Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-04-28
WONDERFUL GOLD STRIKE MADE
BY LESSEES OF HIGGINS MINE

duration to get a line exactly on the
geological formation, especially in
view OF the fact that 80 little work
has been done; nevertheless, they
found that Higgins and the two les
sees were workin gin dirt that will or
has already made them rich. A clear
ly defined bold ledge Is not In evi.
dence so far, but the diggings are In
friable formation, which appears
to be the decomposed and oxidized
upper zone Of quartz ledge. The
men are working this after the man
ner OF placer, ground sluicing the
rich friable material. Slide matter
covers the formation. When the
lessees trailed the gold to this rich
deposit 1t became necessary to strip
the overburden, which they did by
ground sluicing, then working the de-
composed matter through the sluices,
gathering the rich concentrates. They
lost much gold In the process, but
as their lease was about to expire,
they made speed. Slower work would
have saved a greater per cent of the
metal, but the swifter work saved
more dollars in gold. When Mr.. Hig-
gins arrived he changed matters by
extending the life Of the lease
through the season and all hands ar
ranged second set of sluices, with
less pitch and system of under
currents, and are now saving about
95 per cent of the metal. The exca.
walton has uncovered exceedingly rich
dirt. which In the past two weeks
has afforded box concentrates valued
at from $4,000 to 100000. This
valuable stuff Is nailed up in two
bins, which will later be run through
a stamp mill. The work Of sluicing
will be continued and II is safe to
say that several fortunes will come
out, and In brief time at that.
Now the question is, are they work.
ing on the top OF quartz ledge? This
seems to be the belief. Higgins some
time ago projected a cross-cut tun.
rel located some distance down the
hill, which he expects to cut a quarts
ledge, or rather, this particular ledge
the decomposed surface of which he
Is now supposed to be working. The
breast OF this tunnel Is supposed to
have already reached nearly to the
ledge.
Mr.. VOORHEES, and Mr.. Tower state
that while they could see no reason
for the report that there are two
million dollars in sight, they found
a wonderful showing and what will
perhaps prove to be one of the most
valuable strikes in the state.
The rich deposit occurs in the
Golden Dream" mine that has
been worked for two or more seasons
and lies less than 100 feet from the
SPOT where Mr.. Higgins secured over
$4,000 by ground sluicing in the
ceason OF 1909-10. Mr.. Higgins has
spent every winter since 1905, ex.
cepting the past one, in this district
and was aware that the mine was q
This last winter he spent
In Portland and leased the mine tC
G. M Gage and G. s. Ross for a peri
Cd OF six months. The lease beinp
about TO expire, the lessons started
work at point which they consider.
ed carried the best values, with the
result that they uncovered what ap.
pears 10 be deposit Of decomposet
ledge matter. something like Is feet
across, which yields from $50 to sc
to the pan.
The news OF the strike was wired
TO Mr.. Higgins at Portland and h'
Immediately went TO the mine ant
then commenced systematic work
Ing OF the ground where the strik,
was made.
, Messrs. Higgins, Gage and Rosi
have made an agreement not TO dl
vulge the amount Of gold secured 4
even an estimate. or the amour
. mined or uncovered, careful estim
ate made those who have seen sam
, ples Of the concentrates panned
places the amount OF gold alread.
secured as heretofore stated, at be
. tween $4,000 and 100000 As ye
the work has only Just begun an
!, there is at least another $4,000 nm
! covered, which will be run througl
> the ground sluice.
A., The whole side OF the mountal
. has been staked by prospectors, VIII
are flocking 10 tho Chetco country
Snow has been deep on the noun
: tain and some OF the miners hav
4 CONTINUED on PAGE Four.l