American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-04-15

Ed Craig, also a resident Of Pocate.lo.
Others whom I recall were Newt Tut
tie and Con. Miller. The latter was
no relation to the Con Miller who now
lives here. Tuttle and Miller died a
number Of years Ago..
These men used to work the islands
adjoining the TOWNSHIP. They were
what is known as skinned bars. as
each period Of high water would de-
posit a thin layer OF sand and earth,
about the thickness of a knife blade,
which was comparatively rich. They
used rockers and after putting this
thin layer through the rocker. would
deposit the refuse In small heaps,
which would be ten or fifteen feet
apart. During the next high water
period these mounds would create
small eddies, and behind each mound
would be a shovelful OF quite rich
dirt. About ten years ago, during one
of the mining periods, the river sud
denly rose and drove the miners from
the bars. This was an unheard OF
raise and the miners could not un-
derstand II. 1t developed later that
the government had raised the gates
at the Jackson lake dam In order TO
furnish water for irrigation purposes.
There has been M placer mining on the
islands since as the bars are covered
too much of the time. The gold In very
fine and floats where there In n cur
rent and Is deposited only where the
water is still.
did I ever get rich ut mining?"
No, but ] made n large fortune once
by a discovery OF %asphaltum. For
about three months I had money
enough In sight to build n railroad.
This was about 1896. Sam Cottrell
discovered n deposit OF an unknown
substance north OF Sam Winters place
and about eight miles from the rail-
road, that made millionaires OF Camp
bell, Stebbins, Bennett and myself. II
was about the time OF the Gilsonite
discoveries I'm Utah hat were creating
30 much newspaper talk. We did not
know whether we had %gissonite or not.
but II not, we knew Il was something
just as good. The discovery was a
wax-like substance, resembling melt
ed resin In appearance. and when
chewed was somewhat like chewing
gum, but wal tasteless. Whatever Il
might be determined to be we were
certain II was some kind OF paving ma
terial and would be In extensive de-
mand. We knew the Short Line would
build a spur TO the deposit, when acres
upon acres OF the material could be
shoveled into ears and sent to market.
We guarded our secret very closely
telling no n OF our discovery. Each
Of us carried a sample OF the material
In our pockets, and at our frequent
quiet meetings we would chew n and
speculate an to what II was. Mr..
Campbell had sen a sample OF II to the
Smithsonian Institute for analysis,
and VIC grew impatient at the delay
I'm receiving returns. Every mail was
watched and nearly every day we
would gather, expecting the letter that
had not come. We did not dare send
a sample to Salt Lake or Butte for
fear that our secret would get out.
One day the long expected letter
came. Mr.. Campbell called Is togeth'
err and the letter was read to US, stat
ing that the strange deposit was ba
manure. The letter sta:ed that SOM
thousands OF years before there mus
have been countless millions Of bait
where the deposi. vas found. We qui
chewing the material, busted oui
pockets. and once more became pool
men. I have had the MINING
: fever nor the get-rich-quick itch sinc'
and have c%ontented myself with max
ing a living by following ordinar,
. pursuits.