DRAINAGE OF SIEEEA COUNTY. 



209 



In addition to the information gathered during repeated visits to Sierra 

 and Plumas counties by the writer and other members of the Geological Corps, 

 we have some valuable materials from the pen of Mr. C. W. Hendel, who pre- 

 pared an elaborate account of the mining operations in the district in question, 

 in 1872, which was published in the Fifth Report of the Commissioner of Min- 

 ing Statistics, and to which frequent reference will be made in the course of the 

 following pages * A much more detailed and thorough investigation will have 

 to be carried on in this region than has yet been before all the important 

 questions can be solved. which are here presented. Some most interesting 

 and suggestive facts can, however, be brought forward at the present time, 

 and it is to be hoped that these will be speedily supplemented by further 

 information, to be gathered and utilized in the manner already suggested in 

 a former page of this volume. 



Sierra County is principally drained by the brandies of the North Pork of 

 the Yuba, the main stream having a nearly due west course for most of the 

 way from its source, but turning suddenly just before reaching the foot-hills 

 and running south for about twenty miles to its junction with the Middle 

 Yuba, just below San Juan. It is with the head waters of the North and Mid- 

 dle Yuba that the peculiar course of the rivers of the northern portion of the 

 Sierra first becomes noticeable. These branches of the Yuba run for some 

 distance in a northwest direction parallel with the crest of the Sierra, before 

 turning to assume their normal direct descent down the slope of the range. 

 The Feather River exhibits this peculiarity in a much more marked degree, 

 as already mentioned.! The branches both of the Middle and the North Fork 

 of that river run for a long distance toward the northwest before turning to 

 cross the main belt of the Sierra, and after reaching the foot-hills the course 

 of the united stream is nearly south, and parallel with that of the Sacra- 

 mento, which it does not join until it arrives within fifteen miles of the junc- 

 tion of the American River. 



In view of these peculiarities of drainage, it is not surprising that the chan- 

 nels of the ancient rivers exhibit corresponding features, differing from those 

 of the Sierra slope to the south of the Yuba. In Plumas and Sierra counties 

 the general direction of the channels seems to be nearly north and south. 

 The data at the writer's command, at present, are far from sufficient to enable 



* 



An extensive series of barometrical observations were made In Plumas County by the writer and Mr. 



Vvackenreuder, chiefly in 1866, but they have not yet been computed and reduced. 

 1" See ante, ]>. 11. 



• 



