The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-21
WILL DREDGE RIVERS
FOR BURIED GOLD.
4 Number OF COmpanies Which VIII
Delve Below the Water and Suck
tn Their Treasure.

Up Their Treasure.
Since TIRE wonderful discoveries Q. gold
on the Yukon N lss- great Efforts have
been made TO mine the submerged bars
and beds OF rivers. Il being proven that
the rivers flowing through the gold pro
dacing countries are the ground sluices
q these regions.
Thousands OF dollars have been spent
throughout the world since the discovery
or god N experimenting with various de-
vices 20 accomplish tlis purpose Some
have been successful in certain localities
and under particular conditions, until more
than enc device IS thought TO be jus,
che thing for scoopiEg up the nuggets tina,
line the bottoms % the various creeks ,rtb-
utary TO the golden YUKON. Several com
paaies. each having It's own particular
dredging plant. will operate in Alaska this
year. the results Of their efforts II The
meantime being watched by others who
stand ready 20 invest their capital when
the efhciency OF the machines is eStah-
ushed.
With pan and shovel the early prospector
was able TO separate a small quantity OF
ght,ering gold from the sand or gravel N
which IL was contained. That method,
however. soon proved to be too slow. and
was superseded by the rocking process,
which in turn was followed by sluicing.
The bed OF river has often been com.
pared TO a s,uice box. Where a rich min
eral-hearing country is drained by a river
the comparison IS not inapplicab!e. The
Yukon river, for instance. is fed by in
Vulnerable small streams. and is a reposi-
tory OF the product Of ages Of natures
own sluicing This fact, more than any
thing else. has led TO the application OF
the principle of dredging to mining, and
within very recent period there has been
great deal Of discussion OF that prin-
cipIe.
~ zAoA
OF mining by means Of dredging discioses
the fact that the individual or company
that would mine by that method has many
obstacles TO overcome. The ordinary
dredger, similar 10 the elevators used by
railway contractors 10 load their gravel
trains. may be used on the sandhars in
the quiet waters at the mouths CT large
streams. but as the gold is found further
up stream. where the boulders are numer-
Gus and the water rapid, the ordinary
dredger becomes useless. Every placer
miner Is aware OF the fact that placer
gold sinks deep down into the crevices OF
the bedrock, and that. unless the bedrock
is broken up. much OF the treasure eludes
his search. How TO construct dredger
that will meet all the requirements has
been question that has taxed the ccGn-
bined abilities of miners and machinis,s
but now several companies who Will oper-
ate this year in Alaska and in the rich
ShEiDOO Ciaim tHAt they nave
solved the secret, only a trial being neces-
sary to prove the efficiency OF their par
Ccuiar machines. Many different appli-
ances for dredging for gold have been tried
on the Snake and Fraser rivers with very
Indifferent success. These failures have
arisen from a variety Of causes amons
them being the difficulty OF raising the
gold from the bottom OF the river by means
OF suction pumps. piston or centrifugal.
Several companies which will operate
from Seattle have secured river bed leases
on the Yukon and streams tributary from
the Canadian government. as the gravel
TO be worked Is in Northwest territory.
In granting these leases the Canadian gov
eminent has laid down stringent rules
which means that only reputable compa-
MES can operate in that district. The reg
ulationS governing the issue OF leases In
the beds OF rivers in the provisional dis
trict Of Yukon. Northwest territory, which
were approved January IS. ls9s, are given
in another column in toto.
The Yukon River God Dredging Com
pany, OF Seattle. will probably operate the
largest dredging plant the Yukon this
year. The company holds a lease for
thirty miles of river bed on Forty-Mile
creek. and Will be in operation proba bly,
by July Is. The dredging machine Of this
company is to be worked on the centrif-
ugal pump plan. the inventor claiming for
ii among other things ability to solve the
boulder problem. which has been a STUN
bling block TO all devices far con-
structed. The boat on which this dredger
is built is 100 feet long. &c feet wide. and
draws when fully equipped two feet OF
water. Quite d force Of men VIII accom-
pany the expedition. stores and supplies
for long siege being purchased In Sc
attic.
Another company that will operate ox-
tensively in Alaska IS the Yukon God
Dredging Company. o: which Andrew
Heinrich. OF Seattle. Is president. This
dredging plant. which is 10 be operated
aboard the fine river steamer Kate Hem
rich, recently built in this city. VIII use
compressed air for the purpose OF raising
the auriferous gravel Ia the level OF the
sliiice boxes on board the boat, and will
use discharge pipe for its entire length
instead OF a suction pipe. Quite a large
crew has been taken up, provisions and
stores for two years being Included. !, Is
claimed for the machine that IL will handle
from 1900 10 $500 yards OF gravel every
.wenty-four hours.
Among the other Seattle companies
which will operate in Alaska Is the Alaska
& Northwestern Development Company.
using a suction dredge. Several other com
panies, organized In the East have built
combination river boats and dTedges Of diff
ferent patterns. which they will operate
on the American side this summer
Many women have undertaken the Jour-
ney Ia company with their husbands and
have had 10 cast aside the feminine garb
Of civilization. 4 woman who has had
much experience In the interior recon-
mends them 10 wear boomers. with a
short walking skirt half way below the
knee. ieggins or rubber hip boots and
close-f:ting hats or caps. She advises no
corsets and that all clothes be worn loose
to facilitate movement. For summer she
recommends a canvas waist, 10 which the
skirt and undergarrn@nt should he but
toned; Cor winter. ii fur hood and parka.
with muCklucks made Of hair seal.