The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-30

From this time ON Prairie Basin, in
d Lemhi county, Idaho, promises to make
a reputation as a great gold producer,
and to prominent Salt Lakers will be
given the credit of organizing move
ment thar viii result in the recovery
of millions in the yellow metal from
the rich placer diggings of that 10
cality
Prairie Basin has long been viewed
with envious eyes by the mining mem
of the west but the methods employed
in saving It's wealth OF gold have so far
been proven futile, and it has been
demonstrated that in order to work the
ground at a profit, operations must be
carried on on a. large scale, and now
1t is believed that the problem for the
successful manipulation of the diggings
has been solved, and that few months
more will prove the correctness of this
belief.
NFor the last year John Beck c. w.
Stayner and other Salt Lal1ers have
been engaged in acquiring placer prop
critics in the Prairie Basin country. and
they have succeeded in corralling 100
acres of the best ground in that region,
besides all the water in three streams.
To work this ground it is proposed
to adopt the methods now in success
fui operation at one place on the Snake
river which consist Of a. large boat,
which, by means of large suction
pumps. raises the pay gravel TO the
deck, where ii is treated in the ordinary
way, with quizzlies and sluice boxes.
Already Messrs. Beck and Stayner
have shipped the machinery necessary
for this plant, which viii cost in the
neigfoorhood Of $1,000, and will include
In its equipment a 45-horse power
boiler, a 30 horsepower engine and am
S-inch suction pump.
The boat will be about 30x75 feet in
dimensions, and will be launched in an
excava ton forty feet wide, 100 feet
long and about ten feet deep. This pitt
will be flied with water from one of
the streams. and then everything is
ready for business.
The gold-saving equipment will con-
&sist of a long perforated carrier, ele-
waited at the front end OF the boat. and
lowered at the rear, and under this win
be The siuice boxes with rifles. The
rr,ier will be fed at the front end by
.nams of the suction pumps. which viii
raise the gravel from the diggings be-
low and ahead and while the tailingS
will be deposited in the rear, the boat.
with its plant, viii always be afoat
and cutting its way into new ground.
The gravel in the carrier will be con-
stanhiy sprayed thus washing the gold
and concentrates into the slusces be-
low where it is confidently believed
that a large percentage of the yellow
metal will be saved.
The gold, as a general thing. is coarse.
and the gravel win average from % 10
SO cents to the yard. which is consider
ed rich. as it is believed that 10 cent
dirt can be worked at a profit
1t is expected than the plant will be
IN operation within forty days. Its
capacity is estimated at from 1000 TO
500 cubic yards daily. and it is antici-
,Dafed that a saving of at least $500 a
Aay will be made.
The placers also abound in stream
tin. assaying 6S per cent pure and 1T is
stated that ton Of this valued at 500
a ton. viii be found in each days
cleanup.
This is big undertaking, but the
men behind lit have the means and
nerve TO carry it through. and the
venture will no doubt prove to be q
successful one.