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Are there any Ghost Towns or abandoned mining stuff near you?
We live in the Gold Rush country of California so we come across abandoned gold-rush-era stuff strewn around the hills. While hiking to our favorite swimming hole on the West Branch of the Feather River, we pass the remains of a gold-getting project from the latter half of the 1800's on our way to swim in crystal clear river water.
Around here they did hydraulic mining using large water cannons to blast away entire sides of mountains to get at gold that had been deposited by an ancient river. It is well known that gold is found where quartz is found, so these water cannons were always set up where they found large seams of quartz.
This type of uncontrolled destruction to the mountain sides caused massive amounts of rubble...estimated to be at least 1.5 billion cubic yards of soil and rocks...to be ripped away then washed into the rivers. Damage to the fish, fauna and habitat was horrendous and completely unregulated. Here's a link to the Oakland, CA museum about this: http://museumca.org/...
The rubble rushed down the rivers into the valleys and farms during heavy winter rain storms. Farms, orchards and even whole towns would end up under dirt and rubble. This yearly destruction started a political war between farmers and hydraulic gold miners. It finally became so intolerable that in 1884 in San Francisco Judge Lorenzo Sawyer decided in favor of the farmers declaring that hydraulic mining was “a public and private nuisance.” California disallowed hydraulic mining to continue on a large scale. It could only be done on tributaries to rivers and only if dam structures were built to contain the rubble.
Here's a link to wikipedia about this: http://en.wikipedia.org/...
From where I'm standing taking the first picture below, there's a sheer cliff of more than 300 feet straight down from the path....no false moves!
A burbling creek we walk past makes it's way to the river as we do the same.
Finally the view from river level itself. We are looking at the river from in front of the abandoned gold rush era equipment which is right behind us. It's the same view they saw back in the 1870's when they were ripping down the sides of the opposite mountain with water cannons.
Follow me below the orange New Day cloud to see the abandoned equipment.
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the New Day sunrise cloud
Water was used to both shoot out the giant water cannons and to run equipment that brought the resulting dirt and rock along conveyor belt driven equipment to sluice boxes where the heavy gold was removed from the gravel as it settled behind "riffle boards." What took place was essentially a giant mechanized gold panning-type operation. After these sites were abandoned, the water cannon nozzles themselves were easily removed, but the other parts were deemed too difficult to be carted out...and so they remain behind to this day.
In the picture below is a huge wheel made of pure iron. It is taller than I am. A flat-strap pulley was moved along the outside of this wheel. The width of the flat outer edge of this wheel is a least 10 inches across.
Here is a giant cog that was moved by the revolving wheel. This chunk of iron is immovable by me. In other words, it weighs a ton! In the second picture below is a shaft belonging to the mechanism.
How did they get this giant stuff working? They channeled water from higher up the river through wooden flumes that then fed the water through huge iron pipes that lead down to the machinery. The pressure generated at the site by gravity was as high as 5000 pounds per square inch and caused water to shoot out of the water cannons as far as 500 feet.
Here is smileycreek looking around which gives you an idea of the size of the part that controlled the water flow through the giant iron pipes. In the bottom picture you'll see the cement block they built for the equipment to rest upon. See how the cement is clearly not made by machines? It is very uneven telling us it was created by hand and poured in many, many rounds.
After we hike past this old hydraulic mining equipment, we have to scamper across hot, jagged serpentine hillsides to get to our swimming hole. It's a great work out for your legs and ankles.
And here we have finally gotten to our swimming hole. Check out the very interesting rock in the bottom picture. It's right where our "beach" is along the river.
BONUS PICTURE. This is the Stage Coach Stop in Paradise, CA. Yes, it's the original building. It is now owned by a man that does tax returns. I had to take two pictures to capture the whole building so the lighting is a bit different in each of the two shots I put together to make one picture (you can clearly see the different lighting).
:: COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES ::
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Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meatspace community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
>>>Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
NEW GROUPS IN THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING:
Send a Kosmail to the organizers and ask for an invitation to the group.
• Northern Indiana Area: Kosmail Tim Delaney
• Long Island: Kosmail grannycarol
• Northern Michigan: Kosmail JillS
• Nebraska: Kosmail Nebraska68847Dem
• Westburbia Chicago Kossacks: Kosmail Majordomo
• New York Hudson Valley Kossacks: Kosmail boran2
• North Carolina Triangle Kossacks: Kosmail highacidity
• Caprock Kossacks (Panhandle/Caprock/Lubbock/Amarillo area) : Kosmail shesaid
• West Texas Kossacks (including Big Bend Region and El Paso) : Kosmail Yo Bubba
Note to the above new leaders: Feel free to leave a comment any day reminding readers about your new group. Also, tell us about your progress in gathering members. Kosmail me when you've chosen a good name for your group and have created a the group. Then I'll move you to the NEW GROUPS LIST. When you've planned a date for your first event I'll make a banner for you to highlight your event in our diaries and your diaries.
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks - Formed: Jul 29, 2012, Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks - Formed: Aug 6, 2012, Organizers:
Clytemnestra for Lower New England (Conneticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island)
nhox42 for Upper New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks - Formed: Aug 7, 2012, Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India - Formed: Aug 14, 2012, Organizer: chandu
• CenTex Kossacks - Formed: Sep 9, 2012, Organizer: papa monzano
• Central Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Sep 26, 2012, Organizer: VetGrl
• Kansas City Kossacks - Formed Oct 15, 2012, Organizer: [Founder stepped down]
• Phoenix Kossacks - Formed Oct 16, 2012, Organizer: arizonablue
• Chicago Kossacks - Formed: Oct 31, 2012, Organizer: figbash
• Koscadia the Pacific Northwest coast from Northern California to Alaska
- Formed Oct 17, 2012, Oganizer: Horace Boothroyd III based in Portland, OR
• Boston Kossacks - Formed: Nov 7, 2012, Organizer: GreyHawk
• Motor City Kossacks South East Michigan (Detroit) Area - Formed: Nov 10, 2012, Organizer: peregrine kate
• Pittsburgh Area Kossacks - Formed: Nov 12, 2012, Organizer: dweb8231
• Salt Lake City Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: War on Error
• Twin Cities Kossacks - Formed: Nov 17, 2012, Organizer: imonlylurking
• Dallas Kossacks North Texas - Formed: Nov 21, 2012, Admins: Catte Nappe and dalfireplug. Please contact them to join the group. An Event Organizer needed.
• The Southern California Inland Empire Kossacks - Formed: Dec 3, 2012, Organizer: SoCaliana
• Los Angeles Kossacks - Formed: Dec 17, 2012, Organizer: Dave in Northridge
• Northeast Ohio Kossacks - Formed: Jan 16, 2013, Organizer: GenXangster
• Kansas & Missouri Kossacks - Formed: Jan 17, 2013, Organizer: tmservo433
• I-77 Carolina Kossacks who live from Columbia, SC to north of Winston-Salem, NC. - Formed: Jan 30, 2013, Organizers: gulfgal98 and eeff
• Indianapolis Kossacks - Formed: Feb 6, 2013, Organizer: CityLightsLover
• Southwest Ohio Kossacks - Formed: May 10, 2013, Organizer: Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN
• Northern Arizona Kossacks - Formed: Jul 5, 2013, Organizer: Sam Sara
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011. Contact: JamieG from Md for a group invite.
• New York City Founded by Eddie C - Contact the group organizer for meet-up events: sidnora
• Baja Arizona Kossacks, Event Organizer: Azazello
• Three Star Kossacks Tennessee, Founded by maryKK, Formed: Apr 8, 2011
• Nashville KosKats, Founded by ZenTrainer Formed: Jan 30, 2012
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011
• Kos Georgia Founded by pat208, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• Colorado COmmunity Founded by Leftcandid, Formed: Feb 13, 2011
• New Mexico Kossaks Founded by claude
• Philly Kos Founded by mconvente Formed: Aug 29, 2011
• DKos Florida Founded by ThirstyGator, Formed: Feb 14, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail Vetwife to be included in next event.
• Oklahoma Roundup Founded by BigOkie, Formed: Feb 13, 2011, Currently organizing: Kosmail peacearena to be included.
• DKos Asheville Founded by davehouck, Formed: Feb 13, 2011 - Organizing Assist by: randallt
:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
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Thursday, July 18th
Phoenix Kossacks Meet-up for navajo
TIME: 6:15 PM Reservation name is Daily Kos
LOCATION: Rancho de Tia Rosa
3129 E. McKellips • Mesa
ORGANIZER: Send arizonablue a kosmail to attend.
navajo's in town one day, even though it's a Thursday we hope you can make it.
RSVPs:
1. arizonablue
2. Mr. arizonablue
3. navajo
4. Mother Mags
5. mexchewy
6. ninothemindboggler
7. Mrs. ninothemindboggler
8. thomask
9. mrs. thomask
10. BluejayRN
11. Late Again
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12. puzzled
13. Kane in CA
14.
15.
Maybees:
cosmic debris
PSzymeczek
Mr PSzymeczek
Mr. Late Again
dewey in the desert
nellgwen
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Latest diary: ATTN PHOENIX KOSSACKS! One week from today we welcome navajo to The Valley of the Sun!
Saturday, July 20th
Los Angeles Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:30 PM
LOCATION: Rush Street
9546 Washington/Culver Boulevard • Culver City
ORGANIZER: Send Dave in Northridge a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Dave in Northridge
2. Shockwave
3. jakedog42
4. joemarkowitz
5. susans
6. otoelbc
7. 714day
8. BruinKid
9. otoelbc's brother
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Maybees:
pico
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Latest diary: LA Kossacks, July 20 Meetup: Culver City, Here We Come
Saturday, July 20th
Houston Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Pasha Restaurant
2325 University Boulevard • Houston
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Chrislove
2. doraphasia
3. mister mustardhead
4. suesue
5. Mr. suesue
6. Bree Davis
7. jmbar2
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8. MarciaJ720
9. Libby Shaw
10. Mary
11. Alan
Maybees:
Mr. Libby Shaw
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Latest diary: Houston Area Kossacks: Meet-Up Scheduled for Saturday, July 20!
Saturday, July 20th
Motor City Kossacks Meet-up to welcome tgypsy
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Brighton Bar and Grill
400 W. Main St. • Brighton
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. peregrine kate
2. tgypsy
3. mideedah
4. Provoking Meaning
5. gregsullmich
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Maybees:
dkmich
BFSkinner
dov12348
christinebarry
GwenM
sydneyluv
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Latest diary: Motor City Kossacks Meet-up Sat 7/20, Brighton Bar & Grill, 12-3 PM (plus teaser for next one)
Saturday, July 20th
Southern California Inland Empire
Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 11:00 AM (Tour museum then lunch there)
LOCATION: Palm Springs Air Museum
745 North Gene Autry Trail • Palm Springs
ORGANIZER: Send SoCaliana a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. SoCaliana
2.
3.
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Maybees:
Susan from 29
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Latest diary: SCIEK: Summer Meetup Location
Saturday, July 20th
SFKossacks Welcome angelajean & Family to Elkhorn Slough, there will be otters!
TIME: 10:00 AM at the visitors center
LOCATION: Elkhorn Slough
[map] • Moss Landing
ORGANIZER: Send lineatus a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. lineatus
2. angelajean
3. Glen The Plumber
4. remembrance
5. TLO™
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Maybees:
Laughing Planet
D Bunn
D Bunn's friend
KenBee
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Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, July 20th
Dkos Asheville, North Carolina Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr. • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Randallt
2. Gordon20024
3. davehouck
4. Joieau
5. SteelerGrrl
6. SteelerGuy
7. Captain Sham
8. Smiley7
9. DawnN
10.
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11. LamontCranston
12. Christian Dem in NC
13. gulfgal98
14.
Maybees:
eeff
Audri
PearlJamSteelworker
Amy
marshstars
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Latest diary: DKos Asheville Open Thread 5/18/13: Frogs and tomatoes and snakes, oh my!
Sunday, July, 21st
Northern Arizona Kossacks Meet-up with navajo
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: El Rincon Restaurante Mexicano
Tlaquepaque Village
336 State Route 179 • Sedona
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. savano66
3. MissLove (navajo's daughter)
4. sed (navajo's SIL)
5. Nick (navajo's grandguy)
6. Sequoia (navajo's grandguy)
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7. mangolind (navajo's daughter)
8. Shaun (mangolind's BF)
9.
Maybees:
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Sunday, August 4th
SFKossacks Meet BeadLady and the Okiciyap Quilt!
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Saul's Restaurant & Delicatessen
1475 Shattuck Ave (at Vine) • Berkeley
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. BeadLady
2. navajo
3. Catilinus
4. dharmasyd
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Maybees: |
Sunday, August 4th
NYC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send Sidnora a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. joanbrooker
2. mconvente
3. belinda ridgewood
4. Yasuragi
5. sidnora
6. Its the Supreme Court Stupid
7. blue jersey mom
8. kathny
9. ask
10. rubyr
11. plf515
12. thankgodforairamerica
13. No Exit
14. gchaucer2
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15. MBNYC
16. andgarden
Maybees:
Ollie Garkey
Ian Reifowitz
wader
nyceve
aoeu
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Latest diary: NYC Meetup 8/4: Beat the Dog Days!
Saturday, November 2nd
SFKossacks BBQ in the Wine Country
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Andrew McGuire's home in the Wine Country
Address to be given privately to RSVPs • Windsor
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
Andrew McGuire is Executive Director of California One Care
RSVPs:
1. Andrew McGuire
2. navajo
3. Shockwave
4. Hunter
5. elfing
6. Hunter/elfling offspring
7. smileycreek
8. paradise50
9. dharmasyd
10. maggiejean
11. norm
12. Lusty
13. dksbook
14. Mr. dksbook
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15. kimoconnor
16. jpmassar
17. side pocket
18. Mrs. side pocket
Maybees:
Glen The Plumber
remembrance
TLO™
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Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?