Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-03-28
ROCK OF ENORMOUS RICHNESS.
Further Details OF the Rich Strike
Recently Made on Jose
phine Creek.

The bonanza recently found by George
Bour and now owned by George aud
Dave Bour, Ed Daily and Tom Johnson,
which is OF such magnitude as to move
southern Oregon people out Of their tra-
ditional lethargy regarding the many
rich strikes made from week to week
and has caused some degree OF excite
ment, is located right in the bed OF Jose.
phne creek, the waters Of which at
present prevent the possibility Of ascer.
tanning the extent of the deposit OF the
richer ore.
Josephine creek is a tributary OF the
Illinois river, coming in from the south
side, some four or FIVE miles below
Kerby. 1t is and always has been one of
the very richest auriielous streams in
Southern Oregon and has been mined
some so years and by all the methods
known to placer mining. II is still one
Of our most productive creeks and the
earlier and more primitive methods
have given place to the hydraulic giants.
Josephine creek s peculiar stream in
the fact that it runs for great portion
OF its course in bedrock cut or canyon,
flowing between two walls. The prevail
ing formation is serpentine and for many
years the creek has been carving for
itself neat and picturesque channel.
On either side OF the little canyon lie
the higher gravel bars which are the
scene OF the present hydraulic opera
tions. On all sides the giants keep
throwing into the channel gravel and
debris or tailings which accumulate un-
I'll some freshet sweeps them out to the
river. The high water OF this year
shifted the gravel in the creek bed and
exposed the rich ore deposit.
The existence OF this vein OF ore has
been known for many years and 1t was
once worked on the opposite side OF the
creek from the pres ent discovery, but
was covered up with tailings and lost.
1t has been searched for many times by
number OF different men. Some Of
the searchers, it is said, have sat down
to rest on the very spot where the dis
coverv was made and ON tho very rock
under which the rich ore was lying.
The owners have been com PEELED to
suspend work for the present on their
find, as they have taken out all that is
accessible Of the richer ore and the
waters Of Josephine flow over the main
body. Next summer when the creek is
low the water will be carried over the
vein in a fiume and the work can be
carried on much more adyantageously
at that time than now, 30 that it is likely
that the work win be suspended until
tnat time. The rim OF the creek has
been found to be gold bearing rock, but
does not compare with that in the creek.
The extent OF the pay chute ,annot be
determined, but it seems certain that il
reaches at least across the creeb, some
so feet, rs it was once worked on the
other side. This is very sufficient ex-
tent OF itself il the richness holds out for
the whole distance.
In appearance, the rock Is very
peculiar and to the casual observer
resembles limestone far more than
quartz. The gold stands ont Of it in
Jumps the size Of pea and smaller and
runs through the rock in strings and
wires. The reports Of the amount OF
money taken out have probably been
somewhat exaggerated as there has been
only comparatively small amount OF
the rock accessible, but in all likelihood
next summer will see them more than
verified. Fair samples OF the richer ore
have yielded $40 a pound, a ate Of $780,
900 TO the ten.