History of Sacramento County, 1880
Thompson & West

Excerpts about Folsom
(Note to the reader: this text is taken verbatim, including any misspellings, long sentences or paragraphs, and unusual choice of words. We wish to preserve the flavor of the writing style along with the actual content.)

GRANITE TOWNSHIP
Was created by the Board of Supervisors on October 20, 1856. It was formerly included in the boundaries of Mississippi Township.

The land in Granite Township is partly agricultural and partly mineral, being probably two-thirds mineral and one-third agricultural.

The Natoma Water and Mining Company owns a large amount of land in the township, which they are working according to the quality of the land, the mineral claims being leased, the Company furnishing the water; the agricultural and is also leased.

LAND TITLES.
Nearly all of the land in this township is included in the Leidesdorft grant. The grant was given to Leidesdorff by Micheltorena in 1844. James L. Folsom bought the interest of the heirs of Leidesdorff, and by his executors secured its confirmation in 1855. This grant runs from the Sutter grant up the American River, which forms its northern boundary; the southern boundary is nearly parallel to the river and distant there from four to five miles, and includes Folsom. The land was pretty well taken up by squatters, who were compelled to buy the title to their possession or vacate. The Natoma Mining and Water Company hold their title to land in Granite Township under this grant, they having purchased from the grantee of Folsom, by his executors. The full history of this grant is given in the chapter on land titles.

FOLSOM
The history of Folsom properly includes that of Negro Bar, which was the pioneer of the former place, and it is more than probable that had it not been for the fact that there was a mining camp of large proportions at Negro Bar, Folsom would have been located farther down the American Fork. Negro Bar received its name from the circumstance of negroes being the first men to do any mining at that point. This was in 1849. The Bar commences at Folsom, on the same side of the river, and runs nine-tenths of a mile down stream. Miners came flocking in from all quarters, and in 1851 there were over seven hundred people here. In the summer of 1850 the Virginia Mining Company was formed, for draining the river at this point; this Company 8 was composed of two hundred and forty members, with John McCormick for President. It took them two years to build the canal, which was intended to leave the old river- a bed clear for mining. The Company did not pay very well, but the canal was used for mining the bar, by using" Long Toms." The Long Island Company was composed of thirty eight men, Robert Reeves, President. The Tennessee Company, thirty members, William Gwaltney, President. The Bar was splendid mining ground; and large quantities of gold have been taken out; there is still some mining going on here now, mostly by Chinamen. Since the introduction of water here by the Natoma Water and Mining Company, the canal has not been used.

J. S. Meredith opened the first hotel and store at Negro Bar, both being in the same building, in April, 1850. William A. Davidson opened the second store, but was shortly after bought out by A. A. Durfee & Brother. A few months later Rowley & Richardson opened a. third store. These were the principal business houses until Folsom was started.

Among some of the physicians living at the Bar at that time were Dr. S. Lyon, now living in Folsom; Dr. Caldwell, who returned to Tennessee; Dr. Palmer, still a resident of the State; A. A. Durfee & Brother, both now living in Michigan.

Folsom was laid out by Theodore D. Judah, Richmond Chenery and Samuel O. Bruce, for Captain J. L. Folsom, in 1855. The lots were then sold on the 17th of January, 1856, at public auction, in the City of Sacramento, Col. J. B. Starr, auctioneer. The lots were all sold at this sale. Purchasers commenced building, and the town grew rapidly. On the 22d day of February following, the Sacramento Valley Railroad was finished to Folsom, and opened. Free excursion trains were run from Sacramento to Folsom. There were about one thousand people present, including Governor Johnson, Judges Murray and Terry, several members of the Senate and Assembly, ex-Governor Foote and many other prominent persons. A cold collation, and champagne ad libitum, were supplied gratuitously to the guests.

The speakers of the day were Senator Flint, Col. Zabriskie, Governor Foote, Governor Johnson, Captain W. T. Sherman, Vice-President of the Company, and Captain C. K. Garrison, President of the Company.

In the evening a special train was run from Sacramento to Folsom, for the accommodation of people from Sacramento wishing to attend the ball given in Folsom that evening. The train left the Third-street depot at 7 :30 P. H., and arrived at Folsom at 9 P. H. The guests were conveyed by omnibuses in waiting to the Meredith Hotel, "under the hill." This building was erected expressly for this occasion, and was thirty feet wide by nearly one hundred feet long, and presented a brilliant appearance, being brightly illuminated.

The floor managers for the ball were Judge A. O. Munson, H. P. Wakelee, Harvey Livingstone, Ferris Foreman and George Bromley.

At 10 P. H. the sound of music announced that the dancing had begun, and in a few moments the floor of the spacious ball-room was alive with flying couples, clad in every variety of costume, male and female, that fancy might suggest and money procure, varying from the rough canvas of the miner or the calico of the shop-girl to the swallowtailed coat of the beau or the low-necked muslin of the city belle.

The supper was superb, and, after partaking thereof, dancing was again in order. At midnight, notice was given that a special train for Sacramento would leave Folsom at one o'clock A. H., but at that hour no passengers appeared, and it was not until five o'clock and broad daylight that the excited dancers began to realize that dancing is hard work after all, and to wonder why it was they were so tired. We suppose that they found out on the return trip to Sacramento.

Folsom was the terminus of the Sacramento Valley Railroad. A railroad was projected in 1857 to run from Folsom to Marysville. The Company was formed in Marysville, and called the California Central Railroad. They built the bridge across the American River in 1858, and in October, 1861, ran trains into Lincoln. This road was abandoned about 1866.

BRIDGES.
The railroad bridge across the American River was commenced on May 31, 1858. This bridge was on the line of the California Central Railroad, was ninety-two feet above the water, with a span of two hundred and sixteen feet; cost, $100,000; and was the only bridge left on the American River by the flood of 1862, caused by the elevation being fifty feet greater than the suspension bridge. The bridge was condemned in 1866, it having sunk in the center and been considered unsafe for some time. It was subsequently sold and taken down some time after 1868.

In 1854 a wooden bridge was built across the American River at Folsom. It was washed away by high water a few years later.

Thompson & Kinsey then obtained a charter for building a bridge across the American River at Folsom in 1861.

This was a wire suspension bridge. The flood of 1862 carried this bridge away on January 10. On March 7, 1862, the work of rebuilding commenced. This is the present structure; it connects Folsom with Ashland, a little town across the river, and is called "The Folsom and Ashland Suspension Bridge;" is of the Halliday Patent; length of span, three hundred and fifty feet between towers; has two cables, eight-hundred feet long, and four towers; weight of bridge, seventy-five tons. Kinsey & Whitely were the builders. C. L. Ecklon purchased the bridge and franchise in 1871. The tolls are: Foot passenger, both ways, ten cents; team, both ways same day, fifty cents; man on horseback, each way, twelve and one-half cents. The charter runs for twenty-five years from the 3d of February, 1862.

CAR SHOPS.
The Sacramento Valley Railroad built its car and machine shops at Folsom in 1861. The buildings consisted of a brick machine shop, sixty feet wide by one hundred and ten feet long; a car shop, also, of brick, forty feet wide by eighty feet long, and foundry; in all, employing about fifty men. The shops were closed and the machinery moved to Sacramento, December 26, 1869.

During the Washoe excitement, Folsom was the starting point for twenty-one different stage lines running to the northern mines. In April, 1862, it was made the terminus of the overland mail route, which had previously been at Placerville.

HOTELS.
Patterson and Waters' Hotel, afterwards the Patterson House, was built in 1856. Patterson & Waters ran the house for about ten years; they were succeeded by Charles Watts; he, in turn, by Mrs. H. B. Waddilove, and the last manager was M. Doll, who was in charge at the time of the fire of 1871.

The Olive Branch was built, in 1856, by Mr. Heaton, who kept the house until it was burned down.

The Mansion House was built in 1857. J. Holmes was the proprietor; he was succeeded by L. M. Dennison, who kept the house until the fire, in May, 1864.

The Tremont House was built, in 1860, by Mrs. Lucinda Smart; she sold to Ira Sanders, who managed the business until 1868; when the house was destroyed by fire.

The Granite Hotel was built, in 1858, by Captain Hughes; he was succeeded by Martin Wetzlar. The house was burned in 1866.

The Central Hotel was built by George Wellington, in 1859. This house changed hands several times, until, in the spring of 1879, Mr. Rand, the present proprietor, assumed the management.

The American Exchange was built in 1875; Mrs. Kate Hamilton is the proprietor.

BREWERIES.
There never have been but two breweries in Folsom. The first was built by Chris Heiler, in 1857, and was run for several years by Raber & Heiler. This was destroyed by fire in 1868.

In 1872, Peter Yager erected a brewery on the foundation of a large store which was destroyed in the destructive fire of 1870. The building, which is made of brick, is a substantial structure, and well adapted for the purpose of a brewery. The dimensions are, thirty feet front on Sutter street, by one hundred and thirty feet deep, is one story in hight in front, the rear, over the railroad, being three stories high. There is a brewing room adjoining, containing kettle, cooler, wash-tub, etc. The cellars extend the entire length of the building, being as commodious as any in the county. The daily capacity is about ten barrels, but it has not been taxed that much, the demand not requiring it. The annual sales have been about four hundred and fifty barrels.

FLOURING MILL.
Caners' Flouring Mill was built in 1866, on the corner of Wool street and the Railroad; the mill was operated about two years, when it was closed. The building, a three-story brick, was purchased by B. N. Bugbey, and used by him as a wine cellar, the third floor being rented as a hall to the societies of Folsom. The building was burned about the year 1871.

Natoma Mills were built by Edward Stockton in June, 1866, using the three-story brick building formerly occupied by the Wheeler House; the power was taken from the Natoma ditch, and using two runs of stone; discontinued.

There are in Folsom at present (1880) two hotels, two livery stables, four grocery stores, three hardware and tin stores, two drug stores, one dry goods store, one variety store, two lumber yards, one bank, one furniture store, one wagon and blacksmith shop, four blacksmith shops, one harness shop, one express office, one bakery, two restaurants, two barber shops, two butcher shops, one brewery, two shoe shops, one gun store, two jewelers (repairing), one fruit drying establishment, one distillery and winery, ten saloons.

SCHOOLS.
Folsom is at present the location of the only public school in the township. There was formerly a school at Prairie City. The first public school was established in 1857; the first teacher was I. M. Sibley. E. P. Willard, Dr. S. Palmer and J. S. Meredith were the first trustees. The school has a fine library. The Folsom Institute was opened in 1857, with Rev. S. V. Blakeslee, A. M., Principal; Daniel K. Bickford, Miss L. Wakefield and Miss Carrie E. Atwood, assistants. The Trustees were Francis Clark, A.P. Catlin, Dr. A. C. Donaldson, Dr. Bradley, C.T.H. Palmer, E. D. Haskins, A. G. Kinsey and S.V. Blakeslee. In 1858 fifteen acres of land in the upper part of Folsom were secured, and subscriptions were solicited for erecting a building. By August thirty-two hundred dollars had been subscribed, and a large brick building was erected.

The first term opened with twelve pupils, and the report for 1861 shows a list of forty students, thirty of whom were then residents of Folsom.

The Institute flourished for several years, but was closed in 1869. Mrs. T. S. Finchley kept a private primary school at Folsom in 1862. T. C. Stevens opened a singing school in 1861, in the M.. E. Church; this school was continued for several years.

THE FOLSOM TELEGRAPH.
The Folsom Telegraph is the only paper published in Folsom. It was started, in 1860, under the name of Folsom Weekly Telegraph. On January 1, 1861, the paper was changed to a semi-weekly, as the Folsom Semi- Weekly Telegraph, C Killmer and W. M. Penry, publishers and editors; July 16, 1861, C. Killmer and O. D. Avaline, publishers and editors; and December 3, 1861, O. D. Avaline became sole proprietor. Avaline died, December 26, 1863; Mrs. Avaline continued the paper, with P. J. Hopper as editor. On January 2, 1864, the paper was changed to a weekly, under its present name, Folsom Telegraph.

On April 15, 1865, P. J. Hopper purchased the paper, and became editor and publisher. Hopper leased the paper, in 1874, to J. F. Howe, and, in December, 1877, sold to W. W. Light, who leased it to Mrs. J. F. Howe, the present editor and publisher. The politics of the Telegraph were Democratic, until January 1, 1863; from that time to the present they have been Republican.

FIRES.
Folsom has suffered heavily from fires, at different times. May 8, 1866, a fire burned" Whiskey Row," and a number of buildings on Sutter and Decatur streets, including the office of the Folsom Telegraph. August 31, 1866, the Hotel de France and a number of contiguous buildings were burned.

The Folsom Theater was destroyed by fire, June 27, 1871. In 1871, a fire destroyed all of Chinatown, Patterson's Hotel, and part of Addison's lumber yard. May 6, 1872, a fire broke out in Smith, Campbell & Jolly's store, and destroyed all the buildings in the block, with the exception of the office of the Folsom Telegraph. Among these buildings were Meredith's drug store and Farmer's blacksmith shop. The loss was about one hundred and thirty thousand dollars.

YOUNG AMERICA, NO. 1.
This was a Fire Company, organized in September, 1861. The Company bought a hand engine, costing eighteen hundred dollars, and displayed some activity for a year or so, but, the enthusiasm dying out, it was disbanded in 1863.

THE FOLSOM HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY.
This Company was organized March 3, 1857. The first officers were: H. B. Waddilove, Foreman; Charles Plannett, First Assistant; Frank Wheeler, Second Assistant; J. M. Arbuckle, Secretary; H. D. Rowley, Treasurer.

The Company owns the building known as Firemen's Hall, located on Sutter street. Monthly meetings are held here by the Company on the first Wednesday of each month. The average membership has been about thirty-five; present membership is twenty-five.

The present officers are: M. Doll, Foreman; H. Ehrkey, First Assistant; Samuel Kay, Second Assistant; J. S. Meredith, Secretary; Jacob Gable, Treasurer; Fred. Holsinger, Jr., Steward.

The Company has done good service at the fires in Folsom since its organization. They lost their first building by fire.

GRANITE LODGE, NO. 62, I. o. O. F.
This Lodge was organized September 19, 1856, by David Kendall, D. D. G. M., assisted by Brothers C. C. Hayden, Samuel Cross, W. B. H. Dodson, George 1. N. Monell, G. K. Van Heusen and George Nelson.

The first officers were: J. E. Clark, N. G.; A. Mears, V. G.; W. A. McClure, Recording Secretary; H. A. Hill, Treamrer. The charter members, in addition to the above, were S. F. Marquis, A. W. Beals, B. Kozminsky, L. Sampson, J. Crumbergel', G. B. Harnish, and E. A. Turner.

The present officers are: Samuel P. Boyd, N. G.; R. A. Reed, V. G.; William H. Nichols, Recording Secretary; John M. Benson, Permanent Secretary; Jacob Hyman, Treasurer. The greatest number of members at any one time was ninety; the present membership is fifty-six. The value of property belonging to the Lodge is about $2,000, consisting of money in bank, furniture in hall, regalia and cemetery lots. The financial condition is good. The amount disbursed in benefits, charities, etc., is over $16,000. Weekly meetings, Saturday nights, at Odd Fellows' Hall.

FOLSOM ENCAMPMENT NO. 24, I. o. O. F.
This Encampment was formed June 28, 1864, with A. C. Davis, Edward Christy, S. Zekind, S. M. Seely, John Eoff, John H, Seymour and E. O. Dana as charter members. Edward Christy, P. C, P., is still an active member.

The present officers are: John M. Benson, C. P.; John Lawton, H. P.; Jacob Gable, S. W.; James H. Williamson, J. W.; William H. Nichols, Scribe; E. R. Levy, Treasurer. The greatest membership at anyone time was thirty; there are twenty-seven members at present. The value of the property belonging to the Encampment is $700. The financial condition is good. About three thousand dollars have been disbursed in benefits. Meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.

NATOMA LODGE, NO. 64, F. AND A. M.
This Lodge was organized in October, 1854, with M. Wallace, A. Spinks, A. O. Carr, L. Bates, G. W. Coreyey, S. Logan, H. A. Holcomb, D. McCall, B. H. Conroy, J. H. Berry, W. Sheldon, C. S. Bogar, W. K. Spencer, D. M. K. Campbell, J. Clark and M. Hatch, as charter members, of whom A. Spinks is the only active member. The first officers were: M. Wallace, W. M.; L. Bates, S. W.; A. O. Carr, J. W. The records of the Lodge were destroyed by fire in 1871, and we have been unable to obtain the full list of first officers.

The present officers are: J. H. Burnham, W. M.; C. L. Ecklon, S. W.; M. Doll, J. W.; J. H. Smith, Treasurer; W. W. Sheldon, Secretary; Edward Christy, S. D.; C. O. Spaulding, J. D.; H. Holsinger, Tyler. There are fifty members at present, which is the greatest number that the Lodge has ever had. The value of the property is about three thousand dollars. The financial condition is good. About seven thousand dollars have been disbursed in benefits.

FOLSOM DIVISION, NO. 278, S. OF T.
This Lodge meets Monday evenings, and was organized October 6, 1878, with J. C. Fischer, W. B. Waldron, J. E. Blanchard, Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. Salsberry, Anson Fischer, Mrs. Currier, B. N. Bugbey, Miss Bugbey, Miss Ettie Sturges, Miss Annie Fischer and Mr. Hicks, who were also the first officers. Of this number, J. C. Fischer, W. B. Waldron, J. E. Blanchard, Mrs. Hastings, Miss Annie Fischer, Miss Minnie G. Fischer, Mrs. Currier and Mr. Hicks are still active members.

The present officers are: J. E. Blanchard, W. P.; Mrs. H. L. Hastings, W. A.; W. B. Waldron, P. W. P.; Miss Minnie G. Fischer, R. S.; C. E. Burnham, A. R. S.; I. Fiele, F. S.; Mr. Foster, Treasurer; Mrs. A. Hastings, Chaplain; Willie H. Lewis, Conductor; Edith C. Smith, A.C.; Mary Burke, I.S.; Jacob Bales, O.S. There are at present forty members belonging to the Lodge, the greatest number having been forty-five. The value of the Lodge property is estimated at forty dollars. The financial condition of the Lodge is good.


CHURCHES.
The first religious services were held in the Hook and Ladder Company's hall in 1856 by the Rev. Dr. Hatch, an Episcopal divine, of Sacramento. About this time Father Quinn, of the Catholic Church, held service at the house of P. J. O'Neil, about two miles from Folsom.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH (CATHOLIC).
This church was organized in 1856. The church edifice was erected in 1857; in the meantime the society held its meetings in the Clarken College, Rev. Father Quinn, pastor. The original cost of the building was sixteen hundred dollars. It was enlarged in 1859 at an additional outlay of nine hundred dollars. The successive pastors were the Rev. John Quinn, now deceased; Rev. Father James Gallagher, now in San Francisco; Rev. Father Neal Gallagher, deceased; Rev. Father Francis Kelley, deceased, and Rev. Father John Leahy, the present pastor.

This church has the largest membership of any, outside of Sacramento City, in the county. The Sunday school is in flourishing condition and there is a large attendance of scholars.

TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was organized J u1y 18, 1862; the church building was erected the same year, at a cost of about four thousand dollars, and is a fine frame structure. The first officers were: Vestrymen, Wm. Timson, H. B. Waddilove, J. S. Meredith, Dr. A. C. Donaldson and George Bromley; Senior Warden, Dr. A. C. Donaldson; Junior Warden, Wm. Moore; Clerk of the Parish, J. S. Meredith.

The present officers are: Vestrymen, Warren Luscomb, B. F. Bates; Vestry, Mrs. Charles Jolly, Mrs. Jane S. Bates, Mrs. J. H. Smith; Senior Warden, Warren Luscomb; Junior Warden, William Farmer; Clerk of the Parish, J. S. Meredith. The first Rector was Rev. Thomas A. Hyland, now in Astoria, Oregon; his successors to date are Rev. Dr. Lee, Rev. Dr. Arthur E. Hill, Rev. Dr. David J. Lee, Rev. Dr. A. A. McAlister, Rev. Dr. Thomas Smith. The society has no resident minister at present. Services are held about once a month.

The church building is in good repair. The largest membership was in 1864, when there were one hundred and twenty members. The present number is about twenty. Mrs. Jane S. Bates is superintendent of the Sunday school, which numbers thirty-five scholars.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1860; a church building of brick, thirty-six by sixty feet in size, was erected the same year. J. E. Benton, now residing in Oakland, was the first pastor. This society has had no pastor or services for some years, and as a society has practically ceased to exist.

COBBLE STONES.
For a number of years the trade in cobble stones, which were gathered along the American River, was very large. This district supplied the great bulk of the paving stones for San Francisco. Prior to the completion of the Sacramento Valley Railroad, the stones were loaded into scows and taken to Sacramento, and there transferred to schooners for the Bay. In 1856, a man named White engaged largely in the shipment of paving stones.

At Texas Hill, near Folsom, the firm of Everett & Pardessus carried on the business during 1859 and 1860, when Everett retired, the price of cobbles having fallen to seventy five cents a ton.

In 1862, Pardessus fell from a wagon, and received injuries which caused his death.

In 1863, the cobble pits at Texas Hill became the property of the Sacramento Valley Railroad Company, which corporation laid a branch track, leading directly to the pits, thereby greatly facilitating the shipment of the rock. Millions of tons of cobbles have been shipped from Folsom and vicinity, much the greater part of which has gone to San Francisco. The demand for cobble stones, for the past ten years, has not been large, owing to the introduction of the wooden and other pavements in the City of San Francisco.

PRAIRIE CITY.
This place is located two miles south of Folsom, in Granite township, on the hills on or near Alder Creek. Mining commenced here in 1853, on the completion of the Natoma Water and Mining Company's ditch to this point. The water reached Rhodes' Diggings, about one mile farther up the creek, early in June, 1853. The miners came flocking in from all directions, and Prairie City began to assume the importance of a city, in fact, as well as in name. This was the business town for several mining camps, Rhodes Diggings, Willow Springs Bill Diggings, Alder Creek. Rhodes' Diggings laid some pretentions to having a town of its own; John H. Gass and Colonel Z. Hagan built a steam quartz mill in 1855, and a French company built a large quartz mill in 1857, costing fifty thousand dollars; this mill paid wonderfully well for a time, and the stock could not be purchased for any reasonable price; this, however, did not last long; the stock ceased to pay dividends, went down, and finally became worthless.

At Prairie City, in 1853, Jesse Dresser, E. A. Platt, Eisner J. Campan, - Rosenthal, and - Meers, kept stores; Dr. Rutherford, a drug store; Dr. White; "Marble Hall Hotel," kept by Michael Conothy. In 1854, J. & J. Spruance opened a store here, the largest in town. Elisha Waterman, carpenter and builder, erected most of the buildings. In July, 1853, the town contained about one hundred buildings, fifteen stores, ten boarding houses and hotels, and about thirty families; emigrants arriving daily; two lines of stages running daily.

Early in 1854 the inhabitants numbered over one thousand, and the miners were reported as doing well, making from five to twenty dollars per diem; in one case, three men are reported to have taken out eighty-five ounces in one day. The town began to die out in 1860, and now has a school building. and one cabin, where some miners live.

There is some mining going on the whole length of Alder Creek. This region has been mined for some twenty years, and is still paying very well.

WILLOW SPRINGS HILL DIGGINGS.
These diggings were on the hill or ridge between Alder and Willow Creeks; this hill was about a mile long. Mining commenced along Willow Creek as early as 1851; when the gulches were worked back to the ridge, it was found that the dirt still continued good pay, and claims were continued on the hill. Most of the milling was done on the north side of the ridge, there being a better flow of water there; by this time, 1853, the Natoma Ditch was furnishing water at this point. In the palmy days of this region there were twelve companies or claims, employing sixty men. It is not known what amount of gold has been taken out of this region, comprising about two thousand acres, but it is estimated to have been millions of dollars, the eastern end of Willow Springs Hill being extraordinarily rich. Carrigan Brothers and Patrick Donevan are still working these mines.

TEXAS HILL.
This was a mining camp just below Negro Bar, on the American River, and extensive operations were carried on there until 1855, under the superintendence of John A. Watson, now the purchasing agent of the Central Pacific Railroad Company.

BEAM'S BAR.
This Bar was named after Jerry Beam. It is situated one half mile below Alabama Bar, on the south side of the American River. The Bar was first worked in the summer of 1849 by what was called Beam's Company, which consisted of twelve men. The Bar, as mined by Beam's Company, did not include any part of the river bed, which was under water in summer time. This Bar was wonderfully rich until worked out. The men of Beam's Company considered they had had a poor day if the result was less than a pound of gold per man. Beam's Company sold out to Rolands in 1850 for twenty pounds of gold. Rolands formed a Company, also of twelve men, called the Beam's Bar Mining Company. They worked the Bar out, and obtained a little less than the purchase price for the claim. They then turned the stream and mined the river bed. This they continued each year during the summer up to and including 1857. Several times since 1857 parties have attempted to work this Bar, with indifferent results. In 1863 Alfred Spinks, one of the original members of the Beam's Bar Mining Company, took a force of one hundred and twenty Chinamen to the Bar and went to the bed-rock, which he found at a depth of about sixty feet. The result was not at all commensurate with the amount of labor expended, Mr. Spinks making little more than his expenses. He leased it the following year to Chinamen. This, as far as we can learn, is the last work that has been done at this point. In the early summer of 1852, a fight occurred for the possession of this claim, caused by an attempt to jump the claim by a party of fourteen men, headed by a man named Schofield. This party claimed a right to the ground under previous location, but, from the final settlement, it is doubtful if they ever had such a right. The men of the Beam's Bar Company were waiting in their camp, on the bank of the river, for the water to go down. They had noticed that there was a large camp of men about one-quarter of a mile from them, but thought nothing of it, till one morning, about daybreak, while they were getting their breakfast, the Schofield party appeared in full force with their shovels, wheelbarrrows and other mining implements, and descended the bank to the claim, and took possession thereof. One of Beam's Bar Company by the name of Johnson went down, and informed them that the claim belonged to them, the Beam's Bar Company, and that, so far from having vacated it, they were only waiting for the water to subside sufficiently to allow effective work. Schofield inquired, "Is that all?" On being answered “yes," he turned to his party and said, "Go to work, boys."

About this time the Beam's Bar Company jumped in and began work also. A lively skirmish ensued, in which spades, shovels and. knives were freely used, not a shot being fired. The Schofield party retired badly demoralized, a brother of the head of the party having been nearly scalped by a blow from the edge of a spade, which finally resulted in his death, some eighteen months later. The party then went to Negro Bar, where the Justice of that region was wont to dispense justice and liquors over the same bar, and entered a complaint against the Beam's Bar Company. The Justice issued a summons to the members of the company to appear and show cause, etc. This summons was duly served, and the return brought to the Justice informed him that if he wished to try them he must come to Beam's Bar. This he declined to do, stating that all the gold in California would not tempt him to do so, but promised a fair trial at Negro Bar. The matter was finally compromised by the Beam's Bar Company paying each man of the Schofield party one hundred dollars, with the understanding that one half of the whole amount should be paid to the injured man.

NEW DIGGINGS.
In the summer of 1879 a man leased from the Natoma Company all the land lying between Folsom and Alder Creek north of the railroad. The old miners had dug down to what they considered bed-rock and then, stopped. This party bored through this crust, and found good paying gravel underneath. The crust was composed of what appeared to have been black slime or deposit at the bottom of a lake, solidified; it was full of shells. This formation is supposed to be quite extensive, and, if so, will open a new mining industry in this region.

THE NATOMA WATER AND MINING COMPANY.
This Company, at present the largest owner of water rights in the county, was organized in 1851. A. P. Catlin, now living at Sacramento, was the originator of the enterprise. Associated with him were Judge Thomas, H. Williams, Craig and Berry, William Jarvis, now at Folsom, John Bennett and Henry Robinson, then and now living at San Francisco. The main canal was commenced in 1851, taking its water from a point on the south Fork of the American River, two miles above Salmon Falls. The length of the main canal is about twenty miles; the length of the branches for irrigation, etc., we have not been able to learn.

The cost of the canal, branches and reservoirs to date amounts to about one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. The canal, from its commencement, runs through a mining country that, without the water furnished by this ditch, would. be comparatively valueless. The canal runs through Natoma Township, which it reached in 1852; in 1853 the ditch was finished to Prairie City, and reached Folsom in 1854. the Company was formed into a joint stock corporation in July, 1853.

The first permanent officers regularly elected were A. P. Catlin, President; S. R. Caldwell, Vice President; A. T. Arrowsmith, Secretary; T. L. Craig, Treasurer. Directors -- G. W. Colby, H. Hollister, F. S. Mumford, T. H. Berry, F. Clark and E. Crowe.

In 1857 the Company purchased from Charles Nystrom eight thousand six hundred and fifty-four and eight one hundredths acres of land, including all the lands, granite quarries and water privileges from below Alder Creek to the east line of the grant. Nystrom purchased from the executors of the estate of Folsom, who bought the whole Leidesdorft' Grant of the heirs.

Of this amount about two-thirds are mineral, and one-third agricultural land, and constitutes what might be called the north half of Granite Township, though not quite one-half the area of the township.

The Company also owns seventy-three acres of land on the north bank of the American River, purchased from Ed Dana. All the land, both mineral and agricultural, belonging to the Company, is leased to different parties, the Company receiving its percentage in water rates; where parties do not use water they are taxed three dollars per man each month. The systems of mining employed are drifting and hydraulic. The number of men employed by the Company varies from eighty to two hundred. The pay of a foreman is three dollars per day; white man, two dollars; Chinaman, one dollar. The ditch is at present in good repair throughout. The present officers are: John H. Redington, President; Charles E. Livermore, Vice-President; H. P. Livermore Secretary and Treasurer; Wm. P. Redington, George Pelington; H. P: Livermore, General Superintendent and Manager.
 

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