Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-07-11
MINES OF JOSEPHINE.
Pioneer Mining District OF jose
phine Creek Still Among
the Productive.

The Portland Telegram of July con
tains the following article relative to
Kerby and its mines on Josephine:
The little mining town of Kerby,
which lies about 30 miles from Grants
Pass, on the Crescent City road, and
being final gateway to the rich Alt
house district, has Of late been scene
Of activity. 1t is thriving mining
town, where one can see, most any day,
from 10 to 80 packhorses start out for
the several mining districts OF the near.
by streams, The town lies ON the slope
OF the mountains skirting the northern
boundary OF the beautiful Illinois Valley.
Just below the town the illinois River
flows, its waters having been Kept
muddy and riled by the miners ever
since the days Of the early sos.
Just over a small ridge from Kerby
josephine Creeks flows. Along this
stream are many rich placer mines.
II was on Josephine Creek that the no.
ted "Frenchman's Lost Ledge" was
found short time ago, consisting OF a
ledge of ireemilling gold carrying values
as high as $40 and $40 to the pound.
At tie present time by nume is being
built to turn the channel 80 that devel-
opment work may proceed on the ledge,
us it lies in the bed OF the creek.
Scores Of people, who are residents Of
the Illinois Valley, operate ground'sluic-
ing claims along Josephine Creek. Dur-
ing .he summer months they attended
to the raising Of wheat and other grain,
care for their orchards, gather their
fruit, and when fall rains come they OPP
crate their placers along the Illinois OF
Josephine Greek. Kerby farmers or
miners, by whichever title they may be
called, have no opportunity to be idle.
The placer grounds along Josephine
Greek are noted for their many ounce
nuggets and coarse gold. Meyer sea-
son passes without dozen or more
nuggets being found along Josephine
Greek, valued at 800 and more. Those
who operate giants and those who only
ground.slnice find no trouble in getting
water in plenty for their work.
Josephine Greek, which is some eight
or nine miles in length, is one contin-
uous network OF sluices and fumes used
in the operation OF the several placer
mines along its banks. Along the
stream one can find the homes OF many
people, whose whole source OF revenue
lies In the gravel from the creek bed.
These people never 20 in want; they
have plenty, and many who operate
mines on larger scale produce sacks
Of gold at cleanup time that would ill
a Colorado capitalist with envy.
Along Canyon Creek, which flows i'm
TO Josephine Greek, about midway, are
multitudes Of mines, the most notable
Of which Ia the Stlth hydraulic mine.
This property is equipped with a mile
aud a half ditch and large giant. The
gravel, which is red color, and from
to y feet deep, pays well.
The noted Bybee mine, three miles
below the stith, has produced many
thousand dollars during the several sea
sons that il has been operated. The mine
has several miles Of bitches and fumes,
and operates two giants. So rich is the
ground Of the mine that in one year
gold enough was removed with pick and
shovel alone to pay for the construction
OF the several miles Of bitches and fumes
hat the mine built later