Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-08-15
Merlin. ore. Aug. s. 1904

Merlln, Ofe. aug .. l3V4
1g5- journal: The placer mining
,@laBon is practically over, the rifles
E1nsB been taken up and the yellow
iarevEl. washed with infinite patience
nnDtsn water and some profanity from
I'M old guards, is gathered into this
h5Dld - Ehe big buckskin purses, from
vFhHnge Il will in time reach Uncle
sSaEmls mants and get acquainted with
tths usdIless of Liberty and the great
.sAnFa,iDan eagle. II is according tc
the eternal fitness Of things that the
sgDld esoming from the creek. should
E1g INN into bars at the mint, and
when coined should finally acquire
eihe J5sr habit. n Is a fascinating
laustuess gathering gold, especially II
nhE ground is rich, and there is no
spnrauit which so fastens the tentacles
sH attraction around man, often
sainE 10 his detriment.
Fuople In the east imagine every
looay on The Pacific coast knows all
sahDn mining. The fact Is that none
sOt us know much and most of us
Hsnow nothing at all about the process
Sb ~hich the yellow particles are
isnthered. What, for instance would
asnne of those beautiful dimitled,
,'inimy little angels who set the hearts
pd saa masculinity humping beneath
aHsfr respective midriffs think when
UtsS chuck a five over the counter for
liirRserie. checked stockings. etc. II
t'Sin 0hAt tnat little piece of money,
40 ft came from the average placers.
uJas originally 100 distinct pieces? Or
~ pemhance II came from the beach
siiggings or from Snake river. that It
aook 1900 separate and distinct pieces
NO maive each and every cent in that
asnrne hve2 That some ne miner.
whose whole wardrobe wouldn't cost
the amount paid for those same stock
suEx. gathered 600 900 pieces of gold
ne make that Ave dollar piece? I
vsDnder would II interest them to read
Mia story OF gold from mountain TO
mint? II ls a simple story but Il |
Nmeans volumes OF work In the first |
Wiace II Is necessary to catch your
'mAne The hardy prpspector. general |
NJ two OF them strikes out into the |
monntains with pack horse or two
ssnd begins ais hunt Every creek is !
plDspected." In other words the
creVices In the bedrock In the creek
ARE scraped out and the matter care
snliy "panned." A gold pan l. general
" al sheet steel or Iron about the
>ize of a common milk pan. with the
'ssiges more flaring and will hold about
~ pounds of dirt and gravel. The
ain 10 be prospected is placed In the
ran. and seeking a hole where the
sNter Is sull the prospector dips the
lnn in the water, and shakes Is. ne
sires II also a rotary motion. and dip.
ping the water into the pan. Tits II
~ HE water runs OF quickly. carrying
me gravel and lighter material with
a. This process Is repeated the
shaking causing the gold. which is
time a. heavy as the water
and abow six times as heavy as the
gravel 10 settle TO the bottom OF the
nah
The process requires jatlence
hen the wafer remaining Is black
sand, iron, copper fine galena on other
pf 'he heavier contents OF the pan. II
Shnnld fine particles OF gold or "col. I
~" show when the wa ashing is done. !
mithor pannng Is done, holes sunk
70 bedrock Ia several places to deter. d
nine II the gold Is In paying quaint, a
.ies This way requires months OF d
lime. as many streams show co,ors a
hal do not contain enough gold to q
'iay Not only are the streams pros. 4
'ened but the keen eyed miner has {
lis eyes ON the ground an the time "
pa river channels may be found on i
he very summit OF the mountain r
ansos, and these old channels are 4
ften the very best mines. Their d