was introduced into the Grass Valley mines in 1872, over the objections of the miners, who claimed that the fumes gave them headaches and made them ill. The Miner’s Union stood by their men requiring them to quit a mine using Giant powder. Men fought among themselves if one or the other was caught returning to a mine working Giant powder. There were miner’s strikes, and attempted assassinations, however, management required the use of Giant power because of the safety in transporting it. One could cut a stick in two without its exploding. Not until properly fused would it ignite, and then with such a tremendous blast, that vast amounts of rock were torn away from a ledge. Approximately forty feet could be made through hard rock with the use of Giant powder each month, while an average of twenty-one feet was made with black powder. The cost wascheaper too,Giant powder running $14.39 a foot and black powder, $23.39. To prove that miner’s headaches were a figment of the imagination, one superintendent carried six sticks of Giant powder into a mine before the watchful eyes of his men. They saw him go in, heard the explosion, and on his return, were beginning to suffer headaches. These were quickly cured when the superintendent produced the six sticks of Giant powder. He had exploded black powder in its place! The Miner’s Union decided that every man was free to work in any of the mines regardless of the powder used. 6. WHICH ROUTE FOR THE NARROW GUAGE COLFAX, AUBURN OR MARYSVILLE? There was much discussion and money spent in securing surveys and estimates for the best possible railroad route from Nevada City andGrass Valley to an outside line. Early in 1872, the Nevada City Transcript and Grass Valley Republican, bandied the topic back and forth. The Transcript advocated ahorse railroad to Colfax over their stage road, but the Republican, switched off to a road from Clipper Gap. Grass Valley feared being cut off altogether, and claimed a railroad would benefit Nevada City more as freight for the mines above would be handled there, while Grass Valley’s share would be occasional visitors to the mines. The Sacramento-Placer Railroad Co. representedby capitalists, proposed

a route to Auburn, a distance of thirty miles on an easily graded road. From Auburn it would go to Folsom, nineteen miles away, where most of the road had already been graded, and then onto Sacramento, Subscriptions were taken up for $30,000, Nevada County’s share of the $150,000 project. Another alternative, was a route to Marysville, by the way of Smartsville and Timbucktoo, at a cost of $6,000 per mile. This route suggested by Central Narrow Gauge Company, would then run on to Colusa. By December, 1872, no decision had been made, but discussion had again reverted to the Colfax route, the shortest line (twenty miles) at a cost of $120,000. The Central Pacific backed this approach, and assured the Nevada County Railroad Committee that engines could be purchased at a cost of $4000 to $9000 each. By the end of the year, the horse tram was again explored, this time from one horse to four, or until it became feasible to add a light locomotive to the project. 1872 ‘‘FIRSTS'' Judge Niles Searl’s law office wus completed November 19, 1872. Hydrauli¢ Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West, and the Nevada County Historical society are planning a rededication of the building this summer. The schoolhouse at North Bloomficld was dedicated December 25,1872, with a party to aid in the project. $200 being cleared. The supper was donated by the ladies of North Bloomfield, and the music furnished by the san Juan string orchestra. Praise was given to the trustees, especially Dr. George S. Farley and George Victor for their energy and interest. Mr. McAllister was the first teacher in the building. A postoffice was fitted up in the National Hotel where the Aney Real state office is now located. It first opened Aug. 27, 1872. Elza Kilroy who was Citizen of the Year in 1955 and President of the Historical Society in 1960, worked here in the 1920’s. Mrs. Rudoph, Nevada City’s first woman photographer, opened a gallery in Nevada City. Dr. Weaver completed his ditch from Weaver Lake on December 20th, 1872. Itran through the town of Graniteville to hydraulic mines below. ENDPICTURE TAKEN BY RUDOLPH Mrs. Rudolph, Nevada City's first woman photographer, set up a gallery in 1872 MAN 1S UNKNOWN. BOWMAN DAM AS IT LOOKED IN 1871 BEFORE BEING DESTROYED BY FIRE. RECONSTRUCTED AND ENLARGED WITH STONE IN 1972.