PAVILION OF THE FIRST CALIFORNIA INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE, SAN FRANCISCO, OPENED SEPTEMBER 7TH, 1857. SUSPENSION FLUME ACROSS BRANDY GULCH. BY S The engraving which we give above, from an ambrotype taken expressly for this work, represents a wire Suspension Flume, situated in the vicinity of Young's Hill, Yuba county. The flume is intended to convey the waters of Clear Creek from the summit of one hill to that of another, across a deep ravine, called, from some mysterious cause, "Brandy Gulch." The survey was made less than twelve months ago, by D, Scott, Esq., who, by the way, has gained much reputation in this branch of science. But, independent of the great design, the mode of construction is remarkably ingenious; the flume, which is fifteen hundred feet in length, is elevated to a height of 206 feet in the air. A tower built from the bed of the ravine supports the centre, while at intervals of about a hundred feet stand tall trees, the tops of which being cut away, contribute materially to the permanency of the structure. A cluster of small wires are secured at these points, from which is suspended the box, or flume. Thus, by means of scarcely any perceiv able agency, an artificial channel is formed, through which from four to five hundred inches of water is allowed to pass daily. It is, without doubt, a highly creditable piece of work, and reflects much credit upon its enterprising proprietors; but like the majority of newly tested projects, the originators pay dearly for their experiment, while others, of infinitely less skill and courage, reap the profits of the work. There are few experiments, of after consequence, which succeed well at first, and no important acquisition of knowledge has ever been gained but at a great sacrifice on the part of the discoverer. Works like this, presenting themselves in every portion of the mining region of California, are the most striking evidences of the capacity for adaptation; and of which we are already sufficiently inclined | ments in hand, forthwith proceeds to chain to boast. Wordsworth has somewhere said that "water is the spirit of the universe." If not so, water may at least be said to be the spirit of all our enterprise. The entire slope of the Sierra Nevadas, from the summit seaward, is pierced and traversed by artificial veins, which bring prosperity and life to every hill and plain. Water is the life-blood of the mines. When its current is diminished, or even delayed, every thing languishes with its return, all things revive. Indeed, water has been so generally diffused, and so constantly employed, that it has been well said, "it is used for every thing but drinking!" We all know that when the Roman matron was asked for her jewels, she pointed to her children; when we are asked for ours, we may reply, less classically, but with equal truth: "Behold our ditches!" to the astonished world. never the trembling drops. And still it struggles, but too soon the fetters are secure, and though it shrinks, yet it is urged on to its debasing destiny. All day it labors, and again night approaches, but as the tiny globulet surveys itself, how sadly changed! Its face discolored! the lustre of its eye is vanished! in disgust it turns away to rest, not on the fair face of the pale flower, which cast it on the pitiless world, but to lose its identity among swarthy companions, in a neighboring pool. Of Young's Hill, the terminus of the enterprise before described, but little may be said. It is a small village, of small importance, located some two miles north of Camptonville, and quite remote from the stage-route, as, indeed, from any point of consequence. Mining is carried to a considerable extent in this vicinity, an accurate and comprehensive account of which branch of business will be reserved for those possessed of a more thoroughly practical knowledge or descriptive capacity. 66 Never, since the Roman legionry shad. owed the earth with their eagles, in search of spoil not even when Spain ravished the wealth of a world, or England devastated the Indies for its treasures To Messrs. Spencer & Adkinson much has such a gorgeous treasury been opened credit is due for promptneess, energy and enterprise. The flume, or sluice," constructed by them, which carries the "refuse dirt" from the whole hill, is not only of inestimable value to the miners, and thereby to every other interest, but also promises to be a lucrative investment to its projectors. But theirs was the genius of war; ours the conquests of peace. The music of our march is the revelry of the gushing stream, and the only chains we forge are those that bind the captive water. At a glance we see both the necessities and the advantages of application. The sheet of vapor which hangs in dreamy silence above the brow of the "Sierra," descends and gathers its misty mantle about the frail flower, which nods to the passing brook. As the morning sun melts the dewy tears, they fall into the stream and are borne along by the reckless current. On, on it glides, now struggling over rocks or craggy steeps, now dancing in the sunlight or kissing the weeping foliage which seeks to span the stream; and now exulting in its liberty; when, lo! the bearded miner issues from his rude hut, and with imple The landscape views in this vicinity are, as in all portions of the State, both picturesque and grand. Truly "never need an American look beyond his own country for the sublime and beautiful in natural scenery." There is a law-now almost forgottenof no small importance to the human family; inasmuch as it makes everybody and his neighbor very happy. It is this" As ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." Now, gentle reader, what say you about giving it a trial. LAKE BIGLER. LAKE BIGLER. This beautiful lake is situated in a valley of the Sierra Nevada, at the eastern base of the central ridge, a few miles north of the main road of travel to Carson Valley. It lies at an elevation of some 5800 feet above the level of the sea, and about 1500 feet above Carson Valley, from which it is divided by a mountain ridge three to four miles across. The southern shores of this lake were explored during the State wagon-road survey of 1855, and its extreme southern latitude determined at 38° 57'. The 120th meridian of west longitude divides the lake pretty equally, giving its western shore to California and its eastern to Utah. Its northern extremity is only known by report, which is still so contradictory that the length of the lake cannot be set down with anything like accuracy. It can hardly exceed, however, twenty miles in length by about six in breadth; notwithstanding, it has been called forty, and even sixty miles long. The surrounding mountains rise from one to three, and, perhaps, in some cases, four thousand feet above the surface of the lake. They are principally composed of friable white granite, water-worn to that degree that although they are rough, and often covered with rocks and boulders, yet they show no cliffs or precipices. Their bases, of granite sand, rise in majestic curves from the plain of the valley to their steeper flanks. Many of the smaller hills are but high heaps of boulders, the stony skeletons decaying in situ, half buried in their granite debris. The shores of the lake, at least of its southern coast, are entirely formed of granite sand; not a pebble is there to mar its perfect smoothness. A dense pine forest extends from the waters' edge to the summits of the surrounding mountains, except in some points where a peak of more than ordinary elevation rears its bald head above the waving forest. An extensive satampy flat lies on its southern shore, through which the upper Truckee slowly meanders, gathering up, |