Collection: Books and Periodicals > Nevada County Historical Society Bulletins

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Title: Volume 055-2 - April 2001 Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Collection Name: Nevada County Historical Society Bulletins # of Pages: 8 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

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Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

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NCHS Bulletin April 2001 The sluice-robber usually is a Chinaman. His latest method of sluice-robbing is to supply himself with a silver knife, and when an opportunity is presented by the watchman turning his back for a few minutes, to thrust the blade of the knife between the riffles of the under-current. Quicksilver having an affinity for silver, the blade comes up covered with auriferous amalgam.® The earliest recorded instance of highgrading in Nevada County that we encountered dates from January, 13, 1871. The Union featured a small article, “Specimen Stealing,” stating that the San Francisco Alta of January 11 had said the Eureka Mine had been shut down for two weeks. “Not true,” The Union wrote, but there was “a reorganization there and means have been adopted to prevent future robberies. There will be some specimen stealing unless the miners themselves are determined to detect those among their number who bring disgrace to an honest business.” ? And one hundred years later The Independent would say, “even the most honest [miner] would hesitate to tattle on pilfering fellow workers for dark tales were circulated on what happened to tattlers—and all knew that accidents can happen easily underground.” !° The first known trial of a highgrade miner in Nevada County took place during the summer of 1911. A young man working at the Empire Mine was charged with stealing highgrade ore in July, but the jury failed to agree on a verdict, standing six to six. On August 4 The Union stated that “there is every indication that the second trial of [name deleted], charged with grand larceny, being accused of appropriating highgrade ore from the Empire Mines, will result in disagreement.” After deliberating over 13 hours, the jury found the man guilty of petty larceny on the twenty-third ballot. The Union said it was “the first time in the history of Nevada County The Empire Mine office (left) and the enclosed overhead walkway which connected it to the mill. (Tyler collection.) 2 superior court.” The maximum penalty for petty larceny was six months in the county jail or a fine of $500 or both. On August 9 the man was sentenced to 150 days in jail by Judge Jones. The newspaper reported: In view of the man’s youth (18) Judge Jones did not give him the limit . . . although he stated that the evidence’ was clear that the man willfully stole the ore, having a special canvas bag made for the purpose of carrying it around his body.!! Incredible as it may seem, mines have been known to have closed down on account of theft of their ore. The Union of August 26, 1937, noted that the Ruby Mine in Sierra County was “temporarily shut down following recent disclosures of nugget thefts made by state and federal operatives.” Three miners were held in the county jail for the offense, and the mine manager reported that “$300,000 has been spent in developing the mine and that if highgrading keeps up, the mine will not reopen.” The year 1936 marks the phenomenal advent of highgrading in Nevada County which continued for the next six years. The Union is replete with highgrading articles, and we suspect that the practice was so widespread because of the times: the Great Depression brought unemployed miners from throughout the United States to Nevada County, where work was abundant. “Never have the Twin Cities [Grass Valley and Nevada City] been as well off as they are today,” The Union asserted in July 1939. “All mines are producing—Hygrading [sic] is excellent, providing for that new Ford, Chevrolet or Buick.” There were 26 mines operating within the county with a monthly payroll of $355,500 and providing employment for 2,370 miners."!2 Also in 1936 the federal government, by virtue of the Gold Reserve Act of 1934, issued regulations compelling the buyer of gold in the form of retort, bullion or precipitate to obtain a license. Anyone making a shipment of more The interior of the stamp mill. The enclosed walkway can be seen above and behind the stamps. (The Union photo.)