Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-09-06


parent company.
Following the christening, the visitors
were shown over the dredge while II
was in operation.
Following the visit to the dredge the
Emigrant Dredging company was host
TO about 100 people at the Chico Hot
Springs for lunch. With Miles j
O'Connor as POSTMASTER, the visitors
were introduced Senator Wesley A.
DyEwart of Wilsall spoke briefly, ex-
pressing Park county's appreciation of
the confidence of the investors in ex-
pending close TO a million dollars pre-
paratory to operation of the Emigrant
glllch properties 1T takes men of
courage to develop such a project" he
said. I'VE are proud that you are here. .
President Mosier, "a years old and
recovering from a recent attack of
pneumonia, was the most active and
enthusiastic person in the party. His
mining career as a member of the
Lucky Tiger company extends over
most of the western part of North
America, with exceptional success with
Mexican properties until the Mexican
government appropriated them.
T. w. Thompson, chief engineer and
general manager, reviewed the devel-
opment of the properties, and described
the huge dredge built by the Yuba
company of San Francisco.
The dredge viii dig feet below the
water and 30 feet above, giving range
of ITO feet. 1t will handle 1000 to 5000
cubic yards of dirt each "a hours. The
area in which it is located has been
proven sufficiently to provide 10 years
operations
The dredge hull is ITO feet long and
70 feet wide, resting on huge pontoons.
1t weighs approximately four millions
of pounds, of which three and half
millions are steel. The bucket boom is
1913 feet long and carries an endless
chain of 10 buckets, each Of which
will dig and carry about 10 cubic feet
to the washer. The buckets dump at
the rate of 20 per minute.
The gravel and rock are carried by
the buckets to a cylindrical washer of
huge proportions. The small gravel
and gold are washed out to go over
rifle boards, gathering the gold. The
waste material is carried on a flexible
conveyor on a stacker boom 200 feet
long to be dropped behind the dredge.
The dredge motors, rated at LOO
horsepower, are powered by a 27-mile
power line fed from the Livingston
substation of the Montana Power COM
pany.
All machinery on the dredge is cleo
trically operated and is as nearly auto |
matte as scientific genius has been |
able to make it. The last word in |
safety devices have been installed. The |
dredge is anchored at the stern by a |
spud that weighs 3 tons. The front |
of the dredge is controlled by auto
matte cables that move it back and |
forth to give the bucket line access
to the full face of the mining bank.
The dredge viii have crews compris-
ing some 20 men. 1t will operate "a
hours day, using about half its rated
horsepower.
Mr.. Thompson stated that visitors
will be permitted to visit the dredge
each day at their own risk between
8 a. m. and p. m.
Exploration of the flats at the mouth
of Emigrant gulch has been under way
for about two years. The present OPP
Grafton are the result, justifying the
longtime faith of G.. H Hefferlin, who
acquired title to the property some IS
years ago and held on through discour-
aging years until interest in gold min
ing revived and thorough exploration
proved the possibility of successful op-
erations with modern equipment.
About 40 percent of the recovery
from the property will remain in Mon
Jana, declared President Mosier. Taxes
On about million dollars in equip S
nent, mines processing taxes, royalties, {
)ther taxes and operating expenses are
o benefit Park county and Montana. I
Among those who attended the {
Of the dredge were officers L
md directors Of the Emigrant Dredg- a
ng company: A. E. Mosier, president, +
4 Kansas City; c. M. BIackmar and '
u. George B. Nordberg, directors, of E
Kansas City; j. L. Mclaughlin. direc- c
or, Of Great Falls; Kenneth Egan Of j
Telena, Mr.. and Mrs. T. w. Thompson F
+ Seattle and Mr.. and Mrs. Charles N
)eaver Of San Francisco, representing "
ne Yuba Dredge company. Robert a.
ivermore, consulting engineer of the N
alumet and Hecla Mining company E
as here from Boston. B
From Seattle were Jack Taylor, COM A.
lissioner Of public lands for Washing
N, and Watson Barr, manager of the ii
Steamship company.
From Spokane: H c. Lynch, engi-
eer for North American mines, and
j. Gibson Of the z. J. Gibson Brok-
age company.
From Butte: william Stussey, super
tendent of power for the Montana
over company, and Pat Gaegan, at
rney.
From Helena: J. Burke Clements, IL