Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-11-11
THE NEW ooLD-sAvEn.

WSAA"t ttsC SaasNN1 ~e@tt A&AA t@AA
saving machine near Blackfoot, the
Boise Statesman has secured de-
tailed description Of the clever de-
vice together with instructions for
handling it. 1t has been demon
strated that the machine saves the
great bulk of the flour gold, and as
they are very simple in their con-
construction and the cost is trifiing
they will doubtless come into gen.
eral use along the banks of Snake
river.
The machine combines tho es-
sential necessities required in saving
-four gold out Of ground containing
from 20 to 40 cents q cubic yard,
by developing a great capacity for
handling auriferous gravel, together
with capacity 70 save it. Its ca
pacity may be multiplied to any
extent by adding to its width and
length and TO the number of sand
plates over which the finer particles
containing the characteristic black
sand and gold are passed.
It's construction embraces n sluice
box say three feet wide, and of any
convenient length. Assuming nine
batteries Of sand plate, the grizzly
would be % feet 4 inches long,
punched with holes one-eighth inch
in diameter. in rows, lengthwise.
one and half inches apart and one
inch apart in the row. As each
grizzly plate is three feet two inches
long, it admits of a compartment
containing plates three feet long and
20 inches wide, with two inches for
the compartment wall Of two inch
planking. As the grizzly plate is
punctured with rows of holes one
and a half inches apart, or "a rows,
there is row for each plate. The
number Of plates is "a, II on each
side, Beginning with the bottom
plates on each side, whose inner
edges touch each other, the plates
are reiterated backwards, each one
and a half inches, until the IL on
each side are in place. This leaves
them stairwise, and each line OF
plates along the entire machine only
operate on such water and sand az
is delivered by one row Of holes. AS
constructed, with nine batteries, the
machine contains 206 plates under
q grizzly service of two and seven
eighths feet, and az each plate ID
20 inches wide, there are about 1000
square feet of surface in incessanl
action.
The extreme fineness of the -four
gold demands gentleness of action
and yet to make its mining profit
able great deal Of gravel must b,
handled daily. The arrangement
of the plates admits only q small
portion Of the work upon any ont
plate, and their number gives any
desired capacity. Care in the con
struction Of the plates is essential
They are made Of redwood, one-hal
an inch thick, three feet long ant
20 inches wide. Each end is Sc
cured by cleat one inch wide ant
one-half inch thick, and an add
tional cleat is placed on the unde
side of the plate in the middle T.
prevent it from sagging. They ar
placed in the compartments at al
angle, inclining downwards to tn
outside to the outside of about on
inch in the 20 Of width, which, Q
course, draws all the water an,
sand TO the outside of the compart
ment. The compartments, whicl
are arranged crosswise or at RICH
angles TO the sluice box, at ono
support the sluice way and grizzl,
and contain the plates. They ar
set up upon three or four 2x6 piece
set edgewise and running in tn
direction of the sluice. These res
upon a secure floor and serve I
drain away the tailings from tn
plates and prevent the machine from
washing out.
Experience has demonstrated tina
white lead is the best medium 70
holding the sand with which th
upper surface of the plates is GOV
cred. But this must be allowed I
dry thoroughly for week or NOR
before using, as disappointment !
sure to follow if the plates are nc
in prime condition. The sand SHOULD
be nearly Of uniform size, such a
would pass through q common hou
sieve. This forms an infinite nun
Der of pockets into which the fin
: particles Of gold drop as they slowl
: pass over the plates with the fin
: sand. The inclination is somewha
: determined by the amount of wate
used and the sand carried.
The machine is no longer an e,
pertinent, il having been thorough
: tested by disinterested parties, an
, while the inventors have improv,
: ments which will add to its savir
r capacity, prospectors and owners {
-four gold placers may go ahea
with the certainty that they ca
save whatever their ground col
tains.
Clarence King, the well know
he kA.A.D..x s..m....