Volume 036-1 - January 1982 (8 pages)

BOOK REVIEW Errol Mac Boyle: Mines and Mineral Resources of Nevada County. Sacramento, California State Printing Office, 1919. This 270 page book, a monograph sponsored by the California State Mining Bureau, was recently reprinted through the care of Don Schmidt of Grass Valley. The book starts with a general introduction on the geographic features of the county, especially water management, and a history of the mining activities. Some 60 pages are devoted to a description of the various mining districts: French Corral, Graniteville, Grass Valley, Lowell Hill, Meadow Lake, Nevada City, North Bloomfield, North Columbia, North San Juan, Rough and Ready, Spenceville, Washington and You Bet. For each of these districts, we find a more complete discussion of its geography, its mining history and its geology, sometimes, for example in the cases of Grass Valley and Nevada City, in considerable detail. The remainder of the book, some 200 pages, is devoted to a description of the various mines, arranged by product. We learn that, in 1919, there were antimony, asbestos, barite, chromite, copper, magnesite, manganese, pyrite and tungsten mines in the county. But, of course, the main part of the text is devoted to a description of the gold mines, which is classified under the heads of drift mines, hydraulic mines and lode mines. Errol mac Boyle made this study in order to select mining property for the Crocker enterprises. As a result, the Gold Point Consolidated Mines, Inc., was organized, which company took over the old Union Hill mine. Later the property was transferred to the IdahoMaryland Mining Company. It will hardly be necessary to point out that this book is a gold mine of information on mining history and mining techniques, up to and including the second decade of this century. Although at some places it is quite technical, it should find a place on any book shelve, devoted to Nevada County history. The book is available from PineAire Productions, 11310 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley and from our local bookstores. vdP. IN MEMORIAM We ELZA KILROY Elza John Kilroy died on October 28 of this year at the age of eighty five. Although born in Yuba County, he spent his life, from an early age, in Nevada City. His mother died before he was one year old and his father, a Nevada City police man, died while on duty when Elza was three. After holding a variety of jobs, Mr. Kilroy became employed at the Nevada City post office in 1914, an association which lasted until 1946, in which year he resigned on account of ill health. His obituary in the local press has memorized the civic work and the fraternal ties of ““Mister Nevada City”’. We will here only mention that Mr. Kilroy was a member of the Nevada City Volunteer Fire Department since 1914 and that he served as its Chief in the years 1921-22. Here we have to recall Mr. Kilroy’s involvement in Nevada County history. Together with his wife Luvia, he created a tableau, portraying the Donner Party, a tableau which was shown all over California. He was an important member of the Committee, organized to celebrate the 1849-1949 Centennial, which celebration culminated in the Fourth of July Parade, for which he contributed a magnificent float. He was chairman of the Committee to prepare the celebration of the Centennial of California Statehood, 1950. In 1955, he was named Man of the Year, together with Edward Uren, by the Nevada County Historical Society. In the following year he served as vicepresident of the Society. In 1960, he was president of the NCHS. It will perhaps surprise nobody that on April 30 of that year, the Nevada City Firemen were honored by the NCHS as Men of the Year. After his term as president, he sérved many times on the Board of Directors of the Society. Mr. Kilroy was more of an organizing and inspiring disposition than a scholarly one. He never contributed directly to the NCHS Bulletin. However, former editors were grateful to him for directing Belle Douglas’ story The Last of the Oustomahs to the Bulletin (March 1960), and also James Hutchinson’s reminicences on The Pelton Water Wheel (April 1961). May he rest in peace. vdP. A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year From The NCHS Board and The Editor

BOOK REVIEW Errol Mac Boyle: Mines and Mineral Resources of Nevada County. Sacramento, California State Printing Office, 1919. This 270 page book, a monograph sponsored by the California State Mining Bureau, was recently reprinted through the care of Don Schmidt of Grass Valley. The book starts with a general introduction on the geographic features of the county, especially water management, and a history of the mining activities. Some 60 pages are devoted to a description of the various mining districts: French Corral, Graniteville, Grass Valley, Lowell Hill, Meadow Lake, Nevada City, North Bloomfield, North Columbia, North San Juan, Rough and Ready, Spenceville, Washington and You Bet. For each of these districts, we find a more complete discussion of its geography, its mining history and its geology, sometimes, for example in the cases of Grass Valley and Nevada City, in considerable detail. The remainder of the book, some 200 pages, is devoted to a description of the various mines, arranged by product. We learn that, in 1919, there were antimony, asbestos, barite, chromite, copper, magnesite, manganese, pyrite and tungsten mines in the county. But, of course, the main part of the text is devoted to a description of the gold mines, which is classified under the heads of drift mines, hydraulic mines and lode mines. Errol mac Boyle made this study in order to select mining property for the Crocker enterprises. As a result, the Gold Point Consolidated Mines, Inc., was organized, which company took over the old Union Hill mine. Later the property was transferred to the IdahoMaryland Mining Company. It will hardly be necessary to point out that this book is a gold mine of information on mining history and mining techniques, up to and including the second decade of this century. Although at some places it is quite technical, it should find a place on any book shelve, devoted to Nevada County history. The book is available from PineAire Productions, 11310 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley and from our local bookstores. vdP. IN MEMORIAM We ELZA KILROY Elza John Kilroy died on October 28 of this year at the age of eighty five. Although born in Yuba County, he

spent his life, from an early age, in Nevada City. His mother died before he was one year old and his father, a Nevada City police man, died while on duty when Elza was three. After holding a variety of jobs, Mr. Kilroy became employed at the Nevada City post office in 1914, an association which lasted until 1946, in which year he resigned on account of ill health. His obituary in the local press has memorized the civic work and the fraternal ties of ““Mister Nevada City”’. We will here only mention that Mr. Kilroy was a member of the Nevada City Volunteer Fire Department since 1914 and that he served as its Chief in the years 1921-22. Here we have to recall Mr. Kilroy’s involvement in Nevada County history. Together with his wife Luvia, he created a tableau, portraying the Donner Party, a tableau which was shown all over California. He was an important member of the Committee, organized to celebrate the 1849-1949 Centennial, which celebration culminated in the Fourth of July Parade, for which he contributed a magnificent float. He was chairman of the Committee to prepare the celebration of the Centennial of California Statehood, 1950. In 1955, he was named Man of the Year, together with Edward Uren, by the Nevada County Historical Society. In the following year he served as vicepresident of the Society. In 1960, he was president of the NCHS. It will perhaps surprise nobody that on April 30 of that year, the Nevada City Firemen were honored by the NCHS as Men of the Year. After his term as president, he sérved many times on the Board of Directors of the Society. Mr. Kilroy was more of an organizing and inspiring disposition than a scholarly one. He never contributed directly to the NCHS Bulletin. However, former editors were grateful to him for directing Belle Douglas’ story The Last of the Oustomahs to the Bulletin (March 1960), and also James Hutchinson’s reminicences on The Pelton Water Wheel (April 1961). May he rest in peace. vdP. A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year From The NCHS Board and The Editor