The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1920-09-11
GOLD OREDGER
COMMENCES OPERATION

Fully 1900 people on last Sunday
afternoon witnessed the beginning Of
operations of the Gold Canyon Dredg'
ing Company, at what was known In
days gone by as Johnson City, in the
canyon half way between Silver City
and Dayton and IL miles northeast Of
Carson.
The people attending came from al
most everywhere. The event was
one of the greatest ever witnessed In
Western Nevada and practically
marks a epoch In gold mining In
the State The day passed off with
out mar and II there is anything in
signs on which to predicate future
success they were present at every
stage of the proceedings, from the
time the people began to arrive,
through the two hours devoted to
their reception and entertainment,
down to the moment when the juice
was turned on, the machinery began
to move and the long string of steel
Tipped buckets began to eat into the
banks of the artificial lake in quest
of its golden provender.
For nearly a year the Gold Canyon
Dredging Company has been getting
things in shape for operation. First
was the securing of gold-bearing acre
age. then the digging and filling with
water of the artificial lake, the con-
struction of the dredge and the final
connections of water and electricity.
About two weeks ago everything was
completed and invitations sent broad
cast to people to take part in the ini-
tial performance, which, to be exact,
occurred at 3;47, when Mrs. Emmett
d. Boyle swung the lever which start
ed the machinery in motion.
1t would take too much space to
state in detail the plans of the Gold
Canyon Dredging Company and a full
description Of its plant and opera
ton. Therefore, let 1t suffice to say
that the dredge, though not as large
as many In operation in California,
weighs 900 tons. is equipped with a
string of "a buckets, each capable of
digging and carrying nine cubic feet
OF earth and able to sink a depth of
40 feet below the level OF the deck.
In all the dredge has a capacity for
handling 5000 cubic yards of earth
each ~ hours. and after this is dug
and elevated and passes over a sys-
TEN of grizzlies, the coarse gravel
and boulders being discarded, the
fines are CARED over a rifle surface
Of $500 square feet, and the golden
contents retained by amalgamations.
The balance is carried over the stern
of the dredge by aid of endless belts
and piled on the dumps.
The company owns a large tract OF
land in the immediate vicinity of the
scene of operation, purchased from
Messrs. King and Ray, old time resi-
dents of that section. OF the tract
careful tests have shown that not less
than 500 acres OF 1t carries gold in
paying quantities and will produce
average values of 81 cents per cubic
yard. From surface to bedrock 1t is
estimated that the average depth Is
thirty feet, so by a little figuring 1t
can be readily seen what an immense
amount Of earth Is to be turned over
and washed before the dredger COM
pletes its work. Based on the amount
of dirt that can be handled daily and
the average of 81 cents a yard accept
ed, the yearly production will amount
approximately to 100000, a consid-
cradle portion of which will be dis
bursed for labor, new material, cleo
tricity and water, but still leaving a
profit for the company. The
electricity for the plants operation is
furnished by the Truckee River Gen.
eral Electric and the water by the
Virginia and Gold Hill Company. OF
the juice enough is furnished to keep
400 horse power motors in steady or
Grafton and for washing purposes
something like 100000 gallons Of
water will be used daily.
The project to all appearances
started on with all the auguries Of
success and 1t is the earnest hope of
the entire State that they will con-
tinue. for with this first real placer
plant in operation and its success as