The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-16

There is something decidedly pc
culiar about that gold found in Hank
er's canyon and the suspicion seems to
be pretty well grounded in certain
quarters that the metal was placed in
the pans as the washing was in pro-
gress or else found its way into the
dirt. but at least always getting there
after the gravel was taken out. Most
of the pieces which have to date been
seen by Herald representatives look
very much as though they had been
clipped from larger pieces of metal, al
though of course, all may have been
deceived. AS stated yesterday morn
ing, The Herald reporter brought in
with him four small nuggets" washed
out by himself, or at least found by
him in the pan he was induStrlously
shaking. and yesterday they were SUD
jected 70 many tests. One of the best
chemists in the city made the test for
gold aIsl pronounced the result I'M
satisfactory, for the reason that he
could not dissolve the pieces in COM
bination of nitric and hydroAoric acids
by boiling in a test tube, which is
sure solvent for gold. He expressed
the off hard opinion that the metal
was pyriteS of copper. Later expert
ments showed conclusively that it was
not pyrites, however, and these same
tests were as unsatisfactory as the
others had been. 1t is true that there
was a Slight reduction in the weight OF
the nuggets which lead those max
ing the tests to believe that there prob
ably was some gold but very heavily
.alloyed with some very hard metal.
None of the pieces of metal were easily
cut or hammered and the hardness
was accounted for in the manner
stated. Later in the afternoon Mr..
Officer conducted some acid tests and
pronounced the metal gold, with prob
ably a heavy alloy. All Of his expert
ments gave returns Of gold. 1t was
suggested by a number of expert min
ing men and mineralogists that the al
10y was iridium. While it is true that
the metal occurs in very peculiar
shapes, old placer miners say there is
nothing out of the way in that, but on
the contrary, placers are always Civ
ing surprises. The pieces may or may
not have been cut with some sharp
instrument.
At any rate the tests of Mr. officer
settle the question as to some of the
pieces, at least, being gold, although
the grade is probably very low. The
merat is Of brassy, greenish cast.
Other tests are to be made today by
experts who are not satisfied with
those made yesterday. Thus far all
OF the metal found in Harker's has
d
bearing so close resemblance as to
be without distinction to the eye of
the commoner
No news Of any special nature was
received from the district yesterday,
but 1T is understood shat the rush did
not continue as 1t had done ON the
three previous days. There is no use
Of the people travelling all the way out
70 Harker,s for the pleasure of see
ing a number CT men wash out few
pieces of metal pronounced gold. TAX
en- from gravel out of claims already
located The entire country is located
and therefore there are no snaps
open. It was stated, however. that
one gentleman had gone right up into
the head of the canyon and there
made the best strike of the season
he is said TO have gone down several
feet to bedrock and then secured some
gravel which he brought to this city
and p2nned OUT with the result that
ne secured fair showing of gold.
Cass Hite and associates Yesterday
announced that they would on Wed
nesday commence the systematic de-
velopment of their claims in Coon's
canyon. The former still sticks TO his
original assertion that he can take
people to places in either Harker's or
Coon's where a cubic yard or gravel
Will yield from $50 to 500 The orig
inal looators of the claims would very
much ike 10 get hold Of those partic-
ular spots.
With not a few Of the enthusiasts
who made the trip to the placers on
Sunday there was that tired feeling"
yesterday, and not even the glowing
accounts of the riches to be found in
the two canyons could stir up an ex-
element among them.
Recorder Barney Quinn, OF the
West Mountain Mining district, pro-
poses TO have a say in the proposed
organization of a separate district
out of Harker's and Coon's canyons.
and will refuse to issue the call for
a. meeting. The bylaws of the old
district provide that no changes can
be made in the boundaries of the dis
trict without a majority Of the dele
gates present in response to a regll-
larly-issued call by the recorder vote
in the affirmative