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Hydraulic Mining in California

OLD is mined in vari- in letting water down from a considerable ous ways. The height, and throwing it under the presvaried apparatus for sure of its own weight against the "pay separating it from dirt," which is thus torn down, dissolved, the débris it is mixed and carried into the sluice below. This with is all con-lis effected by means of a strong hose, and structed on the same is used not to wash the dirt, but to save principle, namely, by digging with shovels, and to carry it to aid of water to wash the gold the sluice. "The hydraulic process is scales to the bottom, these being applied," writes Mr. Hittel, who has given heavier, and leave the sand, earth, us the best account of it, "only to claims and stones at the top to be thrown when the dirt is deep, and when the water away. If the gold be very "fine," is abundant. If the dirt were shallow in that is, in very minute scales, it is caught the claim and its vicinity, the necessary head of water could not be obtained.

Hydraulic claims are usually in hills. by means of quicksilver mixed with the mass in process of washing. The implements in use, or which have been invented, are simply endless. "The water is led along on the hill at a height varying from fifty to two hundred feet above the bed rock to the claim A comparatively recent mode of washing the gold is, however, so interesting, at the end or the side of the hill, when that we may describe it, and have illus- the water, playing against the dirt, soon trated it in the engraving. This is the cuts a large hole, with perpendicular, or, hydraulic method. Its principle consists at least, steep banks. At the top of the (266)