The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-07-05
TRAVELSOF THE TRIBUNE'SHIREDMAN
Pays a Visit to Dixie.

!. Pays a Visit to Dixie.
The Tribune's hired man went dow
in Dixie. three miles below Notus, t
investigate report that placer gol
was to be had in that region. H
found the gold there.
The old Boise river channel whic
was in use at the time that the grave
was filled in 6O feet high through tn
canyon, just North of town, has de
posted placer gold in paying guam
ties at the point named. George Fro
man took out $1,000 one fall, severa
| years ago and worked out the de
| post. Mr.. Bowman took out larg
quantity and others tried their hand
| with more or less success, but final,
the work was discontinued. The,
supposed they had worked it all out
Or else had worked down to the waite
nne and were not equipped to dredg,
it.
The reporter prospected the grave
deposit specifically in many places
and found that there were values
ranging from ten cents to twenty-five
cents. This gold is very like the Snake
river article and that is very fine in.
deed. Where the fall in the river is
very slight, it is out of the question
for the water to move heavy gold
This holds true in the Dixie region
except that Boise river has ten foot
fall to the mile until the gold is reach
ed. The water then scattered out on
a fiat field. This carried the fine gold
to higher point, and evidently strew-
ed the heavier article in lower de-
post.
The Tribune representative can see
as far into gravel bar as anybody.
He wanted to follow the report to its
final analysis. He discovered gravel
channel entirely unlike the surround
ing territory and went down four feet
to the water line and then went three
feet into the water. The general
country around is decomposed granite,
rusty and old. But the channel car
rying pay gold lies under the surface
gravel and is altogether different. It
carries large percentage of quartz
rock, is highly blue in color, and gives
off mucky stink. This deposit lies
on top of a false bedrock made of
ancient shelf material extending out
from under the l0O-foot bench which
rises to the South. This false bed
rock is only hardpan that has not been
dissolved. The floods which brought
down the gravel from the upper noun
tains, shovel the flour gold on top of
this shelf and squeezed the heavy
gold under the shelf, putting teaser
showing also on top.
There is no question about the best
Of this deep deposit running as much
IS $3.50. The deposit is on decided
and and that may be bought for a |
reasonable price. There is ample
water in this region for dredging. The
deposit doubtless follows channels
Or streaks through district four miles
ong by mile wide. These channels
weave and dip. The district will
stand for a thorough prospecting,
when something is going to be un-
covered. There is a dredging pro-
position in the Dixie that would be
7ery attractive if it were in Klondike
ar away from civilization, or back in
ome of the flats of the Sawtooth |
ange where the foot of the steam
locomotive can not be heard and
Y hAAHSA, NoAiOS ~ Ou |
pullman sleeper. The trouble with
his Dixie gold is, it is too close to us.
t is too easy to get at There are
lot enough rattle snakes there. The
winters will not close down the
lredges in September, and we do not
axe our lives in our hands to 20 up
ome treacherous river among the |
cebergs in June. Fromansand others
Who have taken out small fortunes
rom the top deposits do not look
wise when they speak of it and tell of |
low many thousands they got out of |
t. They simply tell facts and state
hat only few thousand fell their |
way They do, however, tell you they
:ould not go deep on account of the |
water. Deep down is where your
eporter thinks genuine bonanza
les ready for the shovel of dredge. |
The place is three miles below Notus
md just as close back to the high
bench as possible and then running
hannel-wise for three miles down the |
liver.