Tag Archives: Yuba River

Rough and Ready

Posted on October 13, 2011 by John Putnam

One of the first instances of a vigilance committee was in the Nevada County gold town of Rough and Ready, first settled in 1849. Because of the rich finds in the area there were soon thousands of men working there … 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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Mining law, the Northern mines

Posted on October 2, 2011 by John Putnam

The Sweetland district in Nevada County was organized in 1850 and allowed thirty square feet per claim. Two years later claims of eighty by one hundred and eighty feet were the rule. Then in 1853, at a large miner’s meeting, … Continue reading →

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A con man hits Downieville

Posted on September 7, 2011 by John Putnam

It was May of 1850 when the honest, hard working miners around Downieville realized the ethical days of the early gold rush had come to a sudden, and expensive, end. It was a lesson that would stay with them for … Continue reading →

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Kanaka and Oregon Creeks, gold in the Blue Lead

Posted on July 4, 2011 by John Putnam

Around May of 1850 a Kanaka known as Captain Ross and said to be the son of King Kamehameha had a large following of men from the Sandwich Islands, or Hawaii as we know it today, and sent out search … Continue reading →

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Gold between the North Yuba and the South Feather

Posted on July 3, 2011 by John Putnam

Around the first of July 1850, a party of about 130 prospectors, which included a miner named One-eyed Moore, stopped at a lovely, flat valley some 12 miles northwest of Downieville so covered in wild onions that they called Onion … Continue reading →

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Downieville and the North Yuba River

Posted on July 2, 2011 by John Putnam

French Corral, on a ridge near where the Middle Yuba merges with the main stream, was at the lower edge of the gold bearing gravel and soon became valuable mining territory. Other places along the Middle Fork of the Yuba, … 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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The start of quartz mining technology at Grass Valley

Posted on June 30, 2011 by John Putnam

Grass Valley, along Wolf Creek just over the ridge from Nevada City and where water flowed into the South Yuba instead of the Bear River, was growing at about the same pace as it’s neighbor. In 1849 miners were working … Continue reading →

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Massive damage from hydraulic mining

Posted on June 29, 2011 by John Putnam

Located just above where the Yuba and Feather Rivers meet, and once part of John Sutter’s vast holdings, Marysville quickly became a debarkation point for miners on their way to the gold fields from San Francisco. Due to this influx, … Continue reading →

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