History of the “public Lands” Grazing System

Recommendations 1

• R50-60

  Page 81
  feet below the water line; processed 210,000 cubic yds. Of soil and gravel per mo.; and use 10,000 gal./min. pumped from a pond to wash gravel through screens. SHASTA RIVER – Water was scarce at the main mining area on Yreka Flats and was necessary to wash the gold from the dirt. The only local streams that could be diverted at the necessary elevation were of intermittent flow. Seasonal water became scarce to work the mines and carts were used to transport pay-dirt to the creek to wash out gold. District meetings were held in 1852, and the “Big Ditch” project was born. The ditch was to run from Shasta River and Parks Creek descending from an elevation sufficient for a running grade to Yreka and Hawkinsville. When completed, although the source of inflow was thirty miles from Yreka, it was to run 96-100 miles in length. During the course of construction, the Yreka Ditch Co. ran out of finances. After one failed attempt at reorganization, the workers took over the Yreka Water Co. “Father” of the ditch, Louis Wortman, organized the workers on the basis that they would be paid from “first water” upon completion and would lose what was owed them if the project was never completed. Wortman received ¼ interest in the ditch for his efforts upon completion and was later in charge of its operation and maintenance as Ditch Supervisor. The “Big Ditch” was completed in the Spring of 1856, at an average grade of 2 inches to the hundred foot, and cost of $2,500 a mile. Many miners were paid for their work with script to be reimbursed with water for their claims, when available. Supplies were furnished by Yreka merchants, including food and clothing for the workers. The value of these was to be reimbursed at a rate of $2.50-$3.00 a day from the sale of water when the project was completed. At completion, the company sold the water to the miners on Greenhorn, Yreka Flats and Hawkinsville. The rate charged was 50 cents per miner’s inch per day and water recovered after first usage was resold at the same rate at lower levels. Ditch tenders were paid half in cash and half in water.