Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-10-08
SECRETARY ANDREWS
TALKS ABOUT MINING
Galice, Rich in Placer and Quartz,
the Mining Center OF South
ern Oregon.

On Thursday of this week rep
resentative of the Courier called at
the rooms of the Commercial Club
and while there chanced to have an
interview with H. l.. Andrews, the
able and active secretary of the or
ganization. The subject under dis
cussion was the mines and mining
in Josephine county Mr. Andrews
is an expert along these lines, hav-
ing had many years experience here
in this work, and he is without doubt .
one of the very best posted men in
regard to values of quartz and placer
to be found in the country and his
opinions are regarded as valuable.
In reply to questions he spoke as
follows:
At the present time the mining
industry of the state of Oregon is
most actively represented by the dis
trict known as Southern Oregon,
which is composed of Josephine,
Jackson and Douglas counties.
The heart of this district is Jose
phine county, where, at the present
time, great activity is seen in all
the various camps.
Probably the most active at this
time is the Galice district, located %
miles from Grants Pass, where such
famous properties as the Almeda,
the Oriole. the Gold Road and the
Sugar Pine are developing in re-
markable manner, new stamp mills
are being installed and additional
stamps added to mills already in
operation. Many men are employed
in the camp. The smelter for the
Almeda mine is now all on the
ground and the building and engine
rooms completed. This mine is
undoubtedly the most extensive in
the state and in a very short time
will be employing great number of
men. The mine has extensive work
ings, there being more than 1000
feet of tunnel and a 500-foot shaft
now sinking.
Among the placer mines much ac-
tivity is now being witnessed, the
recent sale of the Old Channel prop
erty for $150,OOO to eastern parties
means that much additional equip
ment will be installed. The magni-
tude of this property is hardly con-
ceivable to the ordinary observer,
comprising as 1t does upwards of
1000 acres of auriferous gravel, the
deposits varying in depth from rs
to 25O feet, the sheer dump in many
workings being as much as $50 feet.
This mine is equipped with electric
light plant, saw mill and complete
system of bitches affording a press
ure of $40 feet upon the giants
which, three in number, fitted with
6-inch nozzles and deflectors, will be
in operation for the next century
before this mine will have reached
its worked-out stage.
. The Importance of the camp can
be better explained by the amount
OF freighting and pack teams which
are necessary for supplying the needs
of the camp. A few years ago a
. small store of supplies was sufficient
but today a large general merchan.
disc store is located in the camp IN
addition to constant stream of
freight wagons and pack trains en-.
gagged in hauling supplies from Mer.
lin and Grants Pass.
Peavine Mountain is literally doe.
ted with prospects of more or ,es.
promise and scarcely day passe.
but what some new rich strike I,
heralded forth. Many prospectors
are In the hills and the daily stage,
are taxed to their full capacity.
Several weeks ago large nun.
Der of merchants and members al
the Commercial Club visited thl,
busy mining district and made d
thorough inspection of the mines a,
|. we'll as the general affairs of IN,
i camp 1t was very plain to then
that transportation was the only ne
u cessity lacking to make the camp IN,
n most famous in the Northwest. Tn,
government has completed a splen
q ala tran on a wagon grade man,
d. miles below the camp towards IN,
/; mouth OF the river for the purpos,
j. OF opening up communication witt
l the forest reserve Some day in IN,
I. near future a railroad will be bull
/ through this camp and on to IN,
@ ocean 1t Is even now rumored tina,
S the Hin interests have already sur
u yeyod a line down the river ter
/ mInating at Port oxford. the besI
IS natural harbor on the coast. Tn,
I- Grants Pass Commercial Club is ally,
tD the uitunti,p upd d. ..t..t.