The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-02-16
OLD CHAN MEL A BIG
NORTH SIDE ASSE
Continued flcrn Page -


crushed out of Cougar gulch Another
gold creating element was discovered
on the Last Chance claim, not how
ever, connected with the channel topic,
by running into decomposed or oxi-
died section of what has become
known as the Goldback lode, one OF
the three extremely large mineral
lodges that cross Prichard creek al
most due north and south. Where the
placer people struck it proved to be 30
feet wide. It will receive attention
later
Between Cougar and Gold Run
gulches the channel was worked out
slick and clean, being the first place
where a fair run of water could be
applied, Gold Run being reservoired,
which was connected by a big ditch
with the works and a hydraulic stream
employed. Shortly after water was
turned on and the west rim penetrated
the Pilot ledge was discovered. rather
large outcrops of white quartz becom-
ing visible. This ledge has since Gre
ated sensation by yielding phenOm-
enally rich quartz and may speak for
itself again during the present year.
1t is practically within town limits.
Attention in detail will be given to ii
later II is mentioned here merely to
draw attention to the fact that it is
the only ledge of value so far discOv
cred in the bed of the old channel. and
that it may have contributed some Of
the gold that forms the placers of the
covers the creek at the mouth of Gold
Run gulch, and was so exceedingly
rich it is quite possible the Pilot may
have contributed some of the wealth |
found there. However. Gold Run |
gulch proved very disappointing as a |
gold producer. The gulch was found |
very steep and the bedrock extremely |
hard, compact and smooth, affording |
gold no opportunity to lodge. 1t was
swept down into the main creek
About 1000 feet of the old channel was
cut out here by the glacier action.
which was reinforced by about a mile
of back action of the glacier as it was
forced down the steep grade Hence
no gold could lodge.
Old Operators and Present.
At this point the channel threw Off
an overflow or branch, the main flow
shooting through the divide between
Gold Run and East Alder gulches, ana
the side flow covering the flat just
north of Murray. 1t was on the south
rim of the main flow that the channel
was discovered by George Rice in 1884.
The channel here commenced to grow
deeper and more difficult to work. al
though a fair head of water was Sc
cured by a ditch from the Gold Run
reservoir Huge bOulders began to
show up and much powder had to be
employed to get rid of them. While
good pay was obtained. the water was :
Inadequate and the season too short, {
to make good Roadway. This section,
therefore, was left for later handling.
Here the channel turned a little
north of west to the divide between I
East Alder and main Alder gulches, {
where the most effective work was
done by a combination of the water of I
Gold Run. East and main Alder :
through ditching at considerable ex- /
pense to the operators, mainly headed {
miner at Murray. In both East and q
main Alder the channel was cut out S
by glacier action with HRquestiOned I
terrific force East Alder had a mile d
or so of back push and main Alder had +
about two miles of similar action. The a
latter got it's movement directly below a
Murray Peak, nearly 5000 feet eleva- v
ton, and cut wide swath almost Il
from the start, and maintained ii to
the junction of Prichard creek. The I
gulch having a good grade, with O
general hard quartzite, granite and s
slate foundation, ground smooth by a
the huge ice masses, allowed only n
limited amount of gold to remain. v
Hence placer mining in the gulch Z
proper was never much of a success. o
The channel, though, on both sides a
yielded very good returns and much s
ground remains there to be washed b
in the future Il
Belligerent Water Claimants. 4
The gulch has a strong water flow d
during the spring and this led up to F
a near tragedy and the first water r
litigation in the Occur d'Alenes. The p
Dream Gulch company. a mile west,
located a water right on main Alder,
a little distance below where the chan S
mel crossed, and proceeded to dig a 9
ditch to Dream gulch. unmindful of f.
the strong and rightful protest of the "
Alder Gulch company, using the water g
near it's mouth. The Dream people fl
placed heavily armed guards at the "
point of intake. with orders to shoot Ia
TO kill anyone who interfered with the e.
water. For month or so these guards a
obeyed orders. and allowed no one to y
go up or down the trail in the gulch. t
The Alder gulch crowd, eigth mem B
bers, of which John Docktor was one f.
had many conferences as to the best B