Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-12

have made the Nome district famous but
by far the larger amount Of gold has been
taken out gradually in small amounts
Seven men took out Sl2l.OOO in sixty days
from the Portland Beach claim but thai
was an exception. Gold has been discov-
cred in paying quantities in practlcally
every stream in the Nome district, as well
as along what Is known as the third beacu
line. and thousands OF acres have beer
located for placer mining purposes. Man.
of these mining claims have been worke
profitably for several years by the prim.
tive method Of shovelling into sluce boxes
This is a very expensive method be
cause labor costs IS a day in addition 10
s.. 80 a day for board. AS one man can
handle only three cubic yards OF dirt
large share Of the profits is eaten up. The
dirt lie shoveled into sluce boxes through
which water is turned The gold dust set
ties on the floor Of the box and can easily
be collected. Occasionally small nuggets
are found but the greater part Of the gold
is found in tho form OF dust When this
is very fine, as 1t is when found along
the coast, mercury is placed on the floor
Of the sluce boxes to catch IL. Later the
mercury. is separated leaving the pure
gold AZ long as the dirt runs above 81
or s. this method Is practicable. although
extremely wasteful.
These conditions existed for many years.
but a great change has taken place There
are several lines Of steamships plying be-
tween California and Nome, and two rail-
roads run several hundred miles into the
interior. A few years ago it cost 50 cents
a pound to bring freight OF any kind into
the Nome country. Now It costs less than
81 ton. This has enabled capitalists to
build the reservoirs, bitches, fumes and
pipe lines, which are absolutely necessary
for hydraulic mining. Often this neces-
states the combination of several To-
Gators. who unite their interests for the
common good Of all concerned, and the
manner usually adopted is to form a com.
pany. So the largest share of the mining
in the Nome country today is being done
by companies although it is possible for
prospectors with a moderate amount OF
capital to work their own claims by buy
ing water from the owners Of the bitches.
Water sells at about $50 g miners inch
per day and 1t is a source Of great reve-
nue. to the owners Of the water rights
BY this hydraulic method the drst is
forced into, huge sluice box and washed
settle on the floor of the box. where they
are easily collected The stream Of water
is so powerful that It will cut down cliffs
and move huge boulders. and. of course,
it forces an immense amount Of dirst into
the sluices. cubic yard Of dirt can be
handled in this way for 6 or cents When
this figure is contrasted with the $3.50 it
costs TO handle 1t by hand, the advantage
of hydraulic mining is evident
Several other methods are employed in
mining gold in the Nome district. but the
hydraulic method is far superior and less
expensive than any Of them. OF course.
during the winter months all operations
have to be suspended but from the first
of June until late in October the tenn
perature is comparatively mild and the day.
light twenty-four hours long. The gold is
in the ground. 1t is simply a question OF
getting it out.--New York World