The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-11-26
MONTANA.
TIE MINING REGIoNs-PRoCES OF MIN
ING-HOW GOLD IS OBTAINED.

could be answered is general terms by a
most any intelligent person, but ther
are few, without personal observation i
mining regions, who have any just con
ceptlon OF the intricate details necessar
to the production of the precious metals
All know that millions are annually de
Veloped from the various gulches an,
mines iu the Rocky Mountain Territorie
and States, and the difference between
placers and quartz mines is popularity un
derstood, but of the skill, patience, anC
labor esseatial to produce gold, even BY
the simplest process, the public generally
have no sort Of correct appreciation
Gulch or placer mining is the simples
method of taking gold from the earth
Clutches are simply the ravines into which
the gold groupings of rich leads in the
mountains cliffs arc washed Surface or
blossom quartz is usually found on any
hill in which valuable mines samber, and
the elements gradually decompose it until
1t separates the particles of gold from the
flint or iron that holds it captive, and its
specific gravity forces it not only down
into the gulch, but down through the
the earth to the very bottom or
bed rock of the rav;ne. This gold, com
ing, as it does from decomposed rock, is
entirely "free gold" and has no mixture
OF the base metals, so that no peculiar
scientific attachments are requisite to mas
ter 1t. Its existence in a gulch is easily
ascertained by the simplest implements.
a spade, pick, and pan are all that the
prospector requires. His pan is made Of
sheet-iron, and holds about peck The
centre of the course Of the washing is
found, the pan half filled with the earth,
and it is washed out by dipping and whirl,
ing the pan in water the loose earth cs
capes with the water, while the gold, iron,
and pebbles remain. All the science ne
cessary 10 save gulch-gold, is the appre-
citation Of the fact that gold is the heavi-
est CT all substances on the earth and will
always attain the lowest point it can find
rs :Lc Garth IS nLir!ed around in the
water, the gold gradually settles to the
bottom of the pan, and when there is no
more earth to wash out, the pebbles
are picked out A little pocket-masuet,
stirred around in the pan, will take out
all the iron by adhesion, and leave the
pure gold or dust" This dust varies in
value according to its fneness, aud its
marketable price is from Sl2 to $40 per
ounce (Troy) in gold coin. The lowest
standard of dust has some silver mix
ed with it, but different gulches will pro
duce gold ranging in degrees of fneness
as much IS 20 per cent. Any expert deal
er in gold in established mining regions
can at . glance usually tell the gulch from
which any lot of dust has been taken
In the early settlement of all mining
countries gold is the only legal tender in
all business transactions, unless there is
a special contract for currency. Every
man carries a buckskin purse, and when
he buys anything, from plug of tobacco
to gold mine, the dust is weighed out
in payment at its standard value per
ounce.
The various methods for separating the
gold from the earth of the gulches are
all exceedingly simple while the first
placer miners are working it. They us,
ually make their own district laws" the
district embracing any particular camp or
gulch. They meet in mass council and
adopt their code, then land laws, then
water laws, and all needful regulations for
their enforcement The local or district
laws have always been respected both by
Territorial and Congressional enactments
so that no better primary title can be
procured than clear title under the dis
trict laws. When disputes arise they try
titles to claims or water either by jury
or by general meeting, as may be the
adopted custom, and from the decision OF
the district tribunal there is no appeal
Indeed, to demur is not often even safe
The dreadful tribunal of Judge Lynch is
the one certain to be invoked by attempt.
ed resistance to the judgment of the local
courts.
The claims are usually parceled in lots of
100 or zoo feet in length up and down
the gulch, and embracing its entire length
The local laws are scrupulously careful
to prevent monopoly of water, and it is!
economized, if scarce, so as to afford the
greatest advantage to all. Each owner, or
owners, of "A claim (they generally mine
and cabin in couples) erects fume, or
digs a ditch, through which to wash the
dirt of his claim from each side down to
the depth of the bedrock Their labor
consists of simply digging the earth loose
and shoveling it into the ditch or fume.
through which it is washed away, while
portion-usually about one half--of the
gold is saved by various contrivances.-
Sometimes the bottom of the fume is
made of thick plank, into which are
bored number of large auger holes, just
deep enough not to 20 through. The
"pay- dirt" is washed down over this per-
iorated board, and very large proportion
of the gold will lodge in the holes =
They will, OF course, first Eli up with
sand, but the gold will Gud the least de-
pression in the surface over which it is
passing, and work down through the sand