Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-05-13
THE SNAKE RIVER PLACERS.
A Vast Gold Bearing Region which is
Beginning to Yield Some Of Its
Wealth.

- VASt UlueOeaTluS nWStOu WHICH ~
Beginning to Yield Some Of Its
Wealth.
There has been for year or more
past good deal OF interest mani.
tested in the placer deposits along
Snake river. Years ago there was a
Snake river excitement, and gold dig
gers from all parts of the Pacific slope
hurried with picks aud pans to the
scene, when they met the usual for
tune of this nomadic class. A large
quantity Of gold was mined from the
rich spots in short time, but soon the
vast deposits of low grade gravel which
line the river on either side, except in
the rocky canyons and gorges, for
almost a thousand miles, were aban-
dcl.ed as Improbable. Later, at
tempts were made to save the gold,
which is exceedingly fine, by sluicing
and amalgamating on plates, but as
this system was generally improbable
it was soon abandoned, and the great
bars and banks of aurferous sand and
gravel were again left to the capri
cious wash of the river. A few tircless
men persevered in a determination to
seize this subtle wealth and spent
years of unremunerative toll and pri-
walton in experimenting and planning
and inventlne new devices, until some
ingenious individual discovered that
by washing the sand by properly
regulated stream of water through
sluices carpeted with burlaps, the gold
was caught in the meshes and fbres
of that material, and the problem was
solved.
There are at this time in Alturas
county many men engaged in working
these placers, and though no estimate
of the amount Of gold produced can
be made, it is by no means inconsid-
cradle and is rapidly increasing. Now
that the true principle has been dis
covered, new applications and varia-.
tons of it are constantly improving
the original system, and the quantity
of the precious metal lost is reduced
to minimum.
The Recorders books show that
new ground and water ights are be-
ing rapidly located. Claims are being
prepared for work, and though there
is nothing like a mining boom, there
is great and growing activity along
the river for miles.
Most of the men engaged in work
ing these mines are yet men of limited
means, wiso have made what they
possess on the ground with the most
inexpensive appliances. AS their
wealth increases they will extend
their bitches and increase their facil-
tiles; new companies with plenty of
money will bring in the most i'm.
proved hydraulic machinery, and the
long neglected Snake river will soon
be pouring its buried wealth into the
commercial channels of the world.
There are many excellent oppor-
tunitics for men of small means to en-
gage in this industry with certain
and large gains. The cost Of opening
claim, with water supply reasonably
convenient, is small. The ground
may be thoroughly examined, and a
novice can soon be satisfied whether
it can be worked at a profit.
This kind of mining is being re-
lieved of that element of risk and un.
certainty which always accompanies
ledge mining. The owner of claim,
after careful examination and COM
parison with other ground, can esti-
mate the yield of gold almost to a GER
tainty. There are 40 sudden fortunes
to be made here, but men of fair
judgment and Intelligence who are
willing to work can, in a few years,
accumulate a competency in working
this ground. tits as legitimate an in
dustry as farming, quite as safe and
much more profitable.