Tag Archives: Nevada City

Anger spreads over the shooting of King

Posted on April 22, 2012 by John Putnam

While the organization of the Committee of Vigilance was underway, word spread throughout California about the shooting of James King of William, and in many places created an excitement that rivaled that of San Francisco. On Thursday evening a meeting … Continue reading →

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River pollution and mining law

Posted on October 5, 2011 by John Putnam

In both the northern and southern mines farms were dug up and large tracts of arable land washed into sluice boxes in the quest for gold. Whole towns were moved so the locations where they had been built could be … Continue reading →

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Gold rush life changed miners

Posted on September 13, 2011 by John Putnam

Every period in world history has its own unique characteristics which are examined in minute detail by historians and scholars throughout the ensuing years, but nowhere else in the world has there been a time such as the early days … Continue reading →

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A new judicial system in California

Posted on September 12, 2011 by John Putnam

Early in 1850 California’s new legislature made sweeping changes to the judicial system in the new state. The old Mexican office of Alcalde was done away with and provision was made for justices of the peace with definite and limited … Continue reading →

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A lesson learned in Nevada City

Posted on September 8, 2011 by John Putnam

Unlike Captain Slater, who bilked the miners of Downieville out of their gold with a simple confidence scheme, miners across the gold country invested and lost huge sums of money and time in many and varied undertakings promoted as a … Continue reading →

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The Grizzly Bear House

Posted on September 5, 2011 by John Putnam

In the early days of California gold mining, when it was easier to dig for gold than to steal it, and almost everybody was peaceful, men would gather in the evenings, either in a remote camp or in one of … Continue reading →

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Cement mining and the development of hydraulic mining

Posted on July 1, 2011 by John Putnam

Many, if not most, of the mining improvements in the early years of the gold rush originated at or near Nevada City. The long tom and the sluice were first used there as well as the mining ditch. The stamp … Continue reading →

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Mining a coyote hole

Posted on June 23, 2011 by John Putnam

The gold deposits in many places, especially in dry diggings, could be very deep, reaching down to the bedrock, and a well or shaft had to be dug to reach the pay dirt. When these holes were too deep for … Continue reading →

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The first stagecoach robbery in the gold rush

Posted on June 13, 2011 by John Putnam

Soon after gold was discovered in California it was so plentiful and easy to mine that there was no need to steal. But the situation changed quickly as more and more men poured into the mining country from all over … Continue reading →

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Early mining near Grass Valley

Posted on June 1, 2011 by John Putnam

News of gold in California made it to the Oregon Territory quickly. David Stump and two friends came south seeking wealth and found rich deposits of placer gold along Wolf Creek. Like so many other strikes at places such as … Continue reading →

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