The Glasgow courier., 1916-11-03
LEADS WORLD AS
PLACER EXPERT
CHARLES KAMMERER BEGAN
LIFE IN ALDER GULCH
WITH A SHOVEL.
Now He Is First Placer Authority in
County; Made Success of Dredging
Operations After Engineer Had
Failed.

Charles Kammerer, who with
James Finlen, was lost in the noun
tains west of Missoula recently, and
rescued after the two had been with
out food for several days, is probably
the first placer mining expert in the
United States. His services are in
demand constantly bv outside concerns
who desire advice on placer operations.
He is the general manager Of the
dredging company which has been
operating so successfully at the
mouth Of Alder gulch for the past
twenty years.
Kammerer has developed a most
acute sense in locating gold placer de-
posits. His favorable report on a
placer proposition means that it n
tains gold in commercial quantities.
When he turns down placer prospect
capital will not touch it,. His knowl-
edge Of placer conditions is almost
uncanny.
He acquired his knowledge in Alder
gulch, from which over $lOO,OOU,OOO
worth OF gold has been taken. He
started with a shovel. He shoveled so
well that he became foreman.
A Harvard Enterprise.
This was his position with the COM
pany which undertook to develop hold
lngs al the mouth of the gu1ch and
which were not thought to be rich
enough TO mine by the ordinary meth
ods. The company was financed
through group OF professors OF Har-
ward university, OF which the late Pro-
fessor ohaler, the noted geologlst, was
the head.
A mining engineer whose knowledge
Of placer conaltlons was limited was
put III general charge Of the under.
taking. A fortune was expended with
out making a commercial success
Some innovation was proposed by the
engineer. kammerer, who was fore.
man, was called in by Shaler. When
his advice was asked he suggested a
method not approved bv the engineer
The engineer was inclined to reject
the suggestion Of mis- foreman, but
Shaler, who was good judge Of mel
told kammerer to go ahead and put
into effect the suggested innovation
The Engineer Resigned.
This angered the engineer to such
an extent that he told Shaler he would
resign if kammerer was allowed tc
go ahead with his work as outlined
Shaler promptly accepted the resigna'
tion. kammerer was put in charge as
manager.
After a year or two Of failure the
practical miner demonstrated his
worth and the dredges began to pay
They have been paying handsomely
ever since. Kammerer has built then
up into very profitable undertaking
incidentally the success of the under
taking has made of Charlie Kammerel
the first placer miner in the United
States.
Much of the land upon which Mr.
Kammerer company is operating was
farm property until it's values were
proven. 1t was owned by Phil Conrey
who homesteaded it in pioneer days
He was delighted when representatives
of the company which proposed te
dredge for gold there took an option
on it for $4,000. He was surprised
when placer "colors' were found il
the prospect holes by the COMPANY
and still further surprised when the
option was exercised. No one knows
how much gold has been taken from
the property except the Officers OF
the dredging company, and they arr
not telling. But it is believed to repre-
sent an immense sum.