Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-08
Gold Producer for Fifty Years

The Sterling mine is In readiness
for piping and work will begin fol-
lowing the first big rain, so reports
Will r. Jennings, foreman, and who
has held that position for the past IL
years at that mine, who was in
Grants Pass Wednesday. Three No. 4
giants are used and the water is
brought by large ditch, "a miles In
length, from the upper course of Lit
tie Applegate TO the mine, which is
located on Sterling creek, nine miles
south Of Jacksonville. Only two
giants will be operated at the main
workings this winter, one giant hav-
ing been moved down the creek one
fourth Of mile and set up at the
mouth Of Grub gulch, on an old chan
mel, which was passed when the main
creek channel was worked. This
guloh prospects we'll and is thought
to be rion. The bank in the main
workings Ia from 40 TO 60 feet high
and in width from 200 to COO feet.
The Sterling mine is In a section OF
the channel Of an ancient river that
flowed across this country at a period
previous to the beginning Of the
streams now constituting the Rogue
River basin. in southeasterly and
northwesterly directions, gravel bars
Of which can be tractd on various
places on the hills from Stering too
west Of Jacksonville. This channel
is cement gravel much OF it
10 hard that it has to be loosened up
with powder before the water will
readily cat it away. In the work Of
blasting, holes are drilled in the
bank down near the bedrock eight to
l2 feet deep. One stick Of giant powder
is then inserted and fred to spring
the hole. after which from 40 TO so
sticks are placed in the cavity and fired
by an electric battery. The report
from these heavy discharges Is 70
muilled by the earth that il Is hear
scarcely half a mile, though the earth
about is shaken az by an earthquake,
but a report that is dcaiening is
made, and can he heard l0 to ~ miles
when the monster boulders which are
found in tho bank on are blown to
pieces for removal. In this work the
sticks Of giant powder are merely laid
upon the boulders and covered with
earth, enough powder being used to
shatter the rock to small pieces and
being in the open air, 10 makes q
crashing report like lO-inch can.
non. From three to six tons Of
powder are used each season, and for
II years John Park has hauled the
powder out from Jacksonville with.
out mishap, and no accident has
ever occurred AZ the mine, other than
the loss Of a shack, in which the powder
was stored and warmed II caught
fire and was iB a fair way 10 barn,
when primer exploded and set
of tho powder and the house was
blown into fragments aud strewn for
a quarter Of milo around, hut no
person was hurt. A regular powder
house was then built and with a
furnace, The room in cold weather IL
kept warm, for when giant powder IL
cold, it will not explode. A China
man is usually employed by the Sterl-
ing company TO have charge Of the
powder house, for the work is both
too dangerous and unhealthy for the
average American 10 care TO under.
take. The action Of the chemicals in
the powder produces headaches ana
stomach disorders with those hand.
ling It and some men cannot handle
IL for any length Of time, while there
are persons who can Withstand it,
effects for year or two. One
Chinaman at the Sterling, held the
job for three years, bat usually one
season Is all that a Chinaman will
handle the powder
The Sterling mine is one OF tho
largest and richest IN Southern
Oregon and has been q steady pro
ducer Of gold since 1854. when 1t wa