Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1881-11-15
NEW MINING MACHINE.
Which Makes success Of working
snake River Gold.
Blackfoot j. egister.

Boyce of Omaha, came to Blackfoot in
charge Of machine which had been
shipped to this point for the purpose
of making some experiments in saw
ing the gold from the gravel beds
along Snake river. The machine was
constructed in Omaha and is patented
by Messrs. Woodman and Self kins, Of
that city.
1t is wellknown fact that tie saw
ing of the gold from the gravel beds
along Snake river requires different
process than in most any other locality
at least appliances that will work well
in other places and save all the gold
will not pay for mining in these beds
while an appliance that will work here
will pay in almost any other place
This machine is certainly different
from anything we have ever seen be-
fore, and had we not been informed as
to what it was to be used for woud
hardly have guessed it. It's appear
ance is something like an immense
wagon, being set on low wheels, and
consists of a large wrought-iron tank
fourteen feet in length and five in
width by about two in height, the
bottom of which is shaped like the let
ter w. Above one end Of this tank
is large cylinder, four feet in diane
ter the length corresponding with the
width of the tank. The surface being
constructed of steel one-fourth of an
inch thick, which is perforated, the
perforation being about one.fourth of
all inch wide by two inches long.
About four inches outside Of this is a
heavy wire screen, made from No. 9
wire and eight mesIles to the inch.
On the side of the steel surface is a
fl-nge placed in the shape of screw
The gravel is thrown into the cylinder
which by revolving forces the fine
sand through the meshes while the
screw f1ange carries all the coarse
gravel out Of the opposite end Of the
cylinder. As the fue gravel ard sand
|
falls through the screen it drops into
the tank, the bottom Of which, as be.
fore stated, is like letter w, or tvs
VS. At the bottom Of each Y is ;
two inch iron pipe in each Of whci
are nineteen jets laced alternately a
an agile of ten degrees from the cen
ter Immediately above these pipe
is shaft running the entire length 0
the tank to which are attached smal
paddles like the wheel OF a screw prl
pcller. The bottom and sides of til
tank are lined with prepared coppe
plates, the plates being pressed int
grooves similar to an old -fashione
washboard. there being l20 feet SUI
face of plates. The water is force
through the pipes with CONSIDERABLE
pressure; this, with the revolving
screw above, keeps the water wit
J which the tank is soon filed, in Coz
stant agitation, every particle Of gol
is consequently almost sure 10 strik
the plates. The water is drawn off ;
: the top of the tank, while the fine san
and gravel as it is forced along TO ii
opposite end is lifted out by reyoi
ing wheel to which buckets are attacl
ed. 1t is estimated thai ten tons pt
hour can easily be run through the m
chine successfully.
When Mr.. Boyce arrived here
y expected to be able to use the wat
= from the mining ditch of Judge Wa
E rens but the water had heeu shut {
preparatory to enlarging the ditch,
was consequently obliged to place
in little hollow about half mi
fsom town where the water from Il