September 10, 1969 (12 pages)

OE ttl MEO ene i ee +! 40 1 &--PEXLODICALS SECTION LIBRARY 95814 gi oe CAL. Si. SACTO, CAL. EVADA COUNTY NUG Serving the communities of Nevada City, Grass Valley, Red Dog, You Bet, Town Talk, Glenbrook, Little York, Cherokee, Mooney Flat, Sweetland, Alpha, Omega, French. Corral, Rough and Ready, Graniteville, North San Juan, North Bloomfield, Humbug, Relief Hill, Washington, Blue’ Tent, La Batr Meadows, Cedar Ridge, Union Hill, Peardale, Summit City, Walloupa, Gouge Eye, Lime Kiln, Chicago Park, Wolf, Christmas Hill, Liberty Hill, Sailor Flat, Lake City, Selby Flat, Grizzly Hill, Gold Flat, Soggsville, Gold Bar, Lowell Hill, Bourbon Hill, Scotch Hill, North Columbia, Columbia Hill, Brandy Flat, Sebastopol, Quaker Hill, Willow Valley, Newtown, Indian Flat, Bridgeport, Birchville, Moore's Flat, Orleans Flat, Remington Hill, Anthony House, Delirium Tremens, ——TTeeeeeeEEEEE———eeEICICICICICICICIoIIIIIESEIESESSESESSS NUMBER 34 VOLUME 49 10Cents ACopy Published Wednesdays, Nevada City WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1969 The Soundi ng Board 100 years of Nevada County : sean, Sages Be ee Water important resource of early mining camps charges made by Look Magazine —* that he has some association with f the mafia ~and do you believe he has? : (The questions were asked before Look magazine hit the newsstands.) Ginger Marquad, assistant county purchasing agent: "Tm curious about the article but can't comment without haveing read it. I gather from reading that he has kept ‘more control than former mayors. I do know he serves wonderful shrimp omelet at restaurant. ' have read Look," Ralph Wollam, county planning technician: “~ , "I have read the headlines, I will reserve my opinion until I RP _ William Roberts, county planning director: "I. think I heard that Mayor Alioto's answer was 71 pageslong -it shouldn't have taken that many pages.” One of the most important agents in the resources of the county was the water introduced from natural streams by means of ditches. The ditching operations were generally so profitable to the projectors, and so indispensable to the mining interests that they once formed a network that covered nearly the whole county, Wherever good diggings were opened some enterprising men cast about for a supply of water, and spared no efforts to conquer the many obstacles which were presented by a rough, thinly settled country. In March, 1850, the first enterprise of this kind was undertaken, but upon a small scale. It brought water from Mosquito Creek, a distance of a mile and a half, to Old Coyote Hill. Another ditch in May, 1850, took water from Little Deer Creek to Phelps Hill, a short distance. The first enterprise of this kind upon a large scale was unsuccessful, It was started in August, 1850, by a man named, Moore, and was designed to take water from Deer Creek, just above Nevada City, toRough and Ready. Moore dug out but one mile of his ditch and was generally accounted crazy for his pains, But the enterprise was taken up the following January by A, L. and B, O, Williams, who succeeded in getting the water through in the following April, a distance of thirteen miles, and made a great deal of money in working diggings on Randolph Flat with the water. In September, 1850, John and Thomas Dunn, C, Carroll, and Charles Marsh projected the on the hills, as useless, because it would not pay to be hauled for washing. These piles of dirt now became valuable, as the water flowed by them, and thousands of dollars were washed out of them. Many persons made their "piles" by "jumping" the piles of dirt that had been left as useless, the owners in many. cases having gone to other states well laden with the first produce of the lead. Coyote claims that could not be worked to advantage, also became valuable; sluice washing gradually came into use, and the water flowing from the hills where it was first used, down into the ravines, gave opportunity for work where before it could only be done in winter. In November, 1850, two rival companies began to construct ditches to convey the water of Deer Creek to Nevada. The "Deer Creek Water Co. " began their ditch at the upper end, at the Creek; the "Coyote Water Co.” began at the end next to the town. After the completion of the ditches, the companies were involved in continual lawsuits as to the priority of rights, to avoid which they consolidated in the fall of 1851. In March, 1851, Thomas & Co. started the "Deer Creek Mining Company's Ditch" leading from Deer Creek to Gold Flat, a distance of 15 miles, and completed in one year. The "Newtown Ditch" was constructed in 1851 by Dickenson, Newton and others, taking water from Deer Creek and conveying it five miles to Newtown. The "Tri-Union," formerly called the "Rifle Box" ditch, was started in April, 1851, by Montgomery, Mason and others, and took water to Sucker Flat, in Yuba County, a distance of 15 miles, The “Shady Creek Ditch" was commenced by Eddy & Co, in July, 1851, and ran from Shady Creek to Sweetland's and French Corral, 12 miles, The "Grizzly Ditch" was commenced in November, 1851, by Pettiborn, Marsh and Stewart, and ran from Bloody Run and Grizzly Canyon to Cherokee and San Juan and in all its extensions was 45 miles in length. The "Little York" ditch was started in February, 1852, by Gen. A, M, Winn, Capt. Chapman and others, and ran from Bear River, at Bear Valley, to Little York, a distance of 18 miles. The "Walloupa" ditch was commenced in July, 1852, by Churchman, Coryell, Marsh, Dunn, Mcintyre and McConnell, from Steep Hollow to Walloupa and Red Dog, a distance of 15 miles, "Poorman's Creek" ditch was commenced in 1853 by Berryman and others, running from Poorman's Creek to Orleans and Moore's Flat. "Spring Creek and Hamburg Canyon" ditch was commenced in 1853 by Marsh, Tisdale and Rochford, to take water to Montezume Hill, The "Memphis Race" was commenced in 1853 by Dr. James Weaver to take the waters from the Middle Yuba to Eureka. In 1853 Spencer, Rich and Fordyce commenced a ditch from Deer Creek to Nevada, a distance of 20 miles, which was completed in 1854, The "Middle Yuba Canal Co."" was commenced by Hoit & Co. in 1854, and was designed to take the waters of Grizzly Canyon to San Juan, Sebastopol, etc. Finding the supply of water to be insufficient, the company increased their capital, enlarged the ditch, and extended it to the Middle Yuba. The "Miners Ditch" ran from the Middle Yuba to Snow Point, Moore's and Woolsey's Flats, and was commenced inthe spring of 1855. It was a very large ditch, conducting water over a very difficult route, and remarkable for the energy displayed in its construction, as in the great difficulties of the undertaking. James Cregan was the principal director in the enterprise, The "Rock Creek, Deer Creek and South Yuba W Co." formed by the consolidation of all the early Nevada Water Companies, constructed a ditch from the South Yuba to the head of (Continued on Page 11)

OE ttl MEO ene i ee +! 40 1 &--PEXLODICALS SECTION LIBRARY 95814 gi oe CAL. Si. SACTO, CAL. EVADA COUNTY NUG Serving the communities of Nevada City, Grass Valley, Red Dog, You Bet, Town Talk, Glenbrook, Little York, Cherokee, Mooney Flat, Sweetland, Alpha, Omega, French. Corral, Rough and Ready, Graniteville, North San Juan, North Bloomfield, Humbug, Relief Hill, Washington, Blue’ Tent, La Batr Meadows, Cedar Ridge, Union Hill, Peardale, Summit City, Walloupa, Gouge Eye, Lime Kiln, Chicago Park, Wolf, Christmas Hill, Liberty Hill, Sailor Flat, Lake City, Selby Flat, Grizzly Hill, Gold Flat, Soggsville, Gold Bar, Lowell Hill, Bourbon Hill, Scotch Hill, North Columbia, Columbia Hill, Brandy Flat, Sebastopol, Quaker Hill, Willow Valley, Newtown, Indian Flat, Bridgeport, Birchville, Moore's Flat, Orleans Flat, Remington Hill, Anthony House, Delirium Tremens, ——TTeeeeeeEEEEE———eeEICICICICICICICIoIIIIIESEIESESSESESSS NUMBER 34 VOLUME 49 10Cents ACopy Published Wednesdays, Nevada City WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1969 The Soundi ng Board 100 years of Nevada County : sean, Sages Be ee Water important resource of early mining camps charges made by Look Magazine —* that he has some association with f the mafia ~and do you believe he has? : (The questions were asked before Look magazine hit the newsstands.) Ginger Marquad, assistant county purchasing agent: "Tm curious about the article but can't comment without haveing read it. I gather from reading that he has kept ‘more control than former mayors. I do know he serves wonderful shrimp omelet at restaurant. ' have read Look," Ralph Wollam, county planning technician: “~ , "I have read the headlines, I will reserve my opinion until I RP _ William Roberts, county planning director: "I. think I heard that Mayor Alioto's answer was 71 pageslong -it shouldn't have taken that many pages.” One of the most important agents in the resources of the county was the water introduced from natural streams by means of ditches. The ditching operations were generally so profitable to the projectors, and so indispensable to the mining interests that they once formed a network that covered nearly the whole county, Wherever good diggings were opened some enterprising men cast about for a supply of water, and spared no efforts to conquer the many obstacles which were presented by a rough, thinly settled country. In March, 1850, the first enterprise of this kind was undertaken, but upon a small scale. It brought water from Mosquito Creek, a distance of a mile and a half, to Old Coyote Hill. Another ditch in May, 1850, took water from Little Deer Creek to Phelps Hill, a short distance. The first enterprise of this kind upon a large scale was unsuccessful, It was started in August, 1850, by a man named, Moore, and was designed to take water from Deer Creek, just above Nevada City, toRough and Ready. Moore dug out but one mile of his ditch and was generally accounted crazy for his pains, But the enterprise was taken up the following January by A, L. and B, O, Williams, who succeeded in getting the water through in the following April, a distance of thirteen miles, and made a great deal of money in working diggings on Randolph Flat with the water. In September, 1850, John and Thomas Dunn, C, Carroll, and Charles Marsh projected the on the hills, as useless, because it would not pay to be hauled for washing. These piles of dirt now became valuable, as the water flowed by them, and thousands of dollars were washed out of them. Many persons made their "piles" by "jumping" the piles of dirt that had been left as useless, the owners in many. cases having gone to other states well laden with the first produce of the lead. Coyote claims that could not be worked to advantage, also became valuable; sluice washing gradually came into use, and the water flowing from the hills

where it was first used, down into the ravines, gave opportunity for work where before it could only be done in winter. In November, 1850, two rival companies began to construct ditches to convey the water of Deer Creek to Nevada. The "Deer Creek Water Co. " began their ditch at the upper end, at the Creek; the "Coyote Water Co.” began at the end next to the town. After the completion of the ditches, the companies were involved in continual lawsuits as to the priority of rights, to avoid which they consolidated in the fall of 1851. In March, 1851, Thomas & Co. started the "Deer Creek Mining Company's Ditch" leading from Deer Creek to Gold Flat, a distance of 15 miles, and completed in one year. The "Newtown Ditch" was constructed in 1851 by Dickenson, Newton and others, taking water from Deer Creek and conveying it five miles to Newtown. The "Tri-Union," formerly called the "Rifle Box" ditch, was started in April, 1851, by Montgomery, Mason and others, and took water to Sucker Flat, in Yuba County, a distance of 15 miles, The “Shady Creek Ditch" was commenced by Eddy & Co, in July, 1851, and ran from Shady Creek to Sweetland's and French Corral, 12 miles, The "Grizzly Ditch" was commenced in November, 1851, by Pettiborn, Marsh and Stewart, and ran from Bloody Run and Grizzly Canyon to Cherokee and San Juan and in all its extensions was 45 miles in length. The "Little York" ditch was started in February, 1852, by Gen. A, M, Winn, Capt. Chapman and others, and ran from Bear River, at Bear Valley, to Little York, a distance of 18 miles. The "Walloupa" ditch was commenced in July, 1852, by Churchman, Coryell, Marsh, Dunn, Mcintyre and McConnell, from Steep Hollow to Walloupa and Red Dog, a distance of 15 miles, "Poorman's Creek" ditch was commenced in 1853 by Berryman and others, running from Poorman's Creek to Orleans and Moore's Flat. "Spring Creek and Hamburg Canyon" ditch was commenced in 1853 by Marsh, Tisdale and Rochford, to take water to Montezume Hill, The "Memphis Race" was commenced in 1853 by Dr. James Weaver to take the waters from the Middle Yuba to Eureka. In 1853 Spencer, Rich and Fordyce commenced a ditch from Deer Creek to Nevada, a distance of 20 miles, which was completed in 1854, The "Middle Yuba Canal Co."" was commenced by Hoit & Co. in 1854, and was designed to take the waters of Grizzly Canyon to San Juan, Sebastopol, etc. Finding the supply of water to be insufficient, the company increased their capital, enlarged the ditch, and extended it to the Middle Yuba. The "Miners Ditch" ran from the Middle Yuba to Snow Point, Moore's and Woolsey's Flats, and was commenced inthe spring of 1855. It was a very large ditch, conducting water over a very difficult route, and remarkable for the energy displayed in its construction, as in the great difficulties of the undertaking. James Cregan was the principal director in the enterprise, The "Rock Creek, Deer Creek and South Yuba W Co." formed by the consolidation of all the early Nevada Water Companies, constructed a ditch from the South Yuba to the head of (Continued on Page 11)