Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-10-20
IDAHO GOLD DIGGINGS.
UaTreHs camp to De DeceiOped
by Modern Sciehfifc NethOds.

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George F. CAMS, in st. Louis Republic
Gold miners by the hundreds rush
ed here to Warren's Diggins in the
autumn OF 1862, when it became
known that another poor mans
camp had been found. That motor
iety was maintained and period
heightened until the early '70s.
This place was known far and wide
as one where fortunes were washed
out in single season. Pot holes
were frequently run into, from
which thousands of dollars worth
of gold We're taken, that were
measured by the number of days
in which the dust and nuggets
were recovered. That is now
largely matter of ancient history.
Compared with the yield of early
days, tbs clean-ups for 10 or ID
years past have been small. Few
phenomenal deposits like those Of
former times have been worked.
But the bars have by no means
been made to yield all the treasure
scattered through the gravel.
Mining on large scale and with
improved methods has never been
tried on Warrens placers. Perhaps
a beginning will be made in this
direction before winter sets in.
Certain it is that operations more
extensive and on a more econom-
ical basis will be entered upon
early next year. 1t is such plans,
now formulating, that justify the
prediction that Warrens will again
forge to the front as one of the fore
most gold camps of the mountain
country.
Some idea of the richness of these
old diggins can be gained from a
brief explanation of the topography
of the section and references to ex-
periences of a few miners. The
placers which have been worked
down to the present extend up
Warren's Creek for a distance of
three and half miles above this
little camp, built on the side of the
gulch, and for two and a half miles
below it. From this stretch of six
miles over 100000 in gold has
been washed. Official statistics
and records credit the camp with
that production. The estimate is
small. But it must be borne in
mind that although the gplch is in
some places nearly half n mile
in width the best paying placers
were in the bed Of the creek and
along a strip not more than 100
feet in width. In the beginning
the gold washers, for reasons which
will be explained later, did not by
any means attempt 10 work the
gravel thoroughly. As a rule, they
ran it through hurriedly, so eager
were they to make a fortune in the
shortest possible time. One in
stance, among many of n similar
nature, may be cited.
Ex-Governor Norman b. Wiley,
whose term of Office as chief execut-
i've of idaho expired last January
came here in 1864 from California
He made some money there in
placer mining and bought a fifth
interest in the Empire claim in the
bed of Warren's Greek for 81 800
There were eight partners i'll all
and in three years they took out
$4,000. They sold the claim fol
$4,000 and the lucky purchasers
washed out 100000 in the mex
seven or eight years.
Acres and acres of ground re
main to be reworked where hand
some clean-ups can be made, no
so great as was done on the ole
Empire, perhaps, but bars tina
contain here and there n strip o
virgin ground untouched in tn,
hurry of the pioneer fortune seek
ers. An old miner who has been
working along the creek for sever
al years came across one of thes,
blocks the past season. f. l.. Roo
ran through strip 40 feet lonl
and 6 or feet wide which swelle,
his cleanup for a few months
labor in these old workings to be
tween $4,000 or 81 900. 1t was II,
surprise to those familiar with tn
camp to learn that so rich a plac
had been missed by former owner
of the claim. Warrens was a hur
rah camp long before the enact
ment of the United States minera
laws now in force. Local mimi;
laws limited the amount of place
which one man could hold ant
work to tract $50 by 200 feet
while now the Government allow
20 acres to be monopolized by al
individual. To prevent failing
from being run on adjoining claim
the miners had to crib up tn
gravel after it had been washed
Foundations for the logs and brus
of which this cribbing was com
nOSad had to he on solid orounf