Gilpin observer., 1909-11-11
A LEGEND OF
THE GULcH
(continucd)

The three treasure seekers, down
the gulch, removed six yards Of dirt
the first day and had a shaft to the
depth of seven feet. All the dirt TAX
en- out being run through the sluice-
box. They are not likely to lose by
the venture, for most of the dirt con-
tains more or less gold. A big rock
encountered. One of the trio went to
Denver Tuesday to secure a pump.
In the meantime, the other two cribb-
ed the shaft and took out the rock
by breaking it into removable pieces.
That accomplished, the hole was put
down another foot, but water inter
ferred and it was thought better to
wait until the water could be remov-
ed. Not to be idle, the two remain
ing men worked banking dirt that
showed well in panning. They had
two clean-ups Of the carpets in the
sluce-boxes. They made-but that's
telling, said one of the men.
The pump arrived on the ground
Wednesday evening, coming up on
the train, the trio joining in trans
porting it la shoulders, each taking
his turn in taking the same to its
present location Of usefulness.
Not to get too far ahead of the
story, a bungalow, as one of the men
called it, was erected Of odds and
ends. A small affair, shack at best,
but very comfortable during incle-
ment weather. 1t is rigged out with
sheet-iron stove to heat water to
wash the carpets when too cold other
adjustments are essential of one kind
or other
1t will be interesting to know of
the general formation of the deposits
Of the creek. In the locality worked
dark sand from surface washing;
then gravel mixed with tale. This
conglomerate is avoided as much as
possible as it carries away the gold
when in contact. A yellowish coarse
sand follows which is of varying
thickness. This is generally the pay
streak. 1t contains great deal of
black iron in fine PARTICLES then there
is layer of coarse sand. pebbles and
boulders. At water level or where
water comes in there is little change
from the above, but the black sand
invariably disappears to re replaced
by very fire pyrites with no gold. A
foot below, where water was encount-
cred, at a depth Of about nine feet,
4 streak of jet black tale was en-
countered that was saluble in water,
leaving no residue The theory is that
the yellow dirt containing the gold
and black sand is metamorphose. The
black sand was, presumably pyrites
and the yellow gravel is a stain from
the sulphur. Weather and water trick
ling through the layer of gravel, has
leeched the sulphur from the pyrites
leaving the iron. When the gravel is
at water level or where water occurs
there has been no change, due. per-
haps, to the absence OF atmospheric
influence and the pyrites not being
changed by the water while in sta
tionary position. This may be all
wrong but it is as good a guess as
nest.
For the object required, the shaft
was abandoned temporarily, work be-
ing confined TO trench which IS
now five and one-half feet from the
surface fifteen feet long with the
shaft. Working 1t this way will re-
quire no timbering, and if cate-in
should occur there Will be no damage
and the dirt shoveled into the boxes.
OF course they have some trouble
about starting early. The water is
frozen in the hosc used for conveying
the water from ditch about two
hundred feet long. This ditch is fed
by series of connecting troughs
run across the creek where it has
been backed to give a fall to the
water.
Friday they thought everything was
coming their way. \ post OF about
two feet long a foot square waa
standing upright Visions of sudden
riches were In the ascendent soon to
be dispelled by few vigorous
strokes of the pick. The slogan is
"sluce-boxes or bed rock"
Saturday was monotonous. save
that the tenderfoot insisted that not
enough dirt was thrown into the box
THE more dirt results in more gold
in the cleanup" a lot OF cobble-
stones lay to enc side. During the
last Fifteen minutes nricr T., quitting