Henderson gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1911-19??, 1911-10-26
The Ports Gold Mine
OF Today.

Right here IN the northeastern
section of Franklin county, N. c.,
i located one of the richest placer
ro,d mines in the world. A gold
mine discovered nearly three-quar-
trrs Of century ago, and possessing
q valuation of over $4,000, 900 as
shown by the tests of ten of the most
eminent expert mining engineers in
fine nited States. These examina-
lions cover q period of more than
one wear, and have required an ex-
Danditure of more than $50, 100000.
Gold was discovered upon this
property in 1912 by Jew peddler,
and the first work in mining was
done by John Portis who came III
possession Of the property. Ports
knew nothing about mining but he
took from the ground enough gold
TO satisfy his simple requirements.
After some years Ports leased the
Droperty to Plum Austin for period
of ten years. With the most prim-
tive methods of moving the dirt
with OK carts and wheelbarrows, and
recovering the gold by rocking and
long TOMS" yet in ten years he
took from this property $500, 900.
The property passed from Ports
to one Thomas, who in turn sold 1T
to Colonel Sturgis.
About all the gold North Carolina
had during the war came from this
mine. A million dollars was turned
iato the mint at Charlotte, N. c.,
prior to the Civil War.
During the eighties Colonel Sturgis
granted an option to one Bailey
who built a fve-stamp mill, and
hauled the rock by mule train. Col
onel Sturgis refused to renew Bailey's 8
lease. For several years he let the
property to negroes for 20 per cent
Of the gold.
Some years ago the property was
leased to Senator Jones, OF Nevada,
for 100000, and he was later to
purchase at $250,00O.00. However,
Senator Jones was forced from the
field by Colonel Sturgis raising the
price to $1,000, 100000.
The POrtis mine produced over
$1,000, 100000 prior to 1875.
The history of this mine would
make a book but we must come to
the facts concerning the mine of the
present day:
The property has length OF one
mile and width of fthree-quarters, and
embraces 800 acres of land, we'll
timbered and well watered, Fishing
creek, Gold Run branch, and other
streams and creeks crossing and
bounding the property and furnish
ing all the water required for any
present or future operations.
The property is covered to an un-
known depth by "saprolite" or rot
ten rock which bears free gold in fine
flakes and small nuggets with occur
ring pockets which show values from
5000 to $4,000. Frequent veins OF
feldspar quartz are found and these
carry bright granular gold in very
fine particles. The extensive tests
which have been made show a con-
servative value OF more than $5O,-
600, 900 in the property.
Now, some will say: "Why hasn't
this property been developed if it is
worth so much?" A satisfactory
answer is that no machinery has
been invented until recently which
would successfully and economically
separate the gold from the clay. 1t
has taken years of experimental
work to build and perfect a machine
which will handle the clay Of this
property.
The present Ports Gold Mining
Company own the property. They
have spent two years with a small
plant making mine running tests and
experimenting to find a means OF
handling the clay which is scattered
throughout the saprolite district,
and which always proved a source
ofgreat trouble in old types OF wash
lng machines. The solution of the
washing problem has made this mine
financial success and will be used
IN other mines throughout North
Carolina.
\ new plant has been erected
which has a capacity of l, 900 cubic
yards per day. The digging machin-
cry consists of a Crawford Bucket OF
one and one-half cubic yards capaci-
ty. This bucket operates on a cable
way OF 500 feet span. This machine
represents the most modern and
powerful type of excavating machin-
cry manufactured by the Lidgerwood
Manufacturing Company, of New
York. The cable way is supported
by steel towers 20 feet high which
are Carried on wheels so as to revolve
III Il complete circle 1000 feet in
diameter. The bucket is automatic
ami digs the dirt without being
touched by hand. As soon as the
bucket Is filled it is hoisted to the
mann cable on which it travels at a
speed OF POO feet per minute to a
pivot tower, where it dumps auto
hatcalIy and Immediately starts
ptck lor another load. The mate.
TlaL as 1t drops from the bucket slides
u2Wn an incline chute over a grizzly
".Ich screens out roots, stumps anC
locks over six inches in diameter
I'i1 smaller rocks and earth drop
through the grizzly into the jaws o
d>pecialIy designed rolling crusher
winch crushes the rock and shred:
Tie DIRT until it is of the size OF ordi
nary brown sugar.
Inns crusher will dispose of 1900
fords per day. The product as i
t3VeS the crushing rolls is intercept
eu 10y a ten inch stream of waite
winch Is pumped from river a mil
away, and which is delivered to
nozzIe under high PRESSURE. From
tnlS point the mixed earth and waite
Is led into the mechanical disintegra
.gf and separator which breaks VI
ue small balls of clay and earth un
I'll the whole mass is in solution i
The water and ready to be carrie
over the rifles and gold saving ia
pes. Several special features hav
been introduced in the gold savin
end OF the plant so as to secure th
Very fine float gold which is FRI
quently lost. These devices take u