448 JOHN BIRKINBINE 



it not been for the discovery of the treasures hoarded up in 

 the barren ridges and canyons. The train of emigrants which 

 crossed the plains in the year 1849 had no eyes to see the pos- 

 sible riches of the land through which they were passing, for 

 their faces were set steadfastly toward the glittering beacon 

 beyond the Sierras." 



The Comstock lode is selected as an illustration, because 

 its development rapidly transformed a desert mountain re- 

 gion, distant from any settlement, into a populous business 

 center, supplied with superb evidences of engineering skill. 

 The character of the ore won was the inspiration which devel- 

 oped some of the best forms of crushing appliances; the depth 

 of workings, the size of deposits, the quantity of water to con- 

 tend with, and the extreme heat of the lower workings demand- 

 ed the construction of superior hoisting, ventilating and pump- 

 ing machinery; the square set system of timbering (without 

 which many other deposits could not now be successfully ex- 

 ploited), the construction of a drainage tunnel which is world 

 famous, and other innovations, resulted from the develop- 

 ments on the Comstock lode. 



The migration in 1849, of seekers for gold, opened up the 

 wealth of Cahfornia, and that state is entitled to credit for 

 many advances in hydrauhc engineering devised to maintain 

 its mining industry. Immense dams, long and tortuous canals 

 or flumes, the cutting away of great masses of earth by streams 

 of water delivered through Little Giants under heavy pressure, 

 the diversion of streams, so as to work their natural beds as 

 placers, and the construction of impact water wheels, oper- 

 ating under heads of water which previously had been con- 

 sidered impractible, are some of the results of mine develop- 

 ments. Colorado may well share in this credit, for it has ex- 

 tensive mining tunnels, elaborate water power installations, 

 etc., but in that state the construction of railroads in deep 

 canyons or over high mountain passes, to reach the mines and 

 convey their output to market, is probably considered the most 

 notable feature. Montana, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, and in 

 fact the entire mountain and Pacific sections of our great west, 

 present numerous instances of progress due primarily to the 

 development of mineral properties, and the mining industry 



