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CALIfORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU, EERRY BUILDING, SAN ERANCISCO 
 
 BULLETIN No. 57 
 
 GOLD DRLDGING 
 
 IN 
 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 LEWIS E. AUBURY 
 
 State Mineralogist 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UfcUVERSlTY OF CALIFORNIA 
 SACRAMENTO 
 
 W. W. SHANNON, SITERINTHNDRXT .= T ATK PRINTING 
 
 u.cd7libp.ary 
 
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CALIfORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU, EERRY BUILDING, SAN ERANCISCO 
 
 BULLETIN No. 57 
 
 GOLD DRLDGING 
 
 IN 
 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 LEWIS E. AUBURY 
 
 State Mineralogist 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UtUyERSlTY OF CALIFORNIA 
 SACRAMP]XTO 
 
 W. W. SHANNON, ----- .SUPERINTENDENT STATE PRINTING 
 
 U.CD7LIBf.ARY 
 
<l > 
 
lEHER Of TRANSMIHAL. 
 
 To His E.rccUency, James X. Gillett, Governor of the State of Cali- 
 fornia, and the Honorable Board of Trustees of the State Mining 
 Bureau. 
 
 Gentlemen : I have the honor to transmit to you Bulletin Xo. 57, 
 "Gold Dredging in California." 
 
 This report is the second one on the subject issued under my direction. 
 Owing to the rapid advance made in gold dredging since the issuance 
 of Bulletin Xo. 36. I deemed it advisable to prepare a report which 
 would furnish information concerning the progress made in this 
 important industry, and also to show the present day methods of 
 operation. In this report will also be found data concerning the dredg- 
 ing lands of the important districts, their value as arable land before 
 dredging, and the primary efforts made towards their use or reclama- 
 tion after their gold contents had been extracted. 
 
 At different times during the past few years, some opposition was 
 encountered towards the industry, and some representations concerning 
 the debris question were made in an effort to effect adverse legislation. 
 "While it is admitted that in a few isolated cases there was good ground 
 for complaint, it was unjust that the whole industry should be con- 
 demued for the infractions of these few operating companies. In this 
 report I have endeavored to furnish data obtained by the Bureau 
 explanatory of this subject. 
 
 The field work on this Bulletin was performed by Mr. W. B. Winston, 
 and ^Ir. Charles Janin collaborated with ]\Ir. Winston in part of the 
 work of its preparation. I wish to herewith tender the thanks of this 
 Department to both of these gentlemen for their kind and valuable 
 assistance. 
 
 I also wish to thank those officers and employees of the different 
 dredaing companies who have assisted the Bureau by furnishing valu- 
 al)le information concerning costs, operation, etc., without which the 
 report would be incomplete, rnifctriii courtesy was extended by the 
 
 Pi-:j7e 
 
IV LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
 
 representatives of all dredging companies operating in this State, • as 
 Avell as by the constrnetiou companies, to all of whom we wish to extend 
 our kindest acknowledgments. 
 
 We wish to also extend our thanks to all others who have in any 
 manner assisted in the matter of furnishing data in the compilation of 
 this work. 
 
 It is hoped that with the information furnished in this report, a 
 better understanding of the conditions affecting dredging in this State 
 will be obtained, and that it will serve to still further advance an indus- 
 try which is of growing importance. 
 Eespectfully submitted. 
 
 LEWIS E. AUBURY, 
 
 State ^Mineralogist. 
 
 San Francisco, August 31, 1910. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER OF TKAXS.MITTAL AND INTRODUCTORY. Page. 
 
 HISTOrtlCAE AND GEOLOGICAL MS 
 
 PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND 19-37 
 
 DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION 3S-S4 
 
 WORKING COSTS 85-105 
 
 CALIFORNIA DREDGING DISTRICTS— 
 
 Butte Ccju.xty 100-162 
 
 Placer County 163-164 
 
 Yuba County 164-174 
 
 Sacramexto County 174-204 
 
 Calaveras County 205-208 
 
 Stanislaus County 209-211 
 
 Merced County 211-213 
 
 Shasta County 213-218 
 
 Siskiyou County 218-223 
 
 Trinity County 11 
 
 El Dorado County 11 
 
 RECLAIMING DREDGED LANDS 224-247 
 
 DEBRIS PROBLEM 248-252 
 
 OTHER DREDGING FIELDS— 
 
 Montana 253-262 
 
 Colorado 262-265 
 
 Idaho 265-266 
 
 Alaska 266-274 
 
 Yukon 274 
 
 Philippines 274-278 
 
 New Zealand 279-280 
 
 Siberia 280-285 
 
 Mexico 285 
 
 Colombia 2'86-289 
 
 French Guiana 289-290 
 
 Dutch (Uiana 291 
 
 British Guiana 291 
 
 Peru and Bolivia 291-293 
 
 Tierra Dki. Fueoo 293-297 
 
 Ecuador 297 
 
 Brazil 297 
 
 Argentina 297 
 
VI TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 OTHER DREDGING FIELDS— P^ge. 
 
 Kelantan (Malay Pexi?csula) 298 
 
 Korea 298-299 
 
 West Africa 299 
 
 APPENDIX 301.304 
 
 MINING BUREAU PUBLICATIONS 305 
 
 INDEX 307-312 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Number. Page. 
 
 1. First successful dredge iu California, Feather River No. 1, Itisdou type.. 1 
 
 2. Model of native dredge in Ambos, Camarines, Luzon, Philippine Islands.. 3 
 
 3. An old timer 4 
 
 4. Old Bucyrus type of dredge. Continental dredge, 1901 5 
 
 5. Hauling dredge machinery in mountains, Siskiyou County, Cal ft 
 
 6. Hauling dredge machinery in mountains, section of digging ladder <) 
 
 7. Hauling dredge machinery in California mountains 10 
 
 8. View across Feather River below Oroville, Cal 12 
 
 9. Method of working placer ground below Oroville in 1860-70 13 
 
 10. General view of Folsom dredging ground, previous to di-edging 15 
 
 11. Ideal section old gravel channel, after R. E. Brown 16 
 
 12. False bedrock in placer deposit 17 
 
 13. Section showing bench and valley placers 17 
 
 14. Ideal river, showing accumulation of bars, after .J. B. Spur IS 
 
 15. Chinaman rocking gravel from shaft, Oroville district 21 
 
 16. Electric driven Keystone drill 23 
 
 17. Drill casing 25 
 
 18. Prospecting with Keystone drill, Shasta County 27 
 
 19. Time and field log records 28 
 
 20. Prospecting logbook 29 
 
 21. Prospecting map showing order iu which test holes were put down 32 
 
 22. Prospecting map 35 
 
 23. Continental dredge, ten years and four months in operation 36 
 
 24. Line drawing of Folsom No. 6 dredge. California type between 36 and 37 
 
 25. Yuba Construction Company, Marysville. Cal. Interior of machine shop. 
 
 showing traveling crane 39 
 
 26. Eight-cubic-foot close-connected buckets loaded with gravel 40 
 
 27. Lower tumbler and bucket line, improved Risdon type 41 
 
 28. Thirteen-cubic-foot buckets, Folsom No. 4 dredge 42 
 
 29. Open-link bucket line, Risdon type, .j-cubic-foot buckets 43 
 
 30. Two-eye buckets showing two forward eyes and one rear eye 44 
 
 31. Renewing bucket lips and hoods 45 
 
 32. Five-cubic-foot buckets, close-connected 46 
 
 33. Buckets manufactured by Risdon Iron Works 47 
 
 34. New type close-connected Risdon buckets 48 
 
 35. Structural steel ladder, Folsom No. 6 dredge 48 
 
 36. Upper tumbler driving gears and foundation castings. Marion 49 
 
 37. Upper tumbler drive motor 49 
 
 38. Upper tumbler drive on a 9-cubic-foot dredge -. 50 
 
 89. Side elevation of electric driven dredge, Bucyrus Company design, Cali- 
 fornia type heticeen 50 and 51 
 
 40. Interior of revolving screen 50 
 
 41. Revolving screen and drive 52 
 
 42. Revolving screen, straight type 53 
 
 43. Revolving screen, stepped type 53 
 
 44. Standard type of shaking screen 54 
 
 45. Lattice girder type stacker ladder, for supporting belt conveyor 55 
 
 46. Thirty-oight-inch tailing conveyor 55 
 
 47. Showing large boulders that i)asscd ovr tailing stacker on Calaveras 
 
 dredge 56 
 
 48. Bucket conveyor for stacking dri'dire tniliui;'. Risdon ty])0. 56 
 
Vlll LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Number. Page. 
 
 49. Ladder hoist with automatic bralce 57 
 
 50. Port winch of 9-cubic-foot dredge, Folsom No. 6 58 
 
 51. Electrically driven Risdon open-link elevator dredge 59 
 
 52. Installing 75-foot steel spud, Folsom No. 6 dredge 60 
 
 Close-connected buckets, showing cut in bank 61 
 
 53. Yuba Construction Company, Marysville, Cal. Interior of machine shop 62 
 
 54. Type of switchboard used on many Oroville dredges for low voltage motors 64 
 
 55. Plan view of electric driven dredge, Marion design, California type 66 
 
 56. Side elevation electric driven dredge, Marion design, California type 67 
 
 57. Viloro No. 1 dredge, destroyed by fire, Oroville district 68 
 
 5.8. Electric cable supported on barrel pontoons, well arranged 68 
 
 59. Electric cable supported on barrel pontoons, too far apart 69 
 
 60. Interior of dredge hull 70 
 
 61. Showing bow gantry construction, Natomas No. 3 dredge, Folsom district 70 
 
 62. Bow gantry construction. Hunter dredge, Oroville district 71 
 
 63. General drawing of 8 ^^ -cubic-foot dredge, with steel huU---beticecn 72 and 73 
 
 64. Double-bank gold-saving tables 73 
 
 65. Lower bank gold-saving tables on a double-bank dredge 74 
 
 66. Upper bank gold-saving tables on a double-bank dredge 74 
 
 67. General view of the Holmes type of gold-saving tables 75 
 
 68. General view of single-bank gold-saving tables, as commonly used in 
 
 California 77 
 
 69. Folsom No. 4 dredge, showing clean-up vat and sluice 78 
 
 70. Gold-saving table on the Indiana No. 1 dredge, old design 79 
 
 71. Corner in retorting room at Natoma 80 
 
 72. Old type dipper dredge equipped with double hoppers, screens and stackers 81 
 
 73. Plutus, one-aud-three-quarter-yard placer mining dipper dredge, Oroville 
 
 district 82 
 
 74. Oroville Dredging Company's Marion dipper dredge, now dismantled 83 
 
 75. Placer dredge operating on Australian river 85 
 
 76. Monitors at work on cemented gravel bank, California type dredge 86 
 
 77. Showing ladder and bucket line on 5-cubic-foot dredge, Oroville, Cal 87 
 
 78. Ground to be dredged partly cleared of brush and trees, Oroville district-. 90 
 Yuba Nos. 1 and 2 dredges, California type 91 
 
 79. Yearly cost table hetween 94 and 95 
 
 80. Monthly time sheet between 94 and 95 
 
 81. View of Feather River, near Oroville 106 
 
 82. Treat's old workings at Oroville 108 
 
 83. Remnants of the first dredge at Oroville 109 
 
 84. The old Oroville and California Company's Marion dipper dredges, 
 
 wrecked by floods of 1907, Oroville district 110 
 
 85. Old Risdon dredge in operation. Marigold No. 1 111 
 
 86. Remnants of one of the early dredges in the Oroville district 112 
 
 87. The Continental dredge in 1009 112 
 
 88. Hunter dredge, California type, Oroville district 114 
 
 89. Indiana Nos. 1 and 2 dredges 115 
 
 90. Old sand pump in operation, Indiana No. 1 dredge 116 
 
 91. Wreck of Indiana No. 2 dredge in 1907 116 
 
 92. Indiana No. 3 dredge reconstructed from No. 2 117 
 
 93. Wreck of Indiana No. 3 dredge in 1908 118 
 
 94. Reconstructing Indiana No. 3 dredge, June, 1909 119 
 
 95. Butte dredge, July, 1909 120 
 
 96. El Oro No. 1 dredge 121 
 
 97. El Oro No. 2 dredge 122 
 
 98. Drilling blast holes. Gold Run property, Oroville district 125 
 
 99. New type Risdon dredge. Baggett No. 1 127 
 
 100. Viloro No. 2, Risdon dredge, formerly California No. 3 128 
 
 101. Lava Bed No. 1, old type placer-mining dipper dredge. Dismantled 129 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. ix 
 
 Number. Page. 
 
 102. Showing front gantry and l)ucket line on an old lllsdon dredgp. the 'Slavi- 
 
 gold No. 2, now out of commission 1.30 
 
 103. Marigold No. 2 dredge in IDOO. Oroville district 1.30 
 
 104. Empire dredge, 5-cubic-foot. California type, Oroville district 132 
 
 lOu. Victor dredge, 5-cubic-foot. California type, Oroville district 1.33 
 
 106. Old type dipper dredge, the California, now abandoned 135 
 
 107. The Pennsylvania dredge 1.30 
 
 105. Boston No. 1 dredge, now dismantled 140 
 
 109. The Continental dredge, after reconstruction 141 
 
 110. Exploration No. 2 dredge 143 
 
 111. Showing top soil and part of dredge pond. Cherokee ground. Oroville dis- 
 
 trict 144 
 
 112. Cherokee dredge, July, 1909 145 
 
 113. Feather River No. 2 dredge 140 
 
 114. Feather No. 4 dredge. July, 1909 147 
 
 115. Feather No. 2, showing extra gold-saving tables 147 
 
 116. Gravel and sand bank in front of dredge. Pacific ground, Oroville 14S 
 
 117. Kia Oro dredge in operation 149 
 
 118. Kia Oro dredge in 1909 149 
 
 119. Pacific No. 1 dredge, California type l.jO 
 
 120. Gold-saving tables on Pacific No. 4 dredge. Oroville. Cal 152 
 
 121. Leggett No. 3 dredge. Oroville district 1.53 
 
 122. Constructing hull for the Leggett Mining Company's dredge at Wyman's 
 
 Ravine, near Oroville 1.54 
 
 123. Gardella dredge, Wyman's Ravine district 155 
 
 124. Gardella dredge, Risdou type, Wyman's Ravine district 156 
 
 125. Garden Ranch dipper dredge 157 
 
 126. Kentucky Ranch Gold Dredging Company's boat. Houcut Creek. Butte 
 
 County, Cal. 1.5S 
 
 127. Placer mining plant on Butte Creek, near Centerville 159 
 
 12S. Butte Creek Consolidated Mining Company's dredge near Diamondville, 
 
 Butte County. Cal. 160 
 
 129. 11-cubic-foot buckets. Butte Creek Consolidated Company's dredge 161 
 
 130. Part of main sluice and undercurrent, etc.. Butte Creek dredge 162 
 
 131. Bear River district, sketch map 163 
 
 132. Yuba Basin, sketch map 164 
 
 133. Yuba No. 1 and No. 2 dredges leaving construction pit 166 
 
 134. Yuba No. 7 dredge 167 
 
 135. Yuba No. 12 dredge 169 
 
 136. Idler for taking up slack in Inicket line, used by Yuba (Jokl Fields 170 
 
 137. Marysville No. 2 dredge 171 
 
 138. Y'uba Construction Company. Marysville. Cal. 172 
 
 139. Yuba Construction Company, interior of Foi-ge shup 173 
 
 140. Yuba Construction Company, general view of yard 174 
 
 141. Yuba Construction Company, interior of structural shop 175 
 
 142. American River from Fair Oaks bridge 176 
 
 143. American River district map 177 
 
 144. Ashburton No. 1 dredge - -. 179 
 
 145. Colorado Pacific No. 1 dredge 180 
 
 146. Road cutting near Folsom 181 
 
 147. Syndicate Mining Company's dredge 182 
 
 148. Arrangement to prevent thefts from principal part of gold-saving tables.- 183 
 
 149. Folsom No. 2 dredge 183 
 
 150. Wreck of Folsom No. 2 dredge 184 
 
 15L Folsom No. 3 dredge 184 
 
 152. Splicing section in digging ladder, Folsom No. 3 dredge 185 
 
 153. Folsom No. 4 dredge 186 
 
 154. Winch house.* F<ilsoin Nn. 4 dredge . 186 
 
X LIST OF IIJ.rSTRATIONS. 
 
 Number. -pj^^,^ 
 
 155. Folsom Xo. ."» drcduc, showinu' tail sluices 187 
 
 ir>((. Folsom Xo. ~> (Ircds-o Igg 
 
 157. Steel casting .spud sui(l<' to jtrotect stern on Folsom Xo. ."> dredse 180 
 
 158. Showing- upper and lower tail sluices and long- tailing conveyor. Folsom 
 
 Xo. 5 dred.ge 190 
 
 151). Folsom Xo. dredge 191 
 
 IGO. Steel spud, Folsom X"o. dredge 192 
 
 IGl. Framing large wood spud for Folsom Xo. G dredge 193 
 
 162. Placing point on large wood spud, Folsom X'^o. 6 dredge 193 
 
 168. Two-step hydraulic monitor pumps, Folsom X'o. G dredge 194 
 
 164. Hydraulic jets breaking down bank in front of Folsom Xo. G dredge 194 
 
 165. Digging ladder before assembly, Folsom Xo. 6 dredge 195 
 
 167. Xatoma X^o. 1 dredge 196 
 
 168. Belt tailing stacker, Natomas Xo. 2 dredge 197 
 
 169. Xatoma Xo. 3 dredge 199 
 
 171. X'^atomas crusher plant Xo. 2 200 
 
 172. Interior of machine shop at Dredge 201 
 
 173. Blacksmith shop at Dredge, near Folsom 202 
 
 174. Isabel dredge, Jenny Lind, Calaveras County 205 
 
 175. La Grange dredge, Stanislaus County 209 
 
 176. La Grange dredge, showing front gantry 210 
 
 177. Yosemite dredge, Merced County 212 
 
 17S. Gold-saving tables, Yosemite dredge 212 
 
 179. View of Sacramento River below Redding 214 
 
 ISO. Dredging ground on Clear Creek, Shasta County 215 
 
 181. Shasta dredge before reconstruction 215 
 
 182. Shasta dredge during reconstruction 215 
 
 183. Shasta dredge in 1908 217 
 
 184. Shasta dredge in 1909 217 
 
 185. Hull of placer mining machine. Clear Creek, Shasta County 217 
 
 186. Outcrop of bedrock at Scott River, Siskiyou Covmty 218 
 
 187. Hauling dredge machinery for Scott River dredge 210 
 
 188. Framing timbers for dredge, Siskiyou County 219 
 
 189. Scott River dredge, Siskiyou County 221 
 
 190. Scott River dredge in course of construction 222 
 
 101. Hauling dredge machinery in the mountains 223 
 
 192. General view of Folsom Rock-crushing IMant Xo. 1 225 
 
 103. Folsom Rock-crushing Plant Xo. 1 226 
 
 104. General view of Xatomas Crusher Plant Xo. 2 228 
 
 19.5. General plan of Xatomas Crusher Plant Xo. 2, at Fair Oaks bridge 229 
 
 196. Xatomas Crusher Plant Xo. 2, donkey engine, etc 229 
 
 197. Xatomas Crusher Plant Xo. 2, main conveyor in course of construction 229 
 
 108. Xatomas Crusher Plant Xo. 2, showing receiving hoi^per and main con- 
 veyor 229 
 
 190. Rolls for crushing dredge tailing 230 
 
 200. Section through Xatomas Crusher Plant Xo. 2 for dredge tailing 2.30 
 
 201. Conveyors for handling crushed rock. X'atomas Crusher Xo. 2 230 
 
 202. Ground storage piles of crushed rock at X'atomas Crusher Xo. 2 231 
 
 203. Conveyor tunnel. Xatomas Crusher Plant Xo. 2 2.32 
 
 204. Xatomas Rock-crusher Xo. 2 loading crushed rock 233 
 
 205. Machinery for Xatomas Crusher Xo. 2 233 
 
 20(5. Switchboard at Xatomas Crusher Xo. 2 233 
 
 207. Sheet of Xatomas Crusher Plant Xo. 2 234 
 
 208. Line drawing of Xatomas Rock-crushing Plant Xo. 2 235 
 
 200. Valley Contracting Company's rock-crushing plant at Oroville, Cal 236 
 
 210. Steam shovel loading tailing at Oroville crushing plant 237 
 
 211. Eucalyptus growing on dredge tailing 238 
 
 212. Eucalyptus and fig trees growing on dredge tailing . 238 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XI 
 
 Number. Page. 
 
 213. Orange trees and grapevines growing on drfdiii- tailing 239 
 
 214. Grapevines and almond trees growing on dredge tailing 240 
 
 215. Eucalyptus growing on dredged land 240 
 
 216. Orange trees growing on dredge tailing 241 
 
 217. Grapevines growing on dredged land 1 242 
 
 218. View of large portion of the Oroville ground previous to dredging 242 
 
 219. View of ground in Oroville dredging field before dredging 243 
 
 220. General view of dredging ground in Folsom district previous to dredging.. 243 
 
 221. Dredging ground in the Oroville district 243 
 
 222. Dredge at Stanthrope, Queensland, Australia 244 
 
 223. Apple and walnut trees growing on dredged ground. New Zealand 245 
 
 224. Dredged ground restored to city property. California 246 
 
 225. Feather River, near Gridley bridge 248 
 
 226. Feather River, below Oroville 249 
 
 227. Mining on the headwaters of the Feather River 251 
 
 228. General view of Ruby Valley dredging field 254 
 
 229. Maggie A. Gibson dredge, Montana 256 
 
 230. Three Friends' dredge, Alaska 267 
 
 231. Hull construction, Alaska dredge 268 
 
 232. Rothchild No. 1 dredge, Alaska 269 
 
 233. Plan view of electric driven placer mining dredge 270 
 
 234. Side elevation of steam driven placer mining dredge 271 
 
 235. Placer mining plant in the Yukon 273 
 
 236. Map showing principal mineral deposits, I'hilippiue Islands 276 
 
 237. Dredge on river, Philippine Islands 277 
 
 238. Plant of the Oroville Dredging, Limited, Columbia 288 
 
 239. Ferry Building, San Francisco, Cal 300 
 
 MAPS. 
 
 Map of California Folder 
 
 Map of Butte County 106 
 
 Map of Oroville District 111 
 
 Map of Bear River 163 
 
 Map of Yuba Basin 165 
 
 Map of American River District 177 
 
 Map of Calaveras County 205 
 
 Map of Shasta County 213 
 
 Map of Siskiyou County 218 
 
 Map of Trinity County 11 
 
Xll INDEX TO DKLTXilXG COMPANIES. 
 
 INDEX TO DREDGING COMPANIES OPERATING IN CALIFORNIA IN 1910. 
 
 BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 f*AGE. 
 
 Butte Creek Consolidated Dredging Company 159 
 
 El Oro Dredging Company 120 
 
 Gold Run Dredging Company 125 
 
 Gardella L. & G., Wymans Ravine 156 
 
 Indiana Gold Dredging Company 114 
 
 Kentucky Ranch Gold Dredging Company 1.58 
 
 Leggett Mining Company 1.5.5 
 
 Natomas Consolidated of California 144 
 
 Oroville Dredging, Ltd. 135 
 
 Oro Water, Light and Power Company 129 
 
 Ophir Gold Dredging Company 123 
 
 Pacific Gold Dredging Company 148 
 
 Pennslyvania Dredging Company 134 
 
 Viloro Syndicate, Ltd. 126 
 
 PLACER COUNTY. 
 Bear River Mining Company 163 
 
 YUBA COUNTY. 
 
 Marysville Dredging Company 170 
 
 Yuba Consolidated Goldfields 167 
 
 SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 Ashburton Mining Company 178 
 
 Natomas Consolidated of California 199 
 
 CALAVERAS COUNTY. 
 
 Calaveras Gold Dredging Company 207 
 
 Isabel Dredging Company 208 
 
 Mokelumne ^Mining Company 205 
 
 STANISLAUS COUNTY. 
 La Grange Gold Dredging Company 210 
 
 MERCED COUNTY. 
 Yosemite Mining and Dredging Company 211 
 
 SHASTA COUNTY. 
 Shasta Dredging Company 216 
 
 SISKIYOU COUNTY. 
 
 Scott River Dredging Company 221 
 
 Siskiyou Dredging Company ~3 
 
GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 By Lewis E. Aubury, State Mineralogist. 
 
 The construction of the first practical gold dredge in California in 
 1898 marked the beginning of a new era in gold mining, and Avhich 
 branch of the industry has probably, since its inception, assumed greater 
 proportions in this State than elsewhere. With the rapid advances made 
 in gold dredging and the gradual increase of gold output, have likewise 
 come the improvements and enlarged construction, which make the 
 California gold dredge to-day the model after Avhich other countries 
 pattern. 
 
 The gold industry of this State has received a new impetus, and the 
 production has advanced approximately three and a half million dollars 
 above the average output of two years ago. Should other forms of gold 
 mining maintain their average two years from now, California will 
 probably again recover its rank as the leading gold producing State in 
 the Union, and will undoubtedly maintain its lead for many years to 
 come. Sufficient area has already been proven in the gold dredging 
 fields to warrant this conclusion. While it has been contended in 
 some quarters that the limits of the dredging areas have already 
 been fairly well defined, and that the large interests and consolidations 
 have a large portion of the fields controlled, new companies are con- 
 tinually being organized for the purpose of exploiting tracts which 
 have been passed over, or others which were prospected a few years ago 
 and "turned down" as being too low grade to operate profitably. With 
 the advent of the modern dredge, handling 250,000 to 300,000 cubic 
 3^ards of gravel per month, at a cost of from 2V4 to 3 cents per cubic 
 yard, conditions have changed materially. The same evolution with 
 dredge mining has occurred as with gold (juartz mining in this State, 
 and the cpiestion has resolved itself into one of capacity. The present 
 dredge — large as it is — -has apparently not yet reached its limits. 
 
 A new factor has entered into dredging in California which adds 
 largely to the profits of some of the companies — that is, utilizing the 
 tailings from the dredges. The tailings are broken in immense crusliers 
 and the product utilized for macadam for roads and rubble for concrete. 
 What have been termed by some as "the unsightly piles of gravel" have 
 been made to serve various good purposes, and, at the same time, furnish 
 the best class of material at a minimum cost to the consumer. 
 
 Several protests have been made in the past against permitting dredge 
 
Xiv GULD DHEDGIXG IX CALIFORNIA. 
 
 mining. These protests have been made without an adequate knowl- 
 edge of actual conditions, it being claimed that the debris from the 
 dredges was allowed to flow into the river channels to their detriment, 
 and the M-hole industry was consequently condemned. Investigation 
 showed that in a few instances dredging was being carried on in the 
 streams and some damage was undoubtedly done. Outside of these 
 instances, however, the balance of the dredges have either operated in 
 landlocked sections, away from the streams, or were depositing the tail- 
 ings on the banks of the streams, deepening the channels and improving 
 them. 
 
 Some complaint has also been made of the total destruction of the 
 soil where dredges operate. Regarding this matter, and as will after- 
 wards 1)e shown in this report, but a comparatively small amount of 
 arable land is included in that which has been or will be dredged. 
 
 On the other hand, reclamation projects are now under way which 
 are being carried on by some of the dredging companies, which will 
 restore to cultivation hundreds of acres of swamp or overflowed lands, 
 and which, were it not for the enterprise of these companies, would 
 remain waste or unproductive for years to come. These reclaimed lands 
 will far more then ofliset those which some claim will be irreparably 
 ruined. The so-called "destroyed lands," which at one time were pro- 
 ductive, had, to a large extent, been made worthless for agriculture, 
 viticulture, or horticulture by their former owners before a bucket had 
 turned them over. The mineral ingredient necessary to plant life had 
 been exhausted from the surface soil, and it was practically impossible 
 for the farmers to raise a profltable crop from them. To a certain 
 extent, dredging these lands has reclaimed them. Trees or vines planted 
 since the lands were dredged give ample evidence of the fertility of the 
 ground, and serve to illustrate the improved nature of the same. 
 
 In the dredging sections, lands were purchased by dredging companies 
 for $25 per acre, and the same land after dredging, with its cobble piles, 
 was sold for $100 per acre for the gravel contents. After the gravel 
 has been removed, or the lands leveled, they can again be utilized, if 
 necessary, for farming lands. 
 
 The dredging industry in California, while adding annually millions 
 of dollars worth of gold to our State's products, at the same time dis- 
 penses immense sums through the various channels of trade, and adds 
 materially to our prosperity. It will continue to do so for at least the 
 next decade, and as actual conditions affecting the industry become 
 more generally known, and proper restrictions are maintained, it will 
 be more appreciated, and the objections which have been raised will 
 disappear. 
 
 The possibilities of recovering gold by dredging were not deemed 
 practical until recent years, and some of the early miners did not beliex^'^ 
 
GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. XV 
 
 its recovery by this ine<ins would ever be possible. As indicating some 
 of their ideas, I will quote from a chapter of the Reports upon jNIineral 
 Resources of the United States, 1867, by Special Commissioners J. Ross 
 Browne and James W. Taylor : 
 
 "It was not, however, in quai-tz mining alone tliat ridiculous hlundors 
 were made. Large sums of money were expended in the Eastern states by 
 men who had never seen a placer mine, and had no correct idea of the nature 
 of the gold deposits, in making machinery to take gold more expeditiously 
 from the river beds and bars than could be done by hand. One enterprising 
 New York company sent a dredging machine to dig the metal from the 
 bottom of the Yuba River, never questioning whether that stream was deep 
 enough in the summer to float such a machine, or whether the tough clay 
 and gravel in its bed could be dug up by a dredger, and entirely ignorant of 
 the fact that the gold is mostly in the crevices of the bedrock, where the 
 spoon and knife of the skillful and attentive miner would be necessary for 
 cleaning out the richest pockets." 
 
 It will be seen from the above that even in those days the idea of 
 
 recovering gold by dredging was considered chimerical, and while a few 
 
 adventurous spirits were on the right track, the mechanical means were 
 
 at fault. 
 
 The history of some of the failures attendant on early experiments 
 
 in dredging are dwelt upon in this Bulletin, as well as in No. 36, so I 
 
 will not go further into that subject. The present day bucket dredge 
 
 has apparently not yet attained perfection, but the improvements in 
 
 construction and operation have been so rapid and so many that little 
 
 more can be said of the high standard which has been reached in dredge 
 
 building than to refer the reader to the cost of operations, capacity, etc., 
 
 of California dredges, which more practically tell the tale. 
 
 Outside of the bucket dredge, no others, up to the present time, have 
 been operated in California which have proven successful in recovering 
 gold. 
 
 The opportunities for profitable investment in dredge mining in Cali- 
 fornia are many. The field is a large one, and so far as proven extends 
 from Siskiyou County in the northern part of the State to Merced 
 County on the south. Descriptions of this territory will ])e found in 
 the following chapters. A general description of dredging fields and 
 operations outside of California has also been added to this report. It 
 may prove interesting to the reader as a comparison with conditions 
 found in California. 
 
 I believe it can be safely asserted that no better dredging fields can 
 .be found than in this State, where conditions as to transportation, 
 climate, power, character of material to be handled, etc., are neai-ly 
 perfect, and good gold values are also found. 
 
 In the following chajjters it has been the intention to furnish data 
 of a nature which would meet the requirements of those interested in 
 the subject, and I trust that the information contained in the Bulletin 
 will pi'ove ad('(|uat(' in this I'cspect. 
 
XVI (iULD DREDUIXU IX CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The gold dreclgiiig industry in California is established on a stable 
 basis. This is made obvious by the detailed figures that appear in this 
 publication. Its continuance is a reason for congratulation. Much 
 outside capital has been attracted to California by reason of it and the 
 success attending investments has stimulated interest in this State, with 
 results that are beneficial to all classes of citizens. The resources of this 
 State are practically exhaustless. There may be an end to gold dis- 
 coveries and to the invention of means to reach the precious metals in 
 California, but that date is assuredly far off. For many years, in 
 addition to wealth to be derived from many other sources, we shall 
 hold out to the enterprising and intelligent miner the lure of gold pro- 
 duction, and in that consideration gold dredging will have a prominent 
 place. » 
 
1. GENERAL, HISTORICAL, AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 Bv W. B. WixsTON aud Charles Ja.m.x. 
 
 The history of gold dredging in California practically begins with the 
 floating of the first successful bucket elevator dredge at Oroville, on 
 March 1, 1898, aud the rapid rise of the gold dredging industry in 
 California is, in a great measure, due to the enterprise and the successful 
 operations of W. P. Hamnion and the late Thomas Couch. These 
 gentlemen contracted with the Kisdon Iron Works, of San Francisco, 
 for the construction of this dredge, which operated for several years at 
 the lower end of the Oroville district, on ground now belonging to the 
 Natomas Consolidated of California. 
 
 No. 1. First successful dredge in California. Feather River No. 1, Risdon 
 
 type. 
 
 The above dredge, first known as Couch No. 1, and later as Feather 
 River No. 1, was by no means an unqualified success at first. Couch 
 and Ilammon experienced many weeks and months of anxiety, and 
 expended large sums of money in changes and repairs before demon- 
 strating that the venture was not a failure. It may be said that during 
 this time the fate of the dredging industry hung in a balance, at least 
 as far as the Oroville district was concerned. It would, undoubtedly, 
 have been many years before other parties would have .undertaken 
 experiments, especially as at that time gold dredging was little known 
 of in America, and mining men, in general, had little faith in such 
 ventures, and could not have been relied upon for assistance. 
 
 Thomas Couch lived to see his ventures a far greater success than 
 anticipated, and W. P. Ilammon, who. since the beginning, has been the 
 leading gold dredging operator in California, continues to-day in control 
 of the operations of the largest number of dredges and the largest gold 
 dredging companies in America. 
 
2 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 It required many years of evolution for the gold dredging industry 
 to reach the present stage of practical success. Among the first ideas 
 that occurred to many of the early gold hunters in California was the 
 use of a machine to scoop up the gravel from the inaccessible beds and 
 bars of auriferous streams, and it was only a few months after J\Iar- 
 shall's discovery of gold in California that a machine was shipped 
 around the Horn from New York to San Francisco. It arrived in 1849, 
 and was soon at the bottom of the Sacramento River. During the suc- 
 ceeding years many attempts at gold dredging were made in California, 
 and elsewhere in the Western States of America, but with the exception 
 of the operations with double-lift-bucket elevator dredges of the Bucyrus 
 type, at Grasshopper Creek, Montana, in 1894, all proved failures. 
 
 It was not until 1897 that a dredge of the single-lift-bucket elevator 
 type was floated in California. This dredge, which was constructed by 
 the Risdon Iron "Works for R. H. Postlethwaite and floated on the Yuba 
 River, would probably have been a success if located at Oroville ; being, 
 however, in a turbulent stream, where afterward it was found difficult 
 to even hold piling during the flood season, the dredge was wrecked 
 and was not recommissioned. 
 
 Little advantage would result from narrating the history, in detail, 
 of the early failures in gold dredging, or from giving a detailed descrip- 
 tion of the obsolete machines designed for this purpose. Dredging has 
 become an established and important branch of mining, and, with the 
 information at hand, the early failures are not needed to warn careful 
 investors against similar mistakes ; it is sufficient to say that among the 
 machines that have not proven a success so far in gold dredging are the 
 submarine boats, the pneumatic caisson, the hydraulic or centrifugal 
 pump suction dredge, the clam-shell, and the vacuum dredge. 
 
 The steam shovel, or steam paddy as it was originally called, was used 
 in America for excavating purposes many years prior to gold dredging. 
 This and the original single bucket, or spoon dredge, as evolved in New 
 Zealand in the early sixties, were probably the forerunners of the pres- 
 ent placer mining dipper dredge, which in several instances has proven 
 a success in California. The single bucket or spoon dredges of New 
 Zealand were at first crude machines, consisting, in a general way, of a 
 bag laced or riveted to a round iron frame secured at the end of a long 
 pole, and drawn along the bottom of the creeks or rivers. This bag was 
 so counterbalanced that when filled, or partly so, it could be hauled up 
 and the contents emptied into a sluice box or rocker. The next improve- 
 ment was the use of pontoons in connection with the spoon, an auxiliary 
 scow being used for the washing apparatus. These dredges Avere at first 
 operated entirely by hand, and afterAvard by current wheels, the first 
 steam-driven dipper dredge, as invented liy Ward, being built about 
 1870. 
 
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 The first experiments with placer mining bucket elevator dredges Avere 
 made in 1867 at Otago, New Zealand. These dredges were operated 
 with power furnished by current wheels, the first steam driven bucket 
 elevator dredge being constructed to operate on the Molyneux River 
 in 1881. 
 
 History relates that a bucket elevator dredge, built about 1882, oper- 
 ated successfully for sixteen years, and on account of the success of a 
 dredge of this type in 1889. on a I)i-anch of tlie ^Molynenx Hiver in New 
 
 No. 2. Model of native dredge in Ambos, Camarines, Luzon, Philippine Islands. 
 
 Zealand, some twenty were built at an average cost of $17,500. Their 
 operations, at first, however, proved failures, probabh" owing to unsuit- 
 able conditions of the gravel deposit, and perhaps also to inexperienced 
 or incompetent management. ]\Ian3^ of these dredges were later floated 
 down the Molyneux River, and, under new ownership, proved success- 
 ful. A number of suction dredges Avere built in New Zealand, but, as 
 elsewhere, were failures. 
 
 The reason for some of the early failures in California is indicated in 
 the illustration entitled "An Old Timer." Tliis nuichine, on which 
 about $40,000 was expended, was equipped with a Inicket ladder made 
 
4 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 of two pieces of 4-ineh l)y 18-ineh Oregon pine. The buckets were made 
 of No. l-t iron and the links of %-inch b.y 2-inch tire-iron, and bolted 
 together with V-)-inch carriage bolts. The machine was at first driven 
 by steam and afterward by a gasoline engine, and is reported to have 
 handled 8,000 cubic yards of gravel during a period of about two years 
 and three months, while operating in ground that is said to have yielded 
 30 cents per cubic yard. 
 
 Although gold dredging had been successfully carried on in New 
 Zealand for many years prior to this mode of mining in California, it is 
 doubtful if the idea of gold dredging in California emanated entirely 
 
 
 
 
 p 
 
 
 ■ ::-3 
 
 i 
 
 I'-r 
 
 
 /^m 
 
 p. 
 
 'm 
 
 m 
 
 
 ^% H 
 
 r 
 
 8W| 
 
 
 ^.4 . ^ 
 
 
 No. 3. "An old timer." Illustration of one of the early mistakes in dredge construction. 
 
 from the success met with in New Zealand. Among the first men to be 
 consulted by W. P. Hammon were F. T. Sutherland and W. H. Christie. 
 Sutherland, who knew little about dredging in New Zealand, was 
 familiar, however, with the successful operations of the double-lift- 
 bucket elevator dredges at Bannock, Montana, and interested Captain 
 Thomas Couch, of Butte, Montana, in Hammon 's ventures. At the 
 same time Sutherland was trying to convince Captain Couch of the pos- 
 sibilities of dredging the Oroville gravels, W. P. Hammon consulted 
 with W. H. Christie, who, through the firm of Christie & Lowe, sent 
 a ]\Ir. Brown to make an examination of the ground, and to report upon 
 the practicability of its being worked by dredges. The firm of Christie 
 & Lowe, general contractors, were at that time engaged in canal and 
 jettj' work in the East, and based their opinion upon their experience 
 in the handling of gravel and sand for economic purposes. ]\L*. Brown 
 reported favorably, and soon afterwards Captain Couch contracted with 
 the Risdon Iron Works for the building of the first single-lift-bucket 
 elevator dredge in the Oroville district. 
 
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 The bucket elevator 
 is the only type of 
 dredge that has been 
 a financial success in 
 gold dredging, on a 
 large scale, either in 
 California or else- 
 where. From 1898 to 
 1902 the principal 
 dredges in California 
 were of the single-lift- 
 open-link-bucket ele- 
 vator type, equipped 
 with tailing stacker ; 
 in 1899 and 1900, 
 two double-lift-open- 
 link-bucket elevator 
 dredges, equipped 
 with tail sluices and 
 tail scow, were con- 
 structed, one by F. 
 W. Griffin and D. P. 
 Cameron and one by 
 the Bucyrus Com- 
 pany, and put in op- 
 eration at Oroville 
 and at FoIsoul re- 
 spectively, the Con- 
 tinental and Ashlnir- 
 ton No. 1. It was not 
 until 1901 that 
 dredge constructors 
 abandoned the double- 
 lift dredges, and cen- 
 tered their attention 
 to the perfecting of 
 the single-lift type, 
 equipped with close- 
 connected buckets and 
 belt tailing stacker 
 and driven hy elec- 
 tricity in ])lace of 
 s t e a m. It may, 
 
6 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IX CALIFORNIA. 
 
 therefore, be said tluit the histoi'v of the large modern California gold 
 dredge commenced with the construetion of the first electrically driven 
 singie-lift-close-connected-biicket elevator dredge in the Oroville field in 
 1901. The first dredges in the Oroville district were equipped with 31/4.- 
 cubic-foot buckets ; on some of the new dredges these wete increased, in 
 1899, to 5-cubic-foot, bnt the majority of the dredges up to 1904 were of 
 
 No. 5. Hauling dredge machinery in the mountains, Siskiyou County, California. 
 
 3-, 314-, and -l-cubic-foot size. The Marion Steam Shovel Company, in 
 October, 1904, constructed a 7-cubic-foot-bucket elevator dredge for the 
 Boston and California Gold Dredging Company. At the present time 
 there are five 7-cubic-foot and three 71,4-cubic-foot dredges in the Oro- 
 ville district, the others being 3-. 31/0-, 4-, 5-, 5%-, and 6-cubic-foot 
 capacities. 
 
 While, since the beginning of dredging operations in California, the 
 Oroville district has been the largest gold producer from this source in 
 
 No. 6. Hauling dredge machinery in the mountains, section of digging ladder. 
 
 the State, and has had the greatest number of dredging companies and 
 dredges, the advancement in dredge construction and in the perfection 
 of the large dredges of to-day was more rapid in the Folsom or American 
 River district, where as early as 1899 the first 7 i/o -cubic-foot dredge in 
 California was constructed by the Bucyrus Company for R. G. Han- 
 ford. This was put in operation by the New England Exploration Com- 
 pany. :\rarch 1, 1900. In 1905 the first 8I0-. 9-. and 13-cubic-foot dredges 
 in California were put in commission along the American River in the 
 Folsom district. 
 
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 The principal dredging fields in California, up to 1903, were located 
 along the Feather River, near Oroville, and on the American River near 
 Folsom. Since 1903, dredging along the Yuba River between Marysville 
 and Smartsville has materially added to the gold output of the State, 
 and, owing to the depth necessary to dig, from 50 to 75 feet, many new 
 features in dredge construction have been developed. This district is 
 now one of the largest gold dredging fields in the world. The land is 
 owned by two companies, one of which has twelve dredges operating 
 and one under construction ; and the other, an operating plant of three 
 dredges. 
 
 Aside from the Oroville, Folsom, and Yuba districts, there are three 
 dredges operating in Calaveras County, one in Merced, one in Shasta, 
 two in Siskiyou and one in Stanislaus, making a total of 63 operating 
 in the State, w^hich, together with three large dredges under construc- 
 tion, represent an investment of about $7,205,000. 
 
 Owing to their small capacity and to the great improvement in dredge 
 construction, there are 38 dredges, representing an investment of about 
 $1,790,000, now idle or dismantled. The following table gives the 
 number of elevator dredges commissioned in California from 1897 to 
 1910. as nearly as can be ascertained, the number in active operation, 
 and approximately the capital invested in them : 
 
 District. 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 - s 
 
 ; tS 
 
 d 
 -'2 
 
 o ' 
 
 o 
 
 6." 
 
 1 ; " 
 
 Butte Countj'— 
 Oroville . - __ - . ._- 
 
 21* 
 1* 
 
 25 
 2 
 2 
 1 
 9 
 
 15 
 3 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 -__ 
 1 
 
 47 
 3 
 2 
 1 
 
 16 
 17 
 3 
 1 
 1 
 5 
 3 
 3 
 2 
 
 $3,135,000 
 
 Wyman's Ravine .... 
 
 j 
 
 Honcut Creek . 
 
 [■ 375.000 
 
 Butte Creek 
 
 Sacramento Countv - - -- -- 
 
 1 
 
 2,010.000 
 
 Tuba County 
 
 Calaveras Countv . _ _ . 
 
 2,220.000 
 
 Merced County . __ . . 
 
 
 Stanislaus Countv -- - .. _ _ 
 
 
 Placer County 
 
 Shasta Countv . - .- 
 
 4 
 2 
 
 1 
 2 
 
 } 1.255.000 
 
 Siskiyou Countv 
 
 Trinity County 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Totals 1 
 
 38 
 
 63 
 
 3t 
 
 104 
 
 $8,995,000$ 
 
 * This includes four dipper dredges which operated successfully in the Oroville 
 district. 
 
 t All of these dredges are to be equipped with 13 1^^ -cubic-foot buckets. 
 J Appro.ximated. 
 
 There is, perhaps, no branch of mining which has come to the front 
 in so short a time as gold dredging, which from 1898 to 1908 produced 
 over $25,000,000 worth of placer gold in California. On account of 
 hydraulic mining being prohibited in many counties, the output of 
 placer gold in California would have shown a marked decrease, in late 
 years, had it not been for dredge mining. 
 
GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The following diagram shows the rapid increase in the gold output 
 from dredging operations : 
 
 Production of Gold Won from Dredging Operations in California, from 1898 to 1909. 
 
 r,ooo,ooo 
 
 6,000,000 
 
 5,000,000 
 
 4,000,000 
 
 3,000,000 
 
 2,000,000 
 
 1,000,000 
 
 1909 estimated. 
 
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 9 
 
 The different methods of miniug the gravel deposits of California are 
 as follows : first, river, bar, and gulch mining, or washing the detritus, 
 either in or closely adjacent to the beds of the present rivers ; second, 
 hydraulic mining ; third, tunnel or drift mining, which is working the 
 rich portions on the bedrock by means of drifts ; fourth, what has been 
 called, for want of a better name, surface mining, which is intermediate 
 in character between the river and hydraulic mining processes ; and 
 fifth, dredging, the most recent method of working the gravel deposits, 
 w'here natural conditions allow the installation of a plant. 
 
 In 1903 the gold production from dredges exceeded that from either 
 the hydraulic or drift mines. In 1904 the yield exceeded that of both 
 the hydraulic and drift mines combined, and in 1905 the dredges pro- 
 duced $461,205 more than the drift, hydraulic, and surface placers 
 together, and since then the output from dredging has exceeded the 
 total yield of the three other forms of placer mining. In 1908. the 
 dredges produced $4,841,191 more gold than all the hydraulic, drift, 
 and surface placers together, or over 79 per cent of all the placer gold 
 of the State for that year. In 1908 there were eight counties reporting 
 returns from dredge operations. The following table shows the pro- 
 duction of gold from dredging operations in California from 1898 to 
 1908, by counties : 
 
 Production of Gold Won from Dredging Operations in California, from 1898 to 1908, 
 Compiled from U. S. Mint and Geological Survey Records. 
 
 Counties. 
 
 1898. 
 
 1899. 
 
 1900. 
 
 1901. 
 
 1902. 
 
 1903. 
 
 Butte 
 
 Calaveras .. 
 
 $18,847 
 
 $132,412 
 
 "i,m 
 
 $154,065 
 
 
 
 17^200 
 29404 
 
 $396,919 
 
 47^619 
 
 "5"004 
 22,392 
 
 $614,380 
 3,948 
 
 155494 
 
 18^773 
 9,000 
 
 $1,329,998 
 12,807 
 
 Madera, Merced, 
 and Stanislaus — 
 
 Sacramento 
 
 Shasta 
 
 mim 
 
 Siskiyou . . - _ 
 
 7.318 
 
 Trinity _ - 
 
 10.600 
 
 Yuba ... - - 
 
 25,736 
 
 El Dorado 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 $18,847 
 
 $133,812 
 
 $200,369 
 
 $471,934 
 
 $801,295 
 
 $1,488,556 
 
 Counties. 
 
 1904. 
 
 1905. 1906. 1907. , 1908. 
 
 Grit lid 
 Totals. 
 
 Butte 
 
 $1,632,507 
 115.951 
 
 348'990 
 
 "6'827 
 
 8,500 
 
 74,263 
 
 ' $2,261,887 
 202,505 
 
 569424 
 
 '7411 
 
 5.000 
 
 188.967 
 
 41547 
 
 $2,768,782 
 177,112 
 
 92T3OO 
 
 26.000 
 
 1,205465 
 
 $2,697,092 
 *30,802 
 
 649"5ii 
 1,688"032 
 
 $3,043,051 
 198,600 
 
 182.970 
 
 1,109.196 
 
 30.966 
 
 2,227 
 
 1,969,079 
 
 $15,019,940 
 
 Calaveras .. 
 
 741.725 
 
 Madera. Merced, 
 and Stanislaus „ 
 
 Sacramento 
 
 Shasta 
 
 182.970 
 
 3,920.231 
 
 .30.966 
 
 Siskiyou _ 
 
 74.660 
 
 Trinity 
 
 Tuba -.- 
 
 84.596 
 5.151.242 
 
 El Dorado 
 
 41.547 
 
 Totals 
 
 $2,187,038 
 
 $3,276,141 
 
 $5,098,359 
 
 $5,065,437 
 
 $6,536,089 
 
 $25,277,877 
 
 
 
 • Shasta County included. 
 
10 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 In 1908 the total gold production amounted to $18,761,589, in Cali- 
 fornia, of this $10,530,372 came from deep mines, $6,536,189 from gold 
 dredging, and $1,694,998 from hydraulic mines and surface placers. 
 
 Of the gold producing counties in California in 1908, there were four 
 which yielded no placer gold, three which yielded no quartz gold, and 
 seven, the production from which was over $1,000,000 each ; the rank in 
 value of output of these counties is as follows : 
 
 Butte $3,139,398 
 
 Nevada 2,297,963 
 
 Yuba 2,034,486 
 
 Amador 1.876,174 
 
 Calaveras $1,378,511 
 
 Sacramento 1,166,055 
 
 Shasta 1,131,832 
 
 Butte, Sacramento, and Yul)a are dredge mining counties, the others 
 being principally cpiartz mining. Butte ranks the first gold produc- 
 ing county in the State, which is due to the large number of gold dredges 
 operated there. Sacramento showed the largest increased yield of gold 
 for the year 1908, $375,082, this being due to the operations of new 
 dredges as mentioned elsewhere. The largest production of gold from 
 deep mines came from Nevada County. 
 
 The following table shows the number of dredges operating in Cali- 
 fornia, the gold produced and the number of persons employed during 
 1908 and 1909 : 
 
 Year. 
 
 Dredges 
 Working. 
 
 Put in 
 Operation 
 
 During 
 the Year. 
 
 Gross Yield. 
 
 Number of 
 Yield per Men Ordi- 
 Dredge. ' narily 
 
 Employed. 
 
 1908 .— 
 
 1 
 65 i 9 
 
 $6,536,089 $100,555.21 940 
 
 1909 
 
 64 
 
 5 
 
 6,870,000 
 
 107,328.12 932 
 
 Several of the working dredges were constructed and put in com- 
 mission during the year, while others were either dismantled or delayed 
 by minor repairs, so that few of the dredges operated continuously; 
 while the number of operating dredges are apparently on the decrease, 
 the gold production from this source is increasing, and it is expected 
 
 No. 7. Hauling dredge macliinery in the Caiifurnia mountains. 
 
(T 
 
 -^ 
 
 V 
 
 vU 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 \r 
 
 y.do 
 
 N-* 
 
H u M B ^9..riJ^^ 
 
 U N T 
 
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 11 
 
 that the output in 1910 will exceed $7,000,000. The dredges now con- 
 structed are usually equipped with buckets from Ti/o to 13y2-cubic- 
 foot capacity, and it is probably only a matter of time until 15-eubie- 
 foot buckets will be used. The early dredges had a capacity of from 
 25.000 to 45,000 cubic yards of gravel per month, while the large 
 dredges of to-day handle an average of from 160,000 to 250,000 cubic 
 yards per month. 
 
 Owing to the financial success of the gold dredging industry, most of 
 the gravel deposits in the State have been explored. It is doubtful if 
 any new dredging fields, as rich as those now being worked, will be 
 found, but it is possible that with the increased capacity of the dredges, 
 many low grade deposits will be worked in the future. 
 
 The present known payable districts in California which have so far 
 been proven comprise an area of about 19,000 acres, and are located in 
 Butte, Yuba, Placer. Sacramento. Calaveras, Stanislaus, Merced, Shasta, 
 and Siskiyou counties. The following table shows, in a general way, the 
 extent of the dredging ground in these counties, the average depth of 
 the gravel, and the value per cubic yard. IMuch of this ground has 
 alreadv been dredged : 
 
 Counties. 
 
 Total 
 
 Proven 
 DredKing 
 Ground. 
 
 Average 
 
 Value per 
 
 Cubic 
 
 Yard. 
 
 Average 
 Pepth of 
 Ground. 
 
 Butte 
 
 Yuba 
 
 Placer 
 
 Sacramento 
 Calaveras . 
 Stanislaus 
 
 Merced 
 
 Shasta 
 
 Siskiyou _-. 
 
 6.600 acres 
 3,600 acres 
 430 acres 
 6,050 acres 
 850 acres 
 200 acres 
 400 acres 
 700 acres 
 370 acres 
 
 15 cents 
 15 cents 
 9 cents 
 12 cents 
 15 cents 
 15 cents 
 14 cents 
 12 cents 
 14 cents 
 
 30 feet 
 65 feet 
 38 feet 
 35 feet 
 18 feet 
 22 feet 
 20 feet 
 22 feet 
 35 feet 
 
 A number of years ago two Risdon dredges operated in Trinity 
 County, near Trinity Center and at Poker Bar; there is now, however, 
 no gold dredging being carried on in the country. Several tracts are 
 now being considered on which to install new dredges. In El Dorado 
 County some dredging operations were started a number of years ago, 
 but are not reported to have been a success and no dredging operations 
 of importance are being carried on in the county at the present time. 
 A new bucket dredge is being constructed at Cache Rock, in Placer 
 County, by the Risdon Iron Works. At this point a Dubois suction 
 dredge was erected a few years ago, but it is reported that after being 
 in operation for six months onlj'^ one half ounce of gold was recovered. 
 There are no dredges operating in Plumas County, although consider- 
 able prospecting was done a number of years ago. In Shasta County 
 there is at present only one dredge in active operation. The total drodg- 
 
10 
 
 In 1^ 
 fornia, 
 dredgin 
 
 Of th- 
 which A 
 seven, t.- 
 value o: 
 
 Butte .- 
 Nevada 
 Yuba - 
 Amador 
 
 Butte 
 being p 
 ing coui 
 operatec / 
 for the 
 dredges 
 deep mi 
 
 The I - 
 fornia, t 
 1908 anc 
 
 . 
 
 I, ._ , 
 
 a 
 
 K 
 
 H 
 
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 11 
 
 that the output in 1910 will exceed $7,000,000. The dredges now con- 
 structed are usualh' equipped with buckets from 7i^ to 13i/^-cubic- 
 foot capacity, and it is probably only a matter of time until 15-cubic- 
 foot buckets will be used. The early dredges had a capacity of from 
 '25,000 to 45,000 cubic yards of gravel per month, while the large 
 dredges of to-day handle an average of from 160,000 to 250,000 cubic 
 yards per month. 
 
 Owing to the financial success of the gold dredging industry, most of 
 the gravel deposits in the State have been explored. It is doubtful if 
 any new dredging fields, as rich as those now being worked, will be 
 found, but it is possible that with the increased capacity of the dredges, 
 many low grade deposits will be worked in the future. 
 
 The present known payable districts in California which have so far 
 been proven comprise an area of about 19,000 acres, and are located in 
 Butte, Yuba, Placer. Sacramento, Calaveras. Stanislaus, Merced, Shasta, 
 and Siskiyou counties. The following table shows, in a general way, the 
 extent of the dredging ground in these counties, the average depth of 
 the gravel, and the value per cubic yard. ]Much of this ground has 
 alreadv been dredged: 
 
 Counties. 
 
 Total 
 
 Proven 
 Dreduing 
 Ground. 
 
 Average 
 
 Value per 
 
 Cubic 
 
 Yard. 
 
 Average 
 Depth of 
 Ground. 
 
 Butte 
 
 Yuba 
 
 Placer 
 
 Sacramento 
 Calaveras . 
 Stanislaus . 
 
 Merced 
 
 Shasta 
 
 Siskiyou .-. 
 
 6.600 acres 
 3.600 acres 
 430 acres 
 6,050 acres 
 850 acres 
 200 acres 
 400 acres 
 700 acres 
 370 acres 
 
 15 cents 
 15 cents 
 9 cents 
 12 cents 
 15 cents 
 15 cents 
 14 cents 
 12 cents 
 14 cents 
 
 30 feet 
 65 feet 
 38 feet 
 35 feet 
 18 feet 
 22 feet 
 20 feet 
 22 feet 
 35 feet 
 
 A number of years ago two Kisdon dredges operated in Trinity 
 County, near Trinity Center and at Poker Bar; there is now, however, 
 no gold dredging being carried on in the county. Several tracts are 
 now being considered on which to install new dredges. In El Dorado 
 County some dredging operations were started a number of years ago, 
 but are not reported to have been a success and no dredging operations 
 of importance are being carried on in the county at the present time. 
 A new bucket dredge is being constructed at Cache Rock, in Placer 
 County, by the Risdon Iron Works. At this point a Dubois suction 
 dredge was erected a few years ago, but it is reported that after being 
 in operation for six months only one half ounce of gold was recovered. 
 There are no dredges operating in Plumas County, although consider- 
 able prospecting was done a number of years ago. In Shasta County 
 there is at present only one dredge in active operation. The total dredg- 
 
12 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA, 
 
 ing area is estimated at about (),000 acres, of which nearly 1,000 acres 
 have so far been proven ; eonsiderabk^ prospecting is being done in 
 this county. 
 
 Occasional complaints have been made during the last few years, by 
 men not familiar with conditions in the field, about dredges obstructing 
 the rivers and discoloring the water in the streams ; and a great deal has 
 been said at times about the destruction to orchards and vineyards by 
 dredge mining. Investigation, however, proved that these objections 
 were unwarranted. 
 
 No. 8. View across Feather River, below Oroville, Cal. 
 
 Practically all of the dredges now operating in California are working 
 inland and not in the river beds proper ; and are not, therefore, obstruct- 
 ing the rivers with tailing, causing overflow during flood times, or 
 damage to adjoining lands. The dredge men have for years been 
 impounding the overflow from the dredge ponds and none of this water 
 is allowed to flow into the rivers. 
 
 While good orchard land has lieen destroyed by dredge mining, this 
 is more than offset by the benefit derived by the people of the various 
 communities where dredge mining is carried on, and good results have 
 been obtained in replanting dredged land. The number of profitable 
 orchards destroyed is ver^' small, probabl,y not exceeding 1,000 acres in 
 
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 13 
 
14 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IX CALIFORNIA. 
 
 the State, and most of the hind being dredged was originally unsuitable 
 for either horticulture or agriculture, and had nearly all of it been 
 mined by the different methods in use previous to gold dredging. 
 
 The following table shows the number of acres of land owned by 
 dredging companies in the different counties, the number of men em- 
 ployed in connection with dredging operations and the wages paid them : 
 
 (.'ouiities. 
 
 Acres Owned 
 by Dredging 
 Companies. 
 
 Number of 
 Men Ordi- 
 narily Em- 
 ployed. 
 
 Wages Paid 
 
 Yearly. 
 Estimated. 
 
 Butte 
 
 8,900 
 5,500 
 
 990 
 12,500 
 
 850 
 1,000 
 
 500 
 2,000 
 
 450 
 
 550 
 450 
 12 
 340 
 40 
 14 
 12 
 15 
 35 
 
 $575,000 
 
 Tuba - 
 
 525,000 
 
 Placer ... 
 
 14,400 
 
 Sacramento _ - . . . 
 
 338,000 
 
 Calaveras . . _ - 
 
 1 
 
 Stanislaus . - . 
 
 1 
 
 Merced _ . . 
 
 }■ 134,600 
 
 Shasta - _ __ ..... .. 
 
 1 
 
 Siskiyou _ . 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 Totals - 
 
 32,690 
 
 1,468 
 
 $1,. 587,000 
 
 
 
 It may be of interest to note that the relation of this branch of mining 
 in California to neighboring interests has in every instance been such 
 that wherever dredge mining is carried on, the ranches and towns have 
 been directly benefited. To-day great activity and prosperity exist in 
 Oroville. Marj'sville, Hammonton, Marigold, Folsom, Jenny Lind. Cal- 
 lahan, etc., places which were almost dormant, or did not exist previous 
 to the advent of dredging companies. 
 
 In addition to gold mining, work of considerable magnitude and 
 economic importance is also being carried on by gold dredges. On the 
 Yuba Eiver construction of gravel embankments to confine and control 
 the flow of the Yuba River in the vicinity of Daguerre Point, is being 
 done for the United States and the State of California, under agree- 
 ment with W. P. Hammon and associates in exchange for the right to 
 extract gold from the gravel used in making the embankments. These 
 embankments are to be about 20,500 feet long, 300 feet wide on the base, 
 and 30 feet in height at the highest places. 
 
 GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 A large portion of the gold mined in the world comes from the detri- 
 tus of gold-bearing veins and rocks caused by eroding and disintegra- 
 ting agencies which have been at work ever since rocks were formed. 
 While there are localities where gold has been recovered in large quanti- 
 ties from placers where no vein mining has been successful or important 
 quartz veins discovered, careful investigations would probably prove 
 that the gold in the detritus came from auriferous seams and veins and 
 from the rocks immediately adjacent to them. 
 
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 15 
 
 It is an interesting fact that the largest dredging fields in California 
 are .located on three of the large rivers which drain the principal 
 mineral region of the State, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, 
 and where these rivers, leaving their narrow canyons, break from the 
 foothills into the Sacramento Valley. The region drained by the dif- 
 ferent branches of these rivers, which are the American, Yuba, and 
 Feather, is about 350 miles long, from 30 to 70 miles wide, and has an 
 elevation of from 500 to 5,000 feet. It includes within its boundaries 
 a great portion of the ancient river channels which were mined with 
 considerable profit in early days, and the present river systems, while 
 draining practically the same area as that drained by the ancient rivers. 
 
 No. 10. General view of the Folsom dredging ground, showing old placer pits previous 
 
 to dredging. 
 
 run at right angles to and cut across the ancient channels in numerous 
 places. The placer deposits of these present streams are for the most 
 part the river banks, bars, benches, and flood plains. The gold they 
 contain came from the disintegration of the auriferous slates and other 
 rocks and the quartz lodes of the bedrock series, and also from the 
 ancient channels that were cut and eroded by the present rivers. 
 
 In some districts portions of the ancient channels can be traced for 
 long distances, and their continuity and identity has been established 
 with certainty by the mining operations ; in other districts the remains 
 of the old channels are fragmentary. At Oroville, in Butte County, is 
 the debouchure of a great river coming from the north, corresponding 
 to the present Feather River and draining tlie same territory. At 
 Smartsville, in Yuba County, is the evidence of an ancient river, appar- 
 
16 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 ently the counterpart of the present Yiilni. In Placer County, there 
 are remains of an old river channel, the predecessor of the American. 
 At La Grange, in Stanislaus County, is the outlet of the early rivers of 
 Tuolumne and probably Calaveras and Amador counties. 
 
 The filling- of the ancient channels is composed of gravels of white 
 quartz, metamorphic schists, etc., with layers of light colored clays and 
 sands, and they are generally capped with volcanic flows. Certain layers 
 of the gravels are cemented, probably owing to percolation of silicious 
 and calcareous waters. The present river gravels consist of well rounded 
 pebbles of silicious and volcanic rock and quartz. The size of these peb- 
 bles ranges from a fraction of an inch to cobble stones six or eiglit inches 
 in diameter, though the average size is less than these latter dimensions. 
 
 On the bedrock, 
 large partly 
 rounded frag- 
 ments occasion- 
 ally occur, and 
 sometimes well 
 rounded boulders 
 of granite and 
 other rocks sev- 
 eral feet in diam- 
 eter are found. 
 
 All the gold of 
 the valley placers 
 is relatively fine 
 
 as compared to the coarse gold found in the higher altitudes of the 
 present rivers, and the finest particles may have been carried a great 
 distance; the coarse gold has probably not traveled far from where it 
 first lodged. Undoubtedly much of the finest gold recovered in placer 
 operations was first associated with such sulphides as pyrites, galena 
 and arsenopyrites, and was freed from this association by the decom- 
 position of these sulphides and left behind as free gold. The smoothing 
 of gold grains is caused by impact with the sand and gravel sweeping 
 with and over them. 
 
 The velocity of the water bringing down the detritus from the moun- 
 tains regulates the distribution, and, to a certain extent, the concentra- 
 tion of the heavy minerals. Where the gravel deposit is loose or porous, 
 permitting the circulation of water, mechanical concentration of mate- 
 rials after the gravel is brought down from the mountains still continues 
 in the valleys, caused either by running or percolating waters shifting 
 the gravel and allowing the gold and other heavy minerals, such as black 
 sand, to sink naturally toward the bottom, so that the greatest per- 
 
 
 No. 11. Ideal section old gravel channel after R. E. Brown. 
 
 a, volcanic cap ; h, upper lead ; c, bench gravel ; d, channel gravel : 
 e, bedrock ; /, rim. 
 
HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL. 
 
 17 
 
 centage of the gold found in the gravel is generally found in the lower 
 
 portion of the deposit and sometimes within a few inches of the bedrock. 
 
 At times the gold occurs more evenly distributed throughout the 
 
 whole deposit, caused, probably, by a more regular flow of the distribut- 
 
 <7000 O 0<7 O OO C? O <J O G 
 
 
 00 O O O O rj 
 
 o t> o r> o < 
 
 't'OooooooOooc* 00 <^ ^ o 000 o o o 00 000000 *^' 
 
 No. 12. False bedrock in placer deposit, 
 fl, top soil; /', gravel; c, false bedrock; (/, true bedrock. 
 
 ing stream and sliglit after concentration. Where occasional seams of 
 clay or other material form an impervious layer in otherwise porous 
 gravel, the downward movement of the heavy minerals is arrested and 
 above these layers "pay-streaks" will be formed, sometimes several of 
 
 No. 13. Section showing bench and valley placers. 
 
 these ''pay-streaks" being shown in a cross-section of a deposit. The 
 gravel in Sacramento Valley district lies, in general, on a stratum of 
 volcanic ash, forming a false bottom or bedrock. This bedrock over- 
 lies other gravel, the true bedrock being the slates and schists which 
 form the adjacent foothills. In the northei-n counties, like Siskiyou, 
 Trinity, and Shasta, the dcej) canyons of the rivers, espeeiallx' the 
 Klamath and its l)ranclies. contain larLic amounts of gravel which lie 
 
 2 — GD 
 
18 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 upon a true bedrock. When the bedrock is a slate shale or schist, 
 affording cracks for the gold to settle in. it is often found profitable to 
 work it for several inches in depth. 
 
 There are often several benches or terraces along the sides of a river 
 which were a part of the river bottom w^hen the stream was at a higher 
 level. The dredges on the American and Feather rivers Avork at dif- 
 ferent elevations on the different benches, the former channels of the 
 present streams. On the Yuba River, owing to the great quantity of 
 
 
 /'A^ 
 
 ~"^^^^S'*>^ 
 
 
 
 X^ 
 
 
 , if 
 
 ^) 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 3) 
 
 // 
 
 
 /^ 
 
 J J 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 S3>> 
 
 
 j^ 
 
 No. 14. 
 
 Ideal River, showing accumulation of bars. Crosses show the most favorable spots 
 for the deposition of gold. After J. B. Spur. 
 
 hydraulic tailings covering the river valley, the dredges work at a more 
 uniform elevation. 
 
 In washing gravel concentrates of heavy minerals, other than gold, 
 are also collected; magnetite becoming the miner's black or magnetic 
 sand, and garnets, which are found in schists and other metamorphic 
 rocks, the ruby sand ; in addition to these platinum is sometimes found 
 in appreciable quantities. 
 
 The presence of black and ruby sand is regarded most favorably in 
 prospecting, and indicates that there has been a concentration of mate- 
 rials in the gravel and the possibility of gold being present, though it 
 does not necessarily mean that gold will be found. 
 
PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. 19 
 
 II. PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. 
 
 To make a gold dredging proposition an economic success, experi- 
 enced judgment must be used in every phase of the work ; preeminently 
 is this necessary in the details of prospecting or examination. 
 
 There have been many failures in dredging because a thorough exam- 
 ination of the ground was not made before installing a dredge. The 
 tendency to build an expensive plant before the value of the property 
 has been sufficiently demonstrated is as pronounced a fault in the 
 dredging industr}'" as in other branches of mining. 
 
 The development and improvements in the construction of machinery, 
 and the overcoming of what at first seemed insurmountable difficulties, 
 have greatly broadened the dredging field and relieve the engineer of 
 to-day of many of the difficulties that he was confronted with a few 
 years ago. The thorough investigation of a placer deposit, however, is 
 not so simple a matter as the uninitiated investor is often led to believe ; 
 such investigations should never be carried no by one unfamiliar with 
 the important factors governing a proper determination of the value of 
 placer ground, and with the conditions necessary for the successful 
 operation of dredges. 
 
 It is difficult to give any one factor as being the most important in 
 the examination of dredging ground, as several conditions must be 
 favorable to insure success. The gold value in itself may be of minor 
 importance in the valuation of some ground, as a hard uneven bedrock, 
 the presence of many large boulders, a great ciuantit}' of clay, or a 
 rough surface contour might prevent the economic dredging of ground 
 with a comparatively high gold content ; it may be said, however, that 
 sufficient gold content, the feasibility of economic operation, and the 
 presence of enough ground to warrant the cost of equipping at least 
 one dredge, are the salient features. 
 
 To obtain information concerning the value and character of the 
 gravel and of bedrock it is necessary to sink either shafts or drill holes ; 
 frequently gulches, old prospect shafts, pits, or hydraulic faces, are 
 available and give considerable information, in a reconnaissance of the 
 ground, perhaps sufficient to warrant an engineer of experience in 
 advising his clients to go to no further expense in the examination of 
 the property; he would not, hoAvever. be justified in reporting favor- 
 ably upon the proposition without making a complete examination. 
 In addition to those conditions whicli influence the actual operation of 
 
20 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 a dredge, such as depth and character of gravel, and character of bed- 
 rock, fuel or power possibilities, labor conditions, etc., there are others 
 of almost equal importance, as their unfavorable determination would 
 result in the turning down of a proposition that at first glance seemed 
 meritorious ; among these are climatic conditions, transportation facili- 
 ties governing the cost of supplies 'and installation, price of ground, 
 titles, etc. 
 
 Proper examination of placer ground in California for dredging, 
 therefore, involves the determination of the following conditions : 
 
 1. Value, character, and distribution of gold content. 
 
 2. Depth, character, and cpiantity of ground to be worked. 
 
 3. Character and contour of bedrock. 
 
 4. Water level and available supply of water. 
 
 5. Costs of fuel, power obtainable, possilulities for hydro electric 
 
 power. 
 
 6. Labor, transportation, supplies, etc. 
 
 7. Surface contour and timber growth. 
 
 8. Operating costs. 
 
 9. Cost of land, royalties, titles, etc. 
 
 10. Elsewhere in America the climate might have an important 
 
 bearing, and in foreign countries other conditions to be 
 
 considered would be the climate, government, taxes, duties, 
 
 etc. 
 
 In deciding upon a method of prospecting, shafts should always be 
 
 sunk, if possible, in preference to drill holes, as the results from drill 
 
 tests are less to be depended upon in regard to the physical conditions 
 
 and the prol)able gold content of the gravel than those from shafts. 
 
 Shaft sinking enables a much larger sample to be taken, gives a better 
 
 opportunity of examining the character of the gravel, and if the material 
 
 taken out is carefully handled, there is less chance for error in the 
 
 work than in drilling. Shaft sinking, however, is limited to favorable 
 
 conditions while drill tests can be made in any class of ground, and it 
 
 must be remembered that the value of nearly all the dredging ground 
 
 in California has been computed from sampling by means of drills. 
 
 The chances for making errors in prospecting are great, and the 
 operation is one that requires constant care. In drilling, a careless 
 runner may neglect to drive the pipe ahead of the drill, and pump out 
 an excessive quantity of material when pumping the drillings from 
 below the driving shoe, as has frequently been done. This may some- 
 times account for the indication of high values that are not confirmed 
 in subsequent working of the ground. In loose ground, the pipe may 
 be driven too great a distance before pumping and the proper amount 
 of material not secured, as the drill pipe may become clogged and the 
 
PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. 
 
 21 
 
 core fail to increase in proportion to the depth the pipe is driven. The 
 element of risk from salting in secnring samples from either shafts or 
 drills depends npon the conditions of examination, care taken, and the 
 experience of the engineer. 
 
 When it is impracticable to sink shafts on account of the presence 
 of considerable water, prospecting must be done with drills and experi- 
 enced men shonld be engaged, and every })recaution taken to insure that 
 the results obtained are as nearly as possible indicative of the gold 
 content of the ground prospected. 
 
 The gravel mav he fine and sandv. medium or coarse. Fine gravel 
 
 No. 15. Chinaman rocking gravel from shaft. Oroville District. 
 
 is one in which ])ebbles are usually under two inches in diameter, and 
 generally nuich smaller; in medium gravel, the pebbles run in size up to 
 six inches in diameter; and in coarse gravel much of the matei'ial is 
 larger than six inches. 
 
 Compact gravel, if not cemented, can be worked with a pick, and a 
 pipe can be driven in same without nuich difficulty. Loose gravel is 
 easily worked with a pick, and is one that would re:piire lagging in 
 shaft sinking. Quicksand or fine loose gravel containing an excess of 
 water is liable to give an excess of material when drilling for the 
 distance sunk, and the results from shaft sinking in sucli ground, would 
 probably also ]>e too high, if indeed it was ])()ssil)l(' to sink shafts. 
 
22 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 In sinking prospecting shafts, it is best to use a uniform diameter 
 from top to bottom, as it facilitates computation, if the entire content 
 of the shaft is to be washed, but it is often the practice to cut out a 
 small section along the side of the shaft from top to bottom instead of 
 washing the total amount of gravel. Square shafts are not often used 
 unless the ground is too loose or wet to stand and needs timbering, in 
 which case shaft sinking becomes expensive and soon passes the limit of 
 economy. In sinking shafts in wet ground, it is also the practice to use 
 round iron caissons, usually in four-foot sections, in place of timber 
 lagging, and to sample the entire content of the shaft. In very wet 
 ground, however, if a shaft is sunk at all, it is best to check it with a 
 drill hole. In case where a heavy flow of water is encountered in shaft 
 sinking, the shaft can be discontinued and the remaining distance to 
 bedrock be sunk with a drill hole. 
 
 A convenient size for round shafts to a depth of 30 feet is 36 inches, 
 and for depths of from 50 to 60 feet, 40 inches diameter. While shaft 
 sinking is generally considered cheaper than drill tests, the cost varies 
 a great deal with different localities and conditions. Under favorable 
 conditions, the cost of shaft sinking ranges from 50 cents to $2 per foot, 
 according to local wages. Timbered shafts in prospecting gravel have 
 cost as much as $25 per foot. 
 
 In prospecting with drills in California, the Keystone No. 3 traction 
 machine is generally used. This is a self-contained machine, equipped 
 with an 8- or 10-horsepower boiler, and operates the drill by means of 
 a walking beam. For fuel, wood, coal, or oil can be used, or where 
 electric power is conveniently available, the boiler can be discarded for 
 an electric motor. 
 
 The casing generally used is about 6 inches inside measurement, 
 5-16-inch thick, and weighs about 28 pounds per foot, and is cut in 
 sections of from 5 to 7 feet long, which are added as additional pipe is 
 required. It is necessary to have a number of extra lengths on hand 
 as it is at times impossible to withdraw all the casing from deep holes. 
 The outside diameter of the cutting shoe is about 7}4 inches. The 
 threads of the pipe and couplings are cleaned from grit, and are gen- 
 erally slightly lubricated with axle grease, care being taken not to 
 allow any grease to get in the hole. It is important to see that the 
 threads of the pipes and couplings are in good condition before using, 
 to prevent the loss of the pipe in the hole when pulling. 
 
 Drilling without casing ha^ been done in hard ground that will stand 
 without the pipe, but it is dangerous practice, and" if the result shows 
 high values, they can not be accepted as truly indicative of the gold 
 content. It may also be the fact that ground hard enough to stand 
 drilling without the casing mav be too hard for the dredge to handle. 
 
PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. 
 
 23 
 
 The casing pipe is marked for each foot in depth, using plain figures, 
 or if the operator desires, some private mark; the drill rope is also 
 marked, records of depth and all details of operation usually being kept 
 by the pauner. If the record of i)ipe depth is not accurately kept, it 
 would be impossible at times to determine whether the drill bit is strik- 
 ing above or below the cutting shoe. For the purpose of a constant base 
 to measure from, it is best to place a fairly long, wide and thick board 
 on the around near the drill hole, on which the drillman can also stand 
 
 No. 16. Electric-driven Keystone drill. 
 
 while working. It is important that the marking of the driU rope be 
 occasionally cheeked as the ropes stretch and the drill bit wears with use. 
 The drill ])it and stem, weighing from 800 to 1.000 pounds, are 
 allowed to drop with a slight slack in the cable, thus loosening the 
 ground by the impact of its weight on the gravel. Tests made have 
 demonstrated the advantage of quick long strokes from 36 to 40 inches, 
 the drill l)eing arranged to deliver from 55 to 60 strokes per minute. 
 With a slow stroke the loosened material is apt to settle between strokes, 
 causing a recutting of most of the material and a possible loss of gold, 
 aside from a loss of time, as the operation would take longer than if 
 the drill bit struck the clean core each time; the saving of time, how- 
 ever, is a secondary consideration in sampling placer ground, accuracy 
 of results l)eing the prime factor. 
 
24 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 There are several types of drilling' bits, the one most suitable for 
 gravel and sand being a thin bladed bit; when drilling large boulders 
 or into hard bedrock this bit is sometimes replaced by a heavy rock bit 
 made with a wider angled cutting edge. This second bit, if used in 
 loose gravel, would pack the material, and might cause some to be 
 driven from below the cutting shoe to the side of the pipe. It is 
 important that the drill bit be kept sharp and well beaten out at the 
 edges. Excessive drilling, caused bj' using a dull bit, may cause a flour- 
 ing of the gold. 
 
 The sand pump is a vacuum pump made of a hollow steel cylinder, 
 8 feet long and 4 inches in diameter, equipped with a valve on a piston 
 or sucker rod which travels the whole length of the cylinder, going to 
 the bottom of the pump when lowered, and when drawn up rapidly 
 produces a vacuum which draws in sand, slushy water, and small stones. 
 The plunger must fit closely, as the efficiency of the pump depends 
 upon the suction caused by the rod being lifted quickly. The valves 
 of the pump occasionally require repacking, and sometimes a leakage 
 is caused by an obstruction to the valve seat, which is readily repaired. 
 A good pump will draw up everything in the casing that is loose and 
 small enough to be taken in, gold and other minerals are drawn in with 
 the sludge, and are held in the pump by the foot valve in the shoe. In 
 drilling above the water level or in ground containing little water, some 
 water must be kept in the casing, both to facilitate drilling and permit 
 pumping. There are various mechanical troubles that occur daring drill- 
 ing operations that are not worth enumerating and are easily repaired 
 by an experienced drill runner. 
 
 In starting a drill hole from the surface, a shallow hole, similar to a 
 post hole, is usually dug and the first section of the casing to which the 
 digging shoe is attached is tamped firmly in and plumbed with a spirit 
 level. Care must be taken to keep the pipe constantly perpendicular, 
 for if this is not done, the casing may become bent, making it necessary 
 to abandon the hole before bedrock is reached, a bent pipe is also diffi- 
 cult to pull. 
 
 If the driving shoe should strike the sloping side of a hard boulder, 
 the casing might bend and cause the abandonment of a hole, though 
 the work, if in fairly loose material, may be continued by turning the 
 pipe slightly in the hole. 
 
 If the hole is started in top soil, the pipe, in general practice, is 
 driven until firm ground is reached, and if in hard gravel, far enough 
 to keep the pipe in place while drilling. Some operators, when drilling 
 in loose gravel, drive the pipe ten or even fifteen feet before com- 
 mencing to drill, but this, while permissible in some places where it has 
 been determined that the upper gravel carries little value, Avould be 
 dangerous practice to follow where the location of the values is not 
 
PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. 
 
 20 
 
 kuown. though it is often encouraged l)y the runner as it nuikes time. 
 After the pipe has been driven to the desired depth, the core is h)osened 
 by the drill to a depth of about one foot and then pumped out. This 
 process is repeated until all the material in the pipe, to within a few 
 inches of the bottom, has been removed. Some operators first drill 
 several feet before pumping, but pumping is g:enerally done for each 
 
 K 
 
 .'pi 
 
 /b 
 
 
 ^^p|^-@v; 
 
 
 \\ 
 
 
 
 ,'.-.r « v-:«i •.-V*«='-*/kPv^ /vv^ ^- \ ^N' /^^ V •« •' 1^ I ~' ' C I I 
 
 ■ ".^- .• ^.•' ov^.v^'-^--;.-W^^ ■.••■"-■■-■ 
 
 -■ ■ ■ • "- ^-^: '^.CP.-- '•• •■ ■■ '■■••■•■•■•-■ 
 
 No. 17. Drill casing. 
 a, after core has been drilled and drillings pimiped out; h. core in casing after driving and 
 before pumping; r, same as a, casing ready for ucxt drive. 
 
 foot or less drilled, several ])umpings lieing necessary to clean out the 
 core. 
 
 During the drilling of a hole, a core sufficient to keep outside material 
 from entering sliould be left in the pij^e before and after every pump- 
 ing. The depth of the core varies with the nature of the ground; it 
 should be of sufficient length to prevent any inrush of water or material 
 from the sides, water is also kept in the drive pipe to offset the pressure 
 from the outside, as well as to facilitate drilling. When drilling 
 cemented gravel or when the cutting shoe encounters hard boulders, it 
 is sometimes necessarv to di-ill below the casing, but in such case, after 
 
26 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 drilling, the pipe should be driven before pumping, though this is not 
 always possible and it is occasionally necessary to pump material from 
 below the cutting shoe; any increase in the colors at such times must 
 be specially noted and the quantity of material should also be compared 
 with that recovered under normal conditions. 
 
 The gold content of a placer deposit is seldom evenly distributed 
 throughout the gravel, but is usually concentrated near the bottom, 
 one tenth of the material drilled often containing most of the values; 
 and the greatest care taken with the balance of the ground would be 
 useless if an error was made while the pay streak is being drilled. 
 
 As the drill bit and stem are raised out of the hole, any adhering 
 material is washed back into the casing, so that it may be caught with 
 the sand pump. Two or three pumpings are generally sufficient for 
 each foot drilled, but this depends upon the character of the material, 
 as from some holes the pump will bring up less than one half a pan at 
 a pumping and at others over two pans ; pumping is repeated until all 
 the drilled material is secured. When the pumpings are taken from 
 the hole, they are emptied into a sample box, the material being caught 
 in a pan placed in the box. The contents of the pan are then washed 
 and any gold colors counted and recorded. The tailings from the pan 
 are kept in a tub and rocked by the panner, as is also the material left 
 in the sample box when a sufficient quantity has accumulated or when 
 the panner has time. 
 
 After the core drilled has been pumped, the casing is again driven and 
 the operations continued as before, until bedrock is reached. When 
 bedrock is reached, repeated pumpings are necessary to -remove all the 
 drillings from the hole, and sometimes when soft bedrock is encountered 
 the pump will loosen material that has not been drilled ; the color of the 
 drillings from bedrock is noticeable, however, and readily recognized. 
 If the values recovered appear excessive, they may be caused by the 
 drill hole cutting a rich seam or small pocket and the results should be 
 noted separately from the balance of the hole. 
 
 The box for taking the pumpings is made in different sizes, sometimes 
 ] 2 by 14 inches by 8 feet long. A convenient size is a box made of 2-inch 
 planks, 20 by 20 inches by 4i/^ feet long. This box, held together by 
 rods, is strong and easily transported. 
 
 The size of the rocker varies with personal ideas ; it is often made 20 
 inches wide by 5 feet long, and is used either with or without an apron. 
 The use of an apron sometimes facilitates rapid work, as the tailings 
 are not rerocked. In the plain rocker, the tailings are usually rocked 
 over one or more times, according to the amount of gold in the gravel. 
 It is preferable to always use clean water both for panning and rocking. 
 
 The tubs in which the panning is done are either iron wash tubs or 
 
»^ 
 
 PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. 
 
 27 
 
 half Ijarrels. The fine colors from the paunings and rockings are 
 usually kept in a small dish, and at the completion of the work, amal- 
 gamated. The amalgam is put in a small vial and the quicksilver is 
 later separated from the gold by nitric acid, after which the gold is 
 washed, dried, and weighed. Some operators use no quicksilver and 
 separate the black sand from the gold by close panning and a magnet, 
 after which the gold is dried and weighed. 
 
 If the gold does not readily amalgamate, it should be noted in the log- 
 
 No. 18. Prospecting with Keystone drill, Shasta County. 
 
 book and the cause ascertained ; it may be due to a coating of iron oxide, 
 the presence of arsenic, grease, or some other cause. Sometimes so- 
 called rusty gold will amalgamate after rubbing it with the finger 
 against the gold pan. AYhile it is often necessary in cold weather to 
 use warm water to facilitate amalgamation, it is best to carry on the 
 operation as nearly as possible under the same temperature as it would 
 be on the dredge. It might lead to error in calculation of values if 
 methods employed in saving the gold in sampling could not be dupli- 
 cated or equaled on the dredge. The physical characteristics of the 
 gold determine in a great measure the percentage of recovery made by 
 
28 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
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PROSPECTING DREDGING GROIND. 
 
 29 
 
 PROSPECTING l_CX3-BOOK 
 
 JA. 
 
 DATE •^^J^rV, /at- 
 
 Contract or Optk 
 Tract or Cla 
 
 . Ft. Prospected @ 
 
 EMPLOYEES 
 
 OCCUPATIOM 
 
 PANNCR 
 DRILLMAI 
 
 LABORER 
 
 DESCRIPTION 
 
 
 
 TOTAL Depth 
 
 Size OF Shaft /,/^i--,.. 
 
 ^'EIQMT OF Ooi_D /-? ^ ¥ 
 Value OF Oot-D.,^./^ <=«-»V^ 
 
 VALUE PER CU.VO 7J~^ 
 
 CUBIC FT. IN test .^..»*fs3. . 
 
 '? 
 
 \A/ATER LEVEL. Srff. 
 
 TOTAL DEPTH 7.Z..i^.... 
 
 REMARKS 
 
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 iLf-t^'V'^ .^j.<Au>'. udiAitJtj 
 
 PROSPKCTOR 
 
 No. 20. Prospecting Log Book. 
 
 the o'old-saving tables 
 of the dredge; when 
 much light, thin, scaly, 
 and tiour gold is en- 
 countered in prospect- 
 ing, it should be care- 
 fully noted, as there 
 might be difficulty in 
 saving same in han- 
 dling large quantities 
 of sand and gravel. 
 
 The black sand which 
 is caught in the pan 
 and riffles with the 
 gold seldom contains 
 anything of value. 
 There is. however, a 
 possibility of finding 
 platinum and a variety 
 of minerals of a heavy 
 specific gravit}^ and it 
 is always advisable, in 
 a new district, to in- 
 vestigate the l>hick 
 sand carefully. 
 
 The practice of in- 
 experienced engineers 
 to use the fire a.ssay in 
 determining the gold 
 content of gravel areas 
 is more widespread 
 than would be imag- 
 ined; numerous re- 
 p o r t s submitted to 
 dredge operators being 
 based upon sucli meth- 
 ods which, needh'ss to 
 say, are wortldess. 
 
 \\\ prospecting with 
 drills or shafts it is 
 necessary to keep a 
 sxsteiiKilic set of logs 
 for references and cal- 
 cubitions. 'I'liese lo<is 
 
30 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 should give all the necessary information in as simple and comprehen- 
 sive a manner as possible. Some of the largest dredging companies in 
 California have used the Field, Time, and Prospecting log-book, as 
 reproduced on pages 28 and 29, for a number of years, and find that 
 they answer every purpose. 
 
 The Field and Time logs, which are kept in the field, usually by the 
 panner or the man in charge of the drill, are made in convenient size 
 books, about 4i/4 inches wide by 7 inches long, containing 50 leaves 
 each. The paper is made of a tough, strong cpality, not easily torn 
 when wet, and the books can be carried in the pocket and readily used 
 in stormy weather. It facilitates matters to have them made in dif- 
 ferent colors, the Field log being usually of green, and the Time log 
 of yellow papers. The leaves of the Field log are perforated and are 
 torn out at the completion of each hole, and the information copied into 
 the Prospecting log-book. In the columns giving the sizes of the colors, 
 in the Field log, the largest are usually marked under No. 1 size, and 
 the smallest under No. 3, but this method of grading the colors can, 
 of course, be changed to suit any desired arrangement. The columns 
 for depth and core indicate depth after pumpings and the length of 
 the core left in the drill hole after pumping. These figures added give 
 the total depth of pipe, except where an inrush of material would give 
 an excess of core which would be noted under remarks. 
 
 In the Time log is kept a record of all work done and also difficulties 
 and delays. It furnishes a useful record for estimating the time 
 required for prospecting similar ground, and for promoters and invest- 
 ors who are anxious for speed in prospecting a record of this kind 
 would be an education. 
 
 The Prospecting log-book is made 5 inches wide and 12 inches long, 
 with perforated leaves, and is of sufficient length for holes up to 60 feet 
 in depth. It should give a summary of the Field and Time log. as well 
 as all other information pertaining to drill holes or shafts. 
 
 No average speed can be given for test drilling and as elsewhere 
 mentioned speed is subservient to accuracy in prospecting placer 
 ground. However, some idea can be gained from time taken during 
 actual tests. In loose gravel as much as 20 feet was drilled in 12 hours, 
 and at another hole on the same property in cemented gravel, a headway 
 of only 2 feet was made in the same time. In testing shalloAv ground, 
 the frequent moves and resetting require time, depending upon the 
 distance between the holes, and the difficulty in moving. 
 
 The speed of drilling generally decreases with depth, this is caused 
 by the time required to raise and lower the tools, the added friction in 
 driving, and the difficulty in pulling the casing; sometimes it takes 
 longer to pull the casing than to drill the hole, and it is occasionally 
 found economical to leave casing that is difficult to pull. 
 
PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. 31 
 
 In drilling on one property, the average depth per day. including 
 delays caused by bad weather, moving, etc., over a total period of 
 thirty-three 10-hour days, was approximately 12.6 feet per day; the 
 holes averaged 24.9 feet deep, the character of the deposit was medium 
 coarse gravel, free from clay and overlain by hydraulic tailings. The 
 wages of the drill crew were $12.25 per day, so the labor cost in the 
 above examination would apparently be $1.01 per foot drilled. On 
 another examination three 70-foot holes required eight 21:-hour days, 
 including pulling pipe, moving, etc., and the cost for labor was $1.71 
 per foot. 
 
 The following figures are from an examination undertaken by a dif- 
 ferent engineer from the above, in rather loose deposit of sand and. 
 gravel, the boulders of granite being easily broken by the drill. Twenty- 
 four holes of an average depth of 2314 feet, a total of 558 feet, were 
 sunk in twenty-six 9-hour shifts, including all delays, etc. : the cost 
 while at work on the property being a little under one dollar a foot ; 
 however, as some of the men were brought from a distance and their 
 time and expenses paid while traveling, the total cost of the examina- 
 tion, exclusive of the engineer's fee, would exceed the amount given 
 per foot drilled. 
 
 The cost of drilling varies greatly with conditions encountered. 
 The drill crew consists of one drillman, or drill runner ; one fireman, or 
 helper ; one waterman and team ; and one panner. Wlien Avorking 
 more than one shift, one waterman is usually able to supply the drill 
 with fuel and water and help in moving the drill and tools from one 
 hole to another. The panner generally works during the day time 
 only, his place being taken by a watchman, who keeps the Time log, 
 during the night shift. However, this depends to a certain extent on 
 the depth of the hole and the frequency of moA-ing. The wages of the 
 drill crew are usually as follows : 
 
 Drillman $3.00 to S3.50 per day 
 
 Helper 2.50 to 3.00 per day 
 
 White panner 3.50 to 5.00 per day 
 
 Chinese panner 1.50 to 2.00 per day 
 
 Waterman and team 4.00 to 5.00 per day 
 
 Aside from the wages of the drill crew, other costs, such a.s fuel, 
 repairs, maintenance and hire or purchase of drill, also figure in total 
 costs. In the winter months heavy rains would increase the cost of 
 transportation, making moving difficult, and greatly delay work. A 
 serious accident to the drill machinery might also delay the examina- 
 tion for several days and increase the cost considerably. It is generally 
 figured that the cost of drilling runs from $1.50 to $2.50 per foot under 
 favorable conditions. 
 
32 
 
 GOr.D DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Too much stress can not 
 be laid upon the care 
 necessary in drilling op- 
 erations in order to se- 
 cure a sample that would 
 represent as nearly as 
 possible the value per 
 cubic yard of each place 
 sampled. If the work 
 has been properly done 
 in every detail, an esti- 
 mate of the gold content 
 of the property can l)e 
 made with some 
 degree of accu- 
 racy ; if, on the 
 other hand, the 
 work has been 
 carelessly done 
 by unreliable or 
 inexperienced 
 men, the results 
 obtained would 
 be worthless. 
 
 It is general- 
 ly conceded that 
 the careful 
 m e t h o d s em- 
 ployed in wash- 
 ing the material 
 sample d will 
 equal or exceed 
 the recovery of the gold- 
 saving tables of the 
 dredge, so each hole may 
 be taken as indicative of 
 the value of that portion 
 of ground where it is 
 sunk. The placing of 
 holes in relation to the 
 character of the deposit 
 is an important feature, 
 for though the mechanical 
 details of sampling eacli 
 
PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. ;33 
 
 hole be most carefully doue, the average values obtained might be far 
 from representing the gold content of area under consideration. 
 
 In preliiiiinar\- examinations and in prospecting large areas, a few 
 holes are first sunk to determine tlie probable value and extent of the 
 workalile ground. The preliminary lioles should determine if the gold 
 occurs iu wide or narrow channels or if it is fairly evenly distributed. 
 The ground under examination is then divided into sections or squares 
 and lioles proportioned to each section. 
 
 The location and distances apart that samples should be taken can be 
 determined only after a study of the ground. There is no rule as to the 
 number of holes to be sunk, but on ground which shows uneven or 
 spotted values, more tests will be necessary than where fairly uniform 
 results are obtained, and, in general, more drill holes are required than 
 shafts. Great economy of time is possible when the work is carefully 
 planned in advance, and if the sampling crew consists of men well 
 trained and directed. 
 
 The quantity of material recovered per lineal foot drilled varies 
 greatly with different material. In drilling compact gravel, the volume 
 of core will be greater than where a number of hard, coarse pebbles are 
 encountered. In drilling sand or fine gravel containing much water, 
 an excess of material may be pumped or if the pipe is driven too far 
 ahead of drilling, it may become clogged, and too little material be 
 secured. Some operators use a measuring box, holding one cubic foot, 
 and measure the material as it goes to the rocker, figuring that 20 cubic 
 feet actual recovery is equal to 1 cubic yard, theoretical quantitj^ of 
 core drilled. This factor was obtained from results of numerous experi- 
 ments on one field and can not be applied as a general rule. 
 
 Tests in other fields have demonstrated that the actual recovery of 
 material from drill holes, in compact gravel, has at times been 95 per 
 cent of the theoretical quantity ; and in running ground, often in excess 
 of the theoretical core drilled. Good practice is to measure the total 
 cpiantity of material pumped from each hole, and by comparing the 
 results from all holes drilled in similar material, on an examination, 
 a fair average can be secured and used as a check. 
 
 A simple method of making this test is to dig a hole at the end of the 
 rocker about 3 feet square and of sufficient depth to hold all material 
 from the hole to be drilled; all the tailing from the, rocker run into this 
 hole are allowed to settle, and the cubic contents determined and tabu- 
 lated. 
 
 A dry ground containing small gravel with considerable sand would 
 give closer results in drilling in relation to the theoretical content that 
 should l)e obtained l)y the casing than other kinds of gravel. The theo- 
 retical quantity that should be recovered in drill tests would be the con- 
 
 3— GD 
 
84 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 tents of a cylinder having a base the diameter of the cutting shoe and 
 a length equal to the depth drilled. 
 
 The area of a circle the size of the cutting shoe is a))out .3 of a scjuare 
 foot, so for every lineal foot drilled in depth there would be excavated 
 .3 of a cubic foot, or .011 cubic yards, which, as the cutting shoe soon 
 becomes worn, is taken as .01 cubic yard, or 1 cubic yard for each 100 
 feet drilled. Using this factor, the method of determining values is as 
 follows : 
 
 The gold recovered from a drill hole is reduced to value in cents ; if 
 in a new district, the fineness of gold must be first determined. The 
 value in cents is divided by number of feet drilled and the result 'multi- 
 plied by 100, which gives value per cubic yard. A less simple method 
 of arriving at the same results is by using the factor .27. Multiply the 
 depth drilled by .27 and divide the recovery of gold in cents by the 
 result, to get value per cubic foot ; multiply by 27 to get value per 
 cubic yard. 
 
 One operator, while agreeing with results obtained by the use of these 
 factors when drilling compact gravel, believes that different factors 
 are necessary when holes are sunk in other material and uses the follow- 
 ing factors, having in numerous tests demonstrated to his own satisfac- 
 tion the correctness of same : 
 
 (a) For compact gravel, the factor is .01 
 
 (ft) For medium gravel, the factor is .011 
 
 (c) For loose gravel, the factor is .012 
 
 {d) For loose gravel and sand with much water, the factor is .013 
 
 To calculate with above formula multiply feet drilled by factor 
 selected and divide value of gold from sample in cents by the result 
 which would give value per cubic yard ; as by using the different factors 
 on the same hole, results would vary considerably, the correct selection 
 of the factor w^ould be a matter of much importance and could only be 
 determined by experience. 
 
 The first two methods and factor (a) of the third method will give 
 the same results in practice as shown by the following, taking a hole 
 40 feet deep that returned 15 cents gold value : 
 First method : 
 
 (15 -^- 40) X 100 = .375 X 100 = 37.5 cents per cubic yard. 
 Second method : 
 
 15 -f-(40 X .27) X 27 =(15 -f- 10.80) X 27 = 1.389 X 27 = 37.5 cents 
 per cubic yard. 
 Third method : 
 
 (a) 15 -^(40 X .01)= 15 -^ .40 = 37.5 cents per cubic yard. 
 If factor (c) M'as used, however, the result would be 
 
 15 ^(40 X .012)= 15 -^ .48 = 31.2 cents per cubic yard. 
 
PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. 
 
 35 
 
 To estimate the value 
 of the area under exam- 
 ination, the value per 
 cubic yard as found 
 above is multiplied by 
 the depth of the hole in 
 feet and the added prod- 
 uct from all holes in 
 foot cents is divided by 
 the sum of the depth of 
 all holes in feet. Some- 
 times it is found advis- 
 able to segregate certain 
 sections of a property 
 under examination, and 
 it may be possible, by 
 cutting out a certain 
 portion, that it is feasi- 
 ble to eliminate, perhaps, at 
 one end or side of a property 
 that the remainder would be of 
 sufficient area and value to pay 
 to work, M'hereas if all the holes 
 drilled were averaged, the total 
 value shown might not be 
 attractive. There are instances 
 in California where a portion 
 of a property under examina- 
 tion Avas proven to be a pay- 
 able dredging proposition, but 
 the necessity of having to pur- 
 chase a large unproductive 
 acreage in order to secure the 
 payable portion made it unat- 
 tractive as a dredging invest- 
 ment. 
 
 In estimating the value of 
 the gold contained in a dredg- 
 ing area, some engineers take a 
 percentage, generally from 75 
 per cent to 80 per cent, of the 
 total value indicated by the 
 drill pro.specting, as the amount 
 of the gold content recoverable 
 
36 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 by dredging. These figures are based upon several tests made in the 
 Oroville field and are also percentages of the prospecting value recov- 
 ered from certain dredged areas. The consensus of opinion of the largest 
 dredge operators in California, who have had numerous tests made, is, 
 however, that it is impossible to give any fixed percentage to offset the 
 various conditions of operation. 
 
 The reliability of the tests made and the accuracy of the average 
 value indicated b.y either drill or shafts, depends upon the care taken 
 in prospecting, the number of samples secured, the location of the holes 
 in relation to the character of the deposit, and upon the experience and 
 standing of the man in charge. Work done under these conditions 
 should require no discounting in estimating the value of a property, 
 
 No. 23. Continental dredge, ten years and four months in operation. 
 
 down November, 1909. 
 
 Just before closing 
 
 other than to recognize that the recovery of the dredge is always less 
 than the gold content indicated by prospecting and to figure on suffi- 
 cient return on the capital invested to compensate for any risks taken. 
 
 After estimating the total gold contents of the property, it is then 
 necessary to determine if the returns over working expenses and amor- 
 tization of capital invested will allow sufficient dividends to make it an 
 attractive investment. 
 
 The life of dredging propositions differs from that of vein mines in 
 that they can be closely figured, and unlike the latter industry where 
 the profit in sight is figured as a guarantee for the return of only a 
 part of the capital invested, the redemption of the cost of the property 
 and equipment must be allowed for during the life in sight, which is 
 usually determined hy having the dredge equipment of sufficient 
 capacity to turn over the ground in ten years, as the life of a dredge 
 with a wooden hull is generallv figured at this length of time. 
 
PROSPECTING DREDGING GROUND. 37 
 
 While the rale of interest varies with the ideas of different operators, 
 it is generally conceded that 30 per cent of interest is the minimum to 
 be figured in dredging propositions besides allowing for amortization of 
 capital. 
 
 Taking the Avorking results of different size dredges over a consid- 
 erable period, the following will give some idea of the time which would 
 be required to work a given area of ground by different size dredges 
 and the working costs of same under average conditions in California : 
 
 An acre contains 4,840 square yards, so an acre 11 yards deep would 
 contain 53,240 cubic yards, which to allow for places lost in turning 
 and uneven bedrock can be figured at 50,000 cubic yards. If an exam- 
 ination of a dredging proposition determined the existence of 500 acres 
 of workable ground 11 yards deep, the contents in cubic yards would 
 be figured at 27,500,000. 
 
 A 131/2-cubic-foot boat would work out about 500 acres 11 yards deep, 
 or 27,500,000 cubic yards of medium compact gravel, in about ten years, 
 allowing 80 per cent working time at a total operating cost of 3 cents to 
 4 cents per cubic yard. To work out this same area, two 7-cubic-foot 
 boats would require nine years at a cost of from 4i/. cents to 7 cents 
 per cubic yard, and three 5-cubic-foot boats would require eleven years 
 at a cost of from 51/. cents to 81^ cents per cubic yard. The costs given 
 per cubic yard include total working and administration charges. These 
 figures being taken from actual cost sheets of different dredging com- 
 panies, operating the dift'erent sized dredges in California. 
 
38 • GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 III. DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 The standard placer mining bucket-elevator dredge in use in Cali- 
 fornia consists, in a general way, of a wooden hull or pontoon built on 
 the lines of a rectangle with the forward corners slightly curved. An 
 opening or well, through the center of the bow or forward end, extends 
 back to the middle of the hull, where a superstructure or middle gantry 
 supports the upper end of the ladder ; the lower end being supported by 
 cables which pass over sheaves on the front gantrj^ to a drum or winch, 
 so that the ladder may be raised or lowered. A line of buckets, which 
 excavates the gravel, is mounted on this ladder and operates through 
 the well, rollers being fixed on the upper side of the ladder to carry the 
 buckets. The buckets fill with gravel as they pass around the tumbler 
 at the lower end of the ladder, and carrying the material to a height of 
 about 25 feet above the deck of the dredge, dump when passing over the 
 upper tumbler, which is mounted at the top of the middle gantry. 
 The bucket-line is revolved by the upper tumbler, through a train of 
 gearing mounted on the sides of the upper tumbler and belted to a 
 motor. 
 
 The gravel from the buckets is dumped into a hopper, water jets 
 being placed so as to direct streams of water against the sides and bot- 
 toms of the buckets, thereby freeing any adhering fine gravel and gold. 
 From the hopper the gravel and water pass to a revolving or shaking 
 screen, which separates the coarse gravel from the fine, additional water 
 from perforated spraying pipes extending nearly the full length of the 
 screens, being supplied under pressure to the traveling gravel. The 
 coarse material passes over the lower end of the screen and is stacked 
 behind the dredge by means of a belt conveyor, the gold-bearing material 
 passes through the perforations of the screen into a distributor from 
 which it flows over a series of riffle sluices or gold-saving tables on which 
 mercury is sprinkled to amalgamate and save the gold ; the fine gravel 
 and sand from the gold-saving tables pass into side or tail sluices extend- 
 ing well behind the dredge. 
 
 The rapid growth of the dredging industry in California, IMontana, 
 Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, and Alaska is particularly- marked by the 
 development of the large dredge and the use of the close-connected 
 bucket-line and digging spuds in preference to the open-connected 
 bucket-line and headlines, as formerly used in California and on the 
 small New Zealand dredges. 
 
 The single-lift dredges on which the upper tumbler was placed at a 
 
40 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 sufficient height above the dei-lv to allow the buckets to clump directly 
 into a long sluice extending well behind the stern and supported on a 
 pontoon, and the double-lift dredges, which dumped the material from 
 the buckets into a sump or water-tight compartment built in the hull of 
 the dredge from which it was raised by means of a suction pump to a 
 straight sluice, supported by an auxiliary small scow, and extending at 
 times more than 75 feet behind the dredge, are now considered obsolete 
 machines in California. 
 
 In giving a general description of the California dredge it will not be 
 necessary for the purpose of this work to consider the various mechan- 
 
 No. 26. 8-cubic-foot close-connected buckets loaded with gravel. 
 
 ical differences in the construction of machinery furnished by different 
 manufacturers. The following description, therefore, is of the standard 
 type of machinery in use on the majority of dredges in California. 
 Among the principal manufacturers designing and furnishing machin- 
 ery for California dredges, are the Yuba Construction Company, 
 Bucyrus Company, Marion Steam Shovel Company, Kisdon Iron Works, 
 Link-Belt Company. Union Iron "Works, and Golden State Miners' Iron 
 Works. The principal designers and constructors of California dredges 
 are the Western Engineering and Construction Company, Yuba Con- 
 struction Company. Risdon Iron Works. 
 
 In the development of the California dredge, the digging end of the 
 machine was first developed, the rest of the machinery increasing in size 
 and strength in order to withstand the additional strain caused bv the 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 41 
 
 increased capacity of the buckets. The weight of the buckets has 
 increased from 500 to over 4,000 pounds each, and the machinery of the 
 dredge, as a whole, from about 150,000 pounds to over 1,500,000 pounds 
 in the larger machines, while the capacity of the dredge has been 
 increased from about 20,000 to over 300,000 cubic yards per month. 
 
 Dredge operators in California prefer the close-connected bucket-line 
 to the open-connected type. In practice the close-connected line dumps 
 at the rate of from 18 to 22 buckets per minute, while the open-con- 
 nected dumps on an average of from 12 to 14 buckets per minute. 
 Under ordinary conditions the close-connected bucket, if properly 
 
 No. 27. Lower tumbler and bucket-line, improved Risdon type dredge. 
 
 designed, will fill to better advantage and handle boulders as well as the 
 open-connected line, which in hard digging gravel imparts considerable 
 vibration to the dredge on account of the intermittent spaces between 
 the buckets. On some of the older boats in the Oroville district the 
 bucket-line was changed to close-connected, thereby nearly doubling the 
 yardage per month. 
 
 The following is an example of the results obtained by changing a 
 3% open-connected to a 3Vij close-connected bucket line — the dredge 
 being operated eighteen months under each condition, and showing 34.8 
 per cent increase in yardage handled and 32.8 per cent decrease in 
 power consumption per yard dug. 
 
 It must be always borne in mind that a dredge shonhl he designed to 
 suit the ground in wliicli i1 is to work. I>ucke1s suitable for free run- 
 
42 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CxVLIPORNIA. 
 
 ning gravel and sand, with a total aljsence of clay, would not be the best 
 for either hard cemented gravel or ground containing much sticky clay. 
 It is difficult to dump sticky material out of a long narrow bucket, and 
 the best design where there is much clay is a wide-mouth bucket. 
 
 The buckets in use in California vary in capacity from 3 cubic feet 
 to 13l^ cubic feet and will probably soon be made 15 cubic feet; they 
 are usually made in three pieces, consisting of bucket bottom, hood, and 
 wearing lips. The bucket bottom is made of a special steel, and is pro- 
 vided with two or three eves at the forward end and one or two at the 
 
 No. 28. 13-cubic-foot buckets Folsom No. 4 Dredge, Folsom District. 
 
 rear to receive the bucket i:>in. The hood is made of either cast or 
 pressed steel. The cast steel hoods are, to some extent, used on the 
 smaller size buckets, and the pressed steel hoods on all sizes. When- 
 ever it is necessary to reduce the weight of the machinery, pressed hoods 
 are used for the buckets. The wearing lips are of manganese steel, and 
 approximately 12 inches deep. 
 
 The use of cast steel or pressed plate hoods is largely a matter of 
 preference. The cast steel hood is designed with a shoulder for the lip 
 to rest on and a shoulder at the lower part of the hood to rest on the 
 back flange of the bucket bottom. This design does away with the 
 necessity of many rivets. The use of pressed steel or cast steel hoods is 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 43 
 
 also based on economic ideas depending on the character of ground the 
 dredge is digging. 
 
 A design of bucket in which the hood and bottom are cast in one piece 
 has been made and is being put into service, but has not been in use long 
 enough to determine its value. 
 
 Some operators believe that it is better practice to discard the hood 
 when the first set of lips is worn out than to replace an entirely new set 
 of lips and hoods on the partly 
 worn bottoms. This is more 
 feasible with pressed than with 
 cast hoods, as the first cost of 
 pressed hoods is less, and good cast 
 hoods are rarely worn out during 
 the life of the first set of lips, 
 though pressed hoods often are. 
 
 The most satisfactory bucket 
 would be one with long life, all the 
 parts of which would outwear their 
 usefulness at about the same time, 
 as better results are obtained with 
 a complete new bucket-line than in 
 running new and old buckets to- 
 gether. The bucket in general use 
 is designed with two forward and 
 one rear eye ; the use of bucket 
 bottoms witli three eyes in front 
 and two behind has been confined 
 largely to the Yuba and Natoma 
 dredges. For a time this type was 
 popular with certain operators, but 
 it is now generally admitted that 
 the two-eye type is better and 
 more economical. The mechanical 
 trouble with three-ej'e bottoms has 
 been in the cracking of the steel 
 between the two back eyes. This 
 
 is probably due to the middle eye of the following bucket, which fits 
 between the two back eyes, having a tendency to pry the back eyes apart 
 when the pins and bushings are worn. This may be caused by the swing 
 of the long bucket-line on deep digging dredges after passing over the 
 upper tumbler or when the buckets ride up on the lower tumbler flanges, 
 as occasionally happens. Another objection to three-eye buckets is the 
 increase in weight; for example, a 7i{.-cubic-foot bucket of this type 
 
 
 
 p^Kb 
 
 '^ 
 
 ti 
 
 ■VM'f'^M 
 
 f 
 
 ^: / n qf. 
 
 
 1 
 
 f3 
 
 r 
 
 I 
 
 
 No. 29. 
 
 Open-link bucket-line, Risdon type, 
 S-cubic-foot buckets. 
 
44 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 weighs from 250 to 350 pounds more than the corresponding size in a 
 two-eye bucket, it is also claimed that it does not wear as long, costs more 
 to finish, and causes more wear on the upper tumbler plate than the 
 two-eye bucket. 
 
 No. 30. Two-eye buckets, showing two forward eyes and one rear eye. 
 
 . The bucket pin is made of high carbon or nickel steel forged with a 
 heavy lug or head on one end, which fits into a recess in the bucket bot- 
 tom to prevent the pin from turning; a rivet placed through this lug 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 45 
 
 secures the piii to the bucket bottom. lu the rear eye of each Ijucket is 
 a manganese steel bushing to take the wear of the pin and lengthen the 
 life of the bucket. 
 
 The ladder carrying the bucket-line is constructed of steel angles and 
 plates, either of the trussed or plate-girder type. The upper end is 
 Imng on the middle gantry and the lower end carries the lower tumbler 
 bearings; the dredge has its maximum digging depth when the ladder is 
 at an angle of 45 degrees. 
 
 Some of the ladders are equipped with a spillway, which consists of 
 a plate fitted between tlie sides just below the rollers and forming a 
 trough the full length of tlic hulder, thus returning the spill of the 
 buckets to the pond where it can be again picked up. The rollers placed 
 
 No. 31. Renewing bucket lips and hoods. 
 
 upon the ladder to support the bucket-line are usually nuide of high 
 carbon east steel and run in self -aligning bearings provided with a pack- 
 ing gland for excluding dirt and grit. The rollers are fastened to their 
 shafts under heavy pressure and kej^ed at both ends. 
 
 The lower tumbler is six-sided, made in one piece of open-hearth steel 
 casting, and is fitted with replaceable manard manganese wearing 
 plates. The inside of the flanges opposite the eyes of the buckets are 
 lined with replaceable manganese steel wearing tips. It is claimed that 
 the one-piece tumbler type gives better satisfaction in ])ractice than the 
 two-piece tumbler, which is made in right and left halves bolted together. 
 The shaft is keyed into the tumbler, the ends being supported by heavy 
 self-aligning bearings, lined with renewa])le bushings and thrust Avashers 
 to take up the wear caused by the side thrust. To hold the shaft in 
 place and to exclude grit and dirt, the outer ends of the bearings are 
 enclosed by steel caps, while on the itnicr side renewable packing rings 
 
46 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 exclude the grit and retain the oil for lubrication. A heavy tie-rod 
 extends through the hollow tumbler shaft from one ladder-end easting 
 to the other, being bolted on the outside of the cap on both sides. 
 
 There are several types of upper tumblers in use in California, most 
 of which are made with six sides or tread surfaces. 
 
 In one tj^pe the body of the tumbler is cast of open-hearth steel, the 
 tread surfaces having machined grooves, parallel to the shaft, for receiv- 
 ing the tongue of nickel steel protecting cushion plate. These wearing 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 47 
 
 plates, to Avhicli also the guide lugs or ears are cast, are fastened to the 
 body casting by countersunk bolts or rivets. 
 
 Another make of tumbler has the guide lugs cast in one piece with the 
 body casting, each wearing face and lug being protected by manganese 
 tread plates bolted or riveted to the casting. A round hole is bored in 
 
 No. 33. Buckets manufactured by the Risdon Iron Works, San Franciscp. 
 
 the body casting, of both types, for the upi^er tu]nl)loi- shaft, which is 
 pressed in and keyed to the casting. 
 
 The cushion plate tumbler is the most expensive of the two types and 
 the nickel steel wears more (|uickly than the manganese wearing plates, 
 but causes less wear on the bucket bottoms than the latter, which fact, 
 some operators claim, compensates for the increased price and shorter 
 life of the nickel steel wearing faces. Some uppei" tumblers ca.st in one 
 piece with the tumbh*r sliaft have also proven satisfactory. 
 
 The upper tunil)]er shaft is usually driv(»n at ])oth ends through a 
 double ti'ain of gearing located on llie head frame of tlie main gantry. 
 
48 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 No. 34. New type close-connected Risdon buckets. 
 
 These gear trains are driven by belt from a jack shaft located on the main 
 deck, which also drives the ladder hoist machinery. In some instances 
 the tumbler drive is geared directly to the digging motor, double gears 
 having cut teeth being most frec[uently used. The tumbler shaft and 
 the intermediate are both mounted on the large foundation castings to 
 which, also, the ladder is often suspended. 
 
 The hopper into which the buckets discharge is placed directly under 
 the upper tumbler, and is provided with a so-called rock bottom. This 
 bottom consists of a receptacle below the delivery spout constructed to 
 retain a portion of the gravel in order that all material dumped into the 
 buckets will fall directly upon the rock bottom, which greatly reduces 
 Avear upon the steel of the hopper. Additional nozzles are generally 
 
 No. 35. 
 
 Structural steel ladder, assembled ready for installation, plate-girder type. 
 No. 6 Dredge. 
 
 Folsom 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 49 
 
 No. 36. Upper tumbler driving gears and foundation castings. (Marion.) 
 
 placed in the dump hopper to play streams of water into the buckets 
 just before and after dumping. The proper amount of water to use 
 varies with different kinds of material. It is important that the water 
 is not used under too great a pressure, as this would cause some of the 
 material to be lost in the well- 
 hole, by splashing over the sides 
 and backs of the buckets, and if 
 too great a quan- 
 tity of water is 
 used, more water 
 than is desiralilc 
 for the best saving 
 of the gold will 
 pass with the ma- 
 terial to the screen. 
 In spite of the 
 best care, some 
 gold-bearing ma- 
 terial spills from 
 the buckets as they 
 
 4 — GD 
 
 No. 37. Upper tumbler drive motor. 
 
50 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 No. 38. Upper tumbler drive on 9-cubic-foot dredge. 
 
 No. 40. Interior of revolving screen. 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 51 
 
 dump, just missing the lip of the hopper. All modern dredges are gen- 
 erally equipped with a save-all, consisting of a small sluice which 
 projects into the well-hole and extends under the gold-saving tables to 
 the stern of the boat. Steel grizzly bars, placed below the dump hopper 
 and extending into the well-hole some distance, prevent gravel larger 
 than li^-inch from going into the sluice, and dump the coarse gravel 
 into the well-hole. As much as $700 a clean-up has been recovered from 
 the save-all on one dredge. 
 
 The screening arrangement of the dredge was not developed as rapidly 
 as the digging end. For a long time the dredges were digging more 
 gravel than they could wash and screen ; this defect, however, was over- 
 come by the increased screening area and by adding more water under 
 high pressure. The screening, as well as the digging end of the dredge, 
 must be designed to suit the conditions under which the operations are 
 carried on. In most operations a revolving screen is better than flat 
 shaking-screens. 
 
 There are two types of revolving screens, the straight and stepped, 
 the straight design being the most used. In the revolving screen the 
 perforated shell is composed of sectional plates, so designed that the 
 sections can be replaced when worn. Narrow steel bars are riveted to 
 the surface of the sections to carry the gravel well upward in the rota- 
 ting movement, and provision is made for the shifting of these bars so 
 that the whole surface of the shell sections may be uniformly Avorn. 
 The screen frame or skeleton is made of six longitudinal members, com- 
 posed of angles bolted together in pairs, and riveted to the tubular 
 end sections carrying the friction tires. The revolving screens vary in 
 size according to the material to be handled, the diameter being usually 
 about 6 feet and the length from 20 to 35 feet. The screen is carried on 
 two cast steel friction tires, riveted to the shell plates, and in operation 
 is supported by four heavy friction wheels or rollers, mounted on longi- 
 tudinal shafts, two on each side of the screen ; the two rollers at the 
 lower end acting as drivers turn the screen through frictional contact 
 with the tires. 
 
 In the stepped design, shoulders are formed by the successive reduc- 
 tions in diameters of the shelled sections, and retard the flow of the 
 material, which, is claimed, gives a more perfect disintegration of the 
 coarse material. These shoulders are protected by renewable manganese 
 rings and the sections arc renewable, the same as in the straight type. 
 This type of screen was designed by Charles W. Gardner, wlio holds a 
 patent on same. 
 
 The shaking screens, wliich arc not used much on the new dredges, 
 consist of perforated steel plates mounted on a flat frame and driven by 
 crank shaft or eccentrics. This type of screen performs the same func- 
 
52 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IX CALIFORNIA. 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTIOX AND OPERATION. 
 
 53 
 
 tion as the revolving screen, but is not so well adapted for the handling 
 of large quantities of clay or cemented gravel, and does not wash the 
 gravel as thoroughly as the revolving screen when claj' predominates. 
 
 The diameter of the holes in 
 the screens ranges usually from 
 5-16 to %-inch at the upper end, 
 
 No. 42. Revolving screen, straight type. 
 
 and % to %-inch at the lower end of the screen, being governed by the 
 character of the ground to be handled. 
 
 The screen casing and distributor, which catches the screened material 
 
 and feeds it to the gold- 
 saving tables, is a V-shaped 
 
 No. 43. Revolving screen, stepped type. Patented by Chas. W. Gardner. Made by Marion Steam 
 
 Shovel Company. 
 
54 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 trough, in the side of which gates are fitted, one at the head of each 
 table, for the purpose of controlling the flow of material to each separate 
 set of tables. 
 
 The trough is lined with renewable wearing plates, water being fur- 
 nished by perforated pipes inside the trough, and also outside, to assist 
 the flow of material as it leaves the trough gates. 
 
 No. 44. Standard type of shaking screen, Indiana No. 3 Dredge. 
 
 There are two types of tailing stackers in use, the belt conveyor, with 
 which the standard makes of dredges, except the Risdon, are equipped ; 
 and the bucket-elevator, which the Risdon Iron Works recommend with 
 their dredge, though in their catalogue they state that they will also 
 furnish the belt conveyor if desired. The size of the conveyor belt 
 varies from 28 inches to 44 inches in width. The stacker is from 80 to 
 145 feet long and operates at an inclination of from 18 to 20 degrees. 
 
 The rubber conveyor belt requires little attention and lasts about nine 
 months ; this varies, however, considerably. On a 7-cubic-f oot dredge, 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 55 
 
 the service given by conveyor belts varied from 2,607 hours running 
 time to 3,442 hours, while the dredge handled 232,000 cubic yards in the 
 first instance, and 664,000 cubic yards in the second. On a 3-cubic-foot 
 
 jg^ />. 
 
 \ 
 
 B^^iy^'^ii^Li^^ 
 
 
 gjMji^^ljl^i^jf^ 
 
 ?*^ 
 
 mS^' :ji:..JBS3^,':. ^ 
 
 No. 45. Lattice girder type tailing stacker ladder for supporting belt conveyor. 
 
 dredge, one belt lasted 3.213 hours, while the next belt used gave a 
 service of 5,806 hours, the dredge handling over double the yardage that 
 it did during the life of the first belt. On a 5-cubic-foot dredge, one 
 
 No. 46. 38-inch Robins tailing conveyor. 
 
 belt gave a service of 6,380 hours, the dredge washing 782,000 cubic 
 yards of gravel, while the belt replacing this one, lasted only 3,871 
 hours, during which time the dredge handled 475. 000 cul)ic yards of 
 gravel. The characfer of the gi-outul luiiidlcd ;iiid local coiidifions gov- 
 
56 
 
 GOLD DREDGIXG IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 No. 47. Showing large boulders which passed over tailing stacker on the Calaveras dredge, 
 Jenny Lind, Calaveras County, Cal. 
 
 No. 48. Bucket conveyor for stacking dredge tailing. Risdon make. 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 57 
 
 ern, to a certain extent, the life of the conveyor belt, water containing 
 a great deal of sancl and grit being decidedly unfavorable. 
 
 In the manufacture of rubber belting it seems difficult to turn out a 
 uniform product. It has often been the case that two belts, furnished 
 by the same manufacturer and apparently duplicates, have given an 
 entirely ditferent service on the same dredge. Canvas and leather belts 
 for conveyors have proven unsatisfactory; a so-called weather-proof 
 leather belt, guaranteed for ten months' service, was tried in the Oroville 
 
 No. 49. Ladder hoist with automatic brake. 
 
 district, and lasted only six weeks ; canvas belts used lasted f rem three 
 to six weeks. 
 
 The conveyor belt is easily renewed, and the loss of time for repairs 
 on this stjde of stacker is less than with the bucket elevator, Avliere there 
 are many wearing parts, such as the buckets, bucket connecting pins, 
 tumblers, etc., refiuiring repairs and renewals. 
 
 The bucket-elevator stacker has not given satisfaction on the large 
 close-connected bucket dredges, as the weight would be excessive to get 
 the required capacity with a long stacker. The modern dredge l)uilders 
 and operators, excepting as stated, used tlie belt convej'or. The jniwer 
 to drive the stacker belt is furnished by a motor placed oitlicr at the 
 outer or lower end of the stacker frame. 
 
 There are several types of troughiiig idlci-s used willi tlie l)elt con- 
 veyor. Some designs have sets of tlircc oi- Iniir idler ]iulleys of equal 
 
58 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 length set in such a position to concave the belt, and another type has an 
 idler pulley in the center with two short ones set obliquely at each end, 
 in order to raise the sides of the belt sufficiently to keep the material 
 thereon. The latter style of troughing idlers has proven very satisfac- 
 tory. The belt, returning underneath the stacker, is carried on straight 
 rollers several inches longer than the Aviclth of the belt. 
 
 The ladder hoists are sometimes driven by a separate motor and are 
 
 No. 50. Port winch of 9-cubic-foot dredge. Folsom No. 6. 
 
 equipped with an automatic mechanical brake, so that the winchman, 
 by operating only the motor controller, can raise or lower the ladder or 
 suspend it at any angle. The drum, gears, automatic brake parts and 
 shafting are of steel, mounted on a structural steel frame. jNIost ladder 
 hoists are driven from the digging motor, the drum being fitted with 
 two large hand-operated belt brakes, and from another pulley on the 
 same shaft a belt is carried up overhead to the main drive. Friction 
 clutches are employed, so that the ladder can be hoisted while digging. 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION, 
 
 59 
 
 The winch machinery for operating the side-lines on a modern dredge 
 consists of eight drums, mounted in pairs on separate shafts and fitted 
 with expanding band frictions and outside check belts. Two of these 
 drums operate the bow-side swing lines, two, the lines for raising and 
 lowering the spuds, and two, the stern breasting lines. The other two 
 drums are auxiliary and can be used one for a headline and one for hoist- 
 ing the stacker. At the end of each drum shaft is a drive gear, the one 
 
 for the bow-swing lines being 
 fitted with a jaw clutch, so 
 that the other drums can be 
 cut out and remain idle when 
 the swing lines are in use. 
 The gears and drums of this 
 machinery are all made of 
 steel and the shaft of forged 
 steel. 
 
 The majority of dredges in 
 California are operating on 
 spuds. The extensive opera- 
 tions with spud and headline 
 dredges in the Folsom and 
 Oroville districts are said to 
 have demonstrated clearly 
 that the spud boat will handle 
 more yardage and clean the 
 bedrock better than the 
 dredges working on the head- 
 line. In some instances the 
 capacity of the headline boats 
 was increased by equipping 
 them Avith digging spuds. 
 ]\Ir. Krug, who operates five 
 spud dredges in the Oroville 
 district, has at different times 
 worked these boats on headlines, and demonstrated to his own satisfac- 
 tion that the yardage per month was less and that the Avear and tear 
 on the boat Avas very much greater Avith the latter method. Some 
 operators prefer the headline in light, soft, shalloAv ground having a 
 level surface, but for deep ground having an uneven surface or in 
 compact graA^el prefer the spuds. 
 
 The spud dredge is equipped Avith tAvo spuds, one built of structui-al 
 steel and the other of Avood, .sometimes both being of steel. The steel 
 spud is used Avhile digging, and the Avood spud to step the dredge 
 
 No. 51. 
 
 Installing a 75-foot steel spud, Folsom 
 No. 6 Dredge. 
 
60 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 61 
 
 ahead when the digging spud has been raised at the completion of 
 the cut. 
 
 The dredge is moved to right or left through an arc of a circle by 
 means of steel wire ropes located at the bow, one fastened to the port 
 shore and one to the starboard shore, also two steel wire ropes are 
 placed at the stern and fastened in a similar manner to the shores. 
 
 Bucket-line in operation. California type, spud dredge. 
 
 The headline dredge is ecjuipped with four side-lines, similar to those 
 on the spud dredge, and the dredge is kept against the bank, while 
 digging, by means of a heavy steel wire rope or headline, which is fas- 
 tened to the ground ahead of the dredge. 
 
 The motors and pimips vary in size, according to the capacity of the 
 dredge. The table on page 62 shows the electric motor equipment and 
 the size of the pumps on California elevator dredges, ranging in size 
 of buckets from 3 cubic feet to ISy^ cubic feet. 
 
62 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
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64 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The electrical equipment on dredges requires good care, both from 
 a mechanical and electrical standpoint. The electrical equipment on 
 many of the dredges in operation caused considerable trouble and 
 expense until the temporary arrangements were abandoned and good 
 permanent work substituted. 
 
 It is important, from an economic standpoint, that the winchman 
 be thoroughly instructed in the handling of the controlling apparatus 
 and operation of the motor ecpiipment, operated from the pilot house, 
 
 No. 54. Type of switchboard used on many Oroville dredges for low voltage, motors 
 operating at 440 volt. 
 
 as the power consumption and maintenance can through careful opera- 
 tion be materially reduced. 
 
 All dredges should be provided, for the winchman 's information, 
 with one ammeter on the bucket-line controller circuit, so that he can 
 prevent overload of the motors, thus reducing the cost of power and 
 maintenance of both the mechanical and electrical equipment. To pre- 
 vent burn-outs of compensators and autotransformers, and of the con- 
 stant speed motors, now used for stacker, screen, and pumps, the 
 attendant in charge should be instructed not to throw the starter into 
 running position before the motor reaches full speed, which is the cause 
 of many burn-outs on the dredge. It is more satisfactory in these and 
 other places, where a slow starting weiglit of heavy load is required, 
 to use variable speed motors; for instance, where the stacker, on an 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 65 
 
 inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees, is being started, loaded with tail- 
 ing, the starting torque is very strong, causing a heavy current to go 
 through motor and starter, often causing fuses, compensators, coils, and 
 autotraosformers to burn out, which will not occur if variable speed 
 motors are used. 
 
 All motors and starting compensators should be protected from water 
 and dirt with water-tight covers. The transmission distribution points 
 on shore should be provided with a nonautomatic oil switch, to discon- 
 nect the three-conductor cable from the transmission line, or in places 
 where the disconnection can not be operated from the substation, a 
 triplex cable terminal should be installed to secure a good mechanical 
 cable connection. 
 
 The transformer shelter on board the dredges should be well venti- 
 lated, for this purpose an exhaust should be so placed and connected 
 to the transformer compartment as to give the air free circulation, 
 thereby reducing the temperature of the transformers. This exhaust 
 could also be used to ventilate the hull, which often needs better ventila- 
 tion. 
 
 In order to reach the transformers in case of fire, a sliding door, open- 
 ing through into the dredge from the transformer shelter, should be 
 provided, and a box of sand placed within easj- reach to be used as a fire 
 extinguisher; water should never be used. A good automatic safety 
 guard would be to place a box containing sand directly over the trans- 
 formers, having a removable bottom of the swinging door pattern, sus- 
 tained in position by a cam or level held in place by means of a light 
 wooden strut which Avould burn and release the sand, thereby smother- 
 ing the flames in the transformers before any serious damage could be 
 done to the dredge. 
 
 It is important to provide the dredge with a searchlight, so placed on 
 the front gantry, and operated from the pilot house, that the winch- 
 man can find the location for his work at night, and for shore work, such 
 as shifting side-lines, moving power cables and sheaves on the gantry, 
 etc. Many operators are using lanterns, which in stormy and rainy 
 weather are difficult to handle and cau.'^e delay. For headlights, some 
 dredges are provided with "clusters" of from five to six incandescent 
 lamps ; these, however, are expensive in maintenance and not economical 
 in proportion to the lighting effect. On the front gantry there are 
 from 35 to 40 incandescent lights, using from 18 to 20 amperes, which 
 give insufficient light, are expensive to maintain, and could be replaced 
 by a six to ten-ampere arc or scnrchliglit. whidi would furnish all light 
 needed. 
 
 Two disastrous fires have demonstrated that great care should be exer- 
 cised in the operating of electrically driven dredges, as both fires were 
 
 5 — GD 
 
66 
 
 GOI>D DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 caused by the electric cur- 
 rents. The fire on the Shasta 
 Dredoing' Company's boat on 
 CUear Creek, near Redding, 
 i. started in the transformers; 
 ^ and on the Viloro No. 1. at 
 E Oroville, at the oil switch. 
 
 O 
 
 S This latter dredge was un- 
 dergoing extensive repairs 
 
 M and the fire may have been 
 
 i caused by the listing of the 
 
 >, Inill at night, due to insuffi- 
 
 I cient caulking, thereby eaus- 
 
 cj ing a disarrangement and 
 
 u crossing of wires. 
 
 i It is still the custom to 
 
 g equip dredges with sea valves 
 
 £ so that the hull mav be 
 
 c flooded, but in the alcove eases 
 
 o 
 
 S they would have been of little 
 
 value, as the fire spread rap- 
 
 g, idly and the housing was 
 
 " (luicklv destroved. Water 
 
 ^ tanks were placed on the 
 
 > roofs of some of the earl}^ 
 
 " dredges, and this practice is 
 
 •E still being followed bv many 
 
 e operators. The loss from fire, 
 
 S however, has not been great, 
 
 o. considering the number of 
 
 £ dredges operating. 
 
 •o In the Oroville and Yuba 
 
 •n districts, the electric power is 
 
 ^ usually brought over the pri- 
 
 ^ mary line from substation to 
 
 I dredge site at 4,000 volts, 
 
 ^ whence it is carried aboard 
 
 ^ dredge through shore cable 
 
 . and then stepped down 
 
 "" through oil-cooled transform- 
 
 z ers to 400 or 440 volts, for all 
 
 motors. In a few cases the 
 
 current is used at 2,000 or 
 
 2,200 volts for all motors of 
 
 50-horsepower and over, and 
 
DREDGE COXSTRUCTIOX AND OPERATION. 
 
 67 
 
 the transformers 
 aboard the dredge 
 step down from 2.000 
 to 440 volts for all 
 motors under 50- 
 horsepower. 
 
 In the Folsom dis- 
 trict, the current is 
 taken aboard the 
 dredges at 2.000 or 
 2,200 volts, for all 
 motors 50-horsepo\ver 
 and over, the 
 smaller motors 
 operating at 440 
 or 40 volts. 
 The current is 
 stepped down 
 aboard the 
 dredge by oil- 
 cooled transformers, 
 the primary voltage 
 being 2.000, and the 
 secondary 440 volts. 
 
 Some operators put 
 the transformers on 
 shore in place of on 
 the dredge. IMany of 
 the dredges to b e 
 built in the near 
 future will not re- 
 quire any transform- 
 ers, as the leading 
 manufacturers 
 of electrical motor 
 equipments are now 
 making motors as low 
 as 15-horsepower to 
 operate at 2,000 volts. 
 This will make it pos- 
 sible to equip a 
 dredge w i t h all 
 motors designed to 
 operate at 2,000 volts. 
 ^Fost power conipa- 
 
68 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 nies in California are now able to furnish electric current at 2,000 
 volts to the dredges through substations conveniently located along the 
 high tension circuits. The elimination of transformers aboard the 
 dredge is a decided advantage, inasmuch as the risk of fire is consider- 
 
 No. 57. Viloro No. 1 Dredge, destroyed by fire September 2, 1909. Oroville District. 
 
 ably reduced, the insurance rate lessened, and considerable weight 
 taken off the hull. It is also a fact that all motors running at a uniform 
 voltage of 2,000 volts afford more economical operation through the 
 saving of transformer losses and the acquisition of better regulation. 
 
 No. 58. Electric cable supported on barrel pontoons well arranged. 
 
 The electric power is brought aboard the dredge by means of insulated 
 cables, usually of the submarine armored type. Some operators use 
 floats or small pontoons to carry the cable across the pond. This is con- 
 sidered good practice when the floats are arranged to keep the cable 
 out of water, but where the calile is wet and dry alternately, unless 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 69 
 
 thoroughly protected by rubber hose, the iiisuhition quickly rots in hot 
 weather. ^Ir. Carr, formerly of the Oroville UretlgiiiL;'. Ijiiiiited. says 
 that he has found it most practicable to carry the cal)le under water 
 and uses no other method, as when the cable is completely immei-sed 
 the life is greatly lengthened. 
 
 All the dredge hulls in California are constructed of wood, generally 
 Douglas fir ; the size and strength of the hull depending upon the weight 
 of machinerj' carried and class of gravel to be handled. In construct- 
 ing the hull, a pit is usually excavated 150 feet square by 8 feet deep, 
 the hull being built upon a temporary wooden frame about four feet 
 high to allow room for caulking and spiking the bottom planking. 
 
 No. 59. Electric cable supported on barrel pontoons too far apart. 
 
 When the hull is completed, the pit is filled with Avater and the hull 
 floats off the construction foundation, which also floats, and is easily 
 removed from the pond and so does not interfere witii the operating of 
 the dredge. Some dredge hulls are built at the side of the pit or river 
 and launched into the water. 
 
 The forward section of the hull is provided with a center opening or 
 well-hole, extending from the bow to the tumbler or middle gantry, 
 and of sufficient Avidth and length to allow the digging ladder and 
 bucket-line to be lowered to an angle of 45 degrees, when digging at its 
 maximum depth. 
 
 The size of the timber used is generally as follows : Outside and bot- 
 tom planks, 4 by 12; well-hole, stern, and bow blanks, 6 by 12; deck 
 planks, 3 by 6 or 4 by 6. The framework varies from 6 by 8 to 8 by 12 
 timbers, according to the size of the hull. The well-hole planking is 
 
70 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 spiked to the framework of the hull with 12-inch spikes, and also drift 
 bolted together through the edge of the planks with -yj^-iiieh hy 30-inch 
 
 No. 60. Interior of dredge hull as designed and constructed by the Western Engineering 
 and Construction Company. 
 
 long drift bolts ; the bulkheads are built in the same manner on each 
 side of the well midway between the well planking and the outside 
 framework, making four bulkheads the entire length of the hull. 
 
 No. 61. Showing bow gantry construction. Natomas No. 3 Dredge, Folsom District. 
 
DREDGE COXSTRLX'TION AND OPERATIOX. 
 
 71 
 
 The dredtie hulls luiilt during' tlie hist five ycjirs liave greatly 
 increased in weight, and ai'e strongly braced with two overhead trusses 
 extending the entire length of the boat on either side of the well-hole; 
 also an overhead truss across the hull in the center, which is attached 
 to and distributes the loads upon the tumbler gantry, thereby stiffen- 
 ing the hull fore and aft and athwartships. These trusses generally 
 
 consist of 14 by 1-4- 
 inch posts, having 14 
 by 16-inch cap string- 
 ers, and are braced 
 l^y heavy steel diago- 
 nal truss rods be- 
 tween the posts- 
 
 To prevent the for- 
 ward pontoon sec- 
 tions on either side 
 of the well-hole from 
 warping and sagging, 
 which was a fault of 
 the earlier boats, the 
 b o w gantries have 
 ])een stiffened and 
 redesigned to form a 
 truss. The gantry 
 now consists of four 
 posts 14 by 20 inches. 
 rising about 36 feet 
 al)ove the deck, two 
 1) e i n g located on 
 either side of the 
 well-hole and two on 
 the outside of the 
 bow. well braced Avith 
 steel rods and timl)er 
 struts. 
 
 The m i d tl 1 e or 
 tumbler gantry posts ai-c 16 1)\- 20 inches and of sutificient length to 
 support the ui)per tumhlcr at a height of 23 to 25 feet above the deck. 
 The stern gantry posts are 14 by 16 iiu-lies and rise about 50 feet above 
 deck, resting on heavy timbers inside the hull. 
 
 The gantry caps for the 5-cubic-foot and 7-cubic-foot machines are 
 usually of timber, with steel side-plates the full length of the caps 
 and extending down the gantry posts, giving a substantial fastening 
 to same. Tlic larger niacliincs arc pvovidrd with strurlui'al steel caps. 
 
 No. 62. Bow gantry construction. Hunter Dredge, 
 ville District. California type. 
 
 Oro- 
 
72 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The spud casings are usuallj^ built of timber 14 inches thick and of 
 sufficient depth to take the spuds. It is considered good practice to 
 place on the stern of the dredge a heavy steel casting for the purpose 
 of taking up the wear and tear caused by the rubbing of the steel spud 
 against the wooden hull. See page 189. 
 
 Steel hulls for gold dredges are receiving more attention, largely' on 
 account of the increased cost of suitable dredge luftiber. Many of the 
 dredges in South America are equipped with steel hulls. The use of 
 steel in place of wooden hulls is due mainly to the insect life found in 
 these parts, which is very destructive to wooden structures, and also 
 on account of the climate, which causes the rapid decay of wood. Many 
 prominent California dredging engineers advocate the use of steel hulls 
 in California, claiming the climatic conditions destroy the lumber hulls 
 too quickly; but this is probabl}' due to defective ventilation, as it has 
 been found necessary to place adjustable ventilators so that a current 
 of air can be forced through the wooden hulls in order to prevent 
 dry rot. Two California type dredges equipped with steel hulls and 
 8%-cubic-foot close-connected buckets are at present under construction 
 in California, one for Burma, India, and the other for Colombia, South 
 America. See illustration No. 63. 
 
 The single bank of riffle sluice tables is used upon 3 to Ti/o-cnbic-foot 
 dredges, having a capacity ranging from 60,000 to 125,000 cubic yards 
 per month. On the 8i/^ and ISi^-cubic-foot dredges the riffle area 
 obtainable with the above table was found insufficient, and to meet the 
 requirements of these larger dredges a second set of tables was placed 
 under the single bank tables, thereby doubling the gold-saving area. 
 
 The introduction of the double- bank tables, which was developed by 
 the Folsom Development Company in 1908, has increased the gold-sav- 
 ing area ; and the use of four tail sluices of different lengtlis. extending 
 over the stern of the dredge, thereby distributing the sand and small 
 gravel tailing over a greater area, has made it possible to discard the 
 use of the sand pump, which was always a source of annoyance and 
 expense. 
 
 The construction of the single-bank tables is usually of Avood, the tail 
 sluices on this type of table extend about 20 feet over the stern of the 
 dredge. In the construction of the double-bank tables, both the upper 
 and lower set are made of steel. The tailing sluices from the lower 
 bank tables extend only a short distance over the stern of the dredge, 
 about 20 feet, while in the case of the upper bank of tables, the upper 
 tail sluices extend a distance of nearly 40 feet over the stern of the 
 dredge. The tables are covered with so-called Hungarian riffles, con- 
 sisting either of strips of beveled soft pine, shod with % by 114-inch 
 strapiron or of angle-irons 1 by 1 by 3-16-inch riveted together. 
 
\ 
 
[,lHef\aL drawiHi; 
 BiCU.FT. PLACER MININi; DREDtiE: 
 
 YUBA GDNBTRUCTIDN CD 
 
 5VILLC, CAL. .U5.A.' 
 
 No. 63. Dredge of the Orcville Dredging Co., Limited, Colombia, South America. 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 73 
 
 - £l£KqTZOl/ — 
 
 -7=^L^N - 
 
 No. 64. Double-bank gold-saving tables. 
 
SI 
 
 p 
 
 ol 
 
 ac 
 dr 
 st( 
 th. 
 on 
 pr 
 in 
 toe 
 
 of ^ 
 
 dr} 
 81/, 
 in < 
 Am 
 
 dre 
 per 
 obtf 
 reqi 
 und 
 
 T 
 the 
 ing 
 over 
 grav 
 use 
 expe 
 
 Tl 
 sluie 
 dred; 
 and 
 bank 
 aboiH 
 tail s 
 dredg 
 sistin 
 strapi 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 73 
 
 l=t 
 
 J=t=i=J=^=i= 
 
 - £l£}^/fT/0/V — 
 
 
 Si(//ces 
 
 -7=^L/7/V - 
 
 No. 64. Double-bank gold-saving tables. 
 
74 
 
 CiOI.D DREDGING IX CALIFORNIA. 
 
 No. 65. Lower bank of gold-saving tables on a double-bank dredge. Folsom No. 6. 
 
 No. 66. Upper bank of gold-saving tables on a double-bank dredge. Clean-up box on right. 
 
 Folsom No. 6. 
 
DREDGE COXSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 75 
 
 Among' the many different designs of riffles, the angle-iron type of 
 Hungarian riffle is eonsidered by many as the most effective. This con- 
 sists of a series of angle-irons spaced 2y2-inch center with the horizontal 
 leg placed so that it points downstream. The water passing over the 
 riffles forms an eddy under the projecting leg. which protects the quick- 
 silver and facilitates the catching of the gold. The riffle frames are set 
 with the riffles across the current a)]d are sometimes alternated with 
 plain iron bar riffle frames set in the direction of the How. Mercury is 
 usually fed at I'cgulai' inteiwals into the top of tlic sluice. Small quan- 
 
 No. 67. A general view of the Holmes type of gold-saving tables. Showing clean-up 
 device suspended in background. El Oro Dredge. Oroville District. 
 
 titles of quicksilver in the sluices and the l)reak in the current, caused 
 by the eddy of the riffles, help to secure amalgamation. 
 
 The most efficient grade for the tables and sluices is considered to be 
 11/2 inches per foot. The quantity of water used varies (()nsideral)ly and 
 depends a great deal upon the amount and charactei- of the material 
 washed, as well as on the personal judgment of the opcratoi-. There 
 are, pro])ably. few cases in which the e.xact quantity of water used lias 
 been determined. Some oi)erators claim they do not use more than 100 
 inches in general operations at any time, while others claim to use an 
 average of .300 inches. 
 
 It is aimed to .so regulate the grade of the tables or sluices and the 
 flow of the water, that all the gold will come in contact with the (piick- 
 
76 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 silver. Fine gold may be carried off by the water flowing over the riffles 
 in too great a quantity or under too much speed. On the other hand, 
 if the grade is too flat or the volume of water low, an accumulation of 
 sand may cover the mercury and amalgamation be hindered. This is 
 especiallj^ the ease when the gravel contains a great deal of black sand, 
 which, owing to its weight, lodges readily between the riffles. 
 
 In the Holmes method of riffle tables and launders, a wide steel tray 
 is placed directly under the screen, sloping in the same direction, and 
 fitted either with or without riffles. This steel tray, which catches the 
 screening, empties on to another tray sloping in the opposite direction, 
 which in turn delivers the material on to a set of divided sluices fitted 
 with riffles and sloping towards the stern on either side of the dredge. 
 The whole gold-saving arrangement is generally constructed of steel. 
 
 A system of riffles, patented bj^ James H. Leggett, is composed of li/o- 
 inch angle-iron, so arranged in the sluices that the iron lies longitudi- 
 nally with the flow. The space between the angle-iron is filled with 
 medium sized pebbles, which lodge naturally when the gravel is allowed 
 to flow over the riffles, immediately after clean-ups, through openings 
 in the upper end of the screens arranged for this purpose. 
 
 The entire sluice system, which is continuous and not side-distribut- 
 ing, is equipped with these self -paving angle-iron riffles and is somewhat 
 similar to the Holmes tables. These riffles admit of rapid clean-ups, 
 requiring less than one hour. The gold is caught and sinks into the 
 spaces between the pebbles; the gathering of amalgam on top of the 
 riffles and the consequent risk of the gold being picked up by undis- 
 solved clay and lost is avoided. 
 
 Quicksilver is distributed over the entire area after each clean-up and 
 repaving, and small quantities are added daily. It is found in the 
 clean-ups that where the water reverses in flowing from one sluice to 
 another, that the first half of the succeeding table contains the con- 
 centrated amalgam. Careful tests, made over a period of three months, 
 demonstrated a high recovery of the gold content by this system. 
 
 Some boats are so arranged that should a streak of clay or gravel con- 
 taining much of such plastic material which would be liable to pick up 
 any gold or amalgam it comes in contact with while passing over the 
 riffles be encountered, the winchman can, without interfering with the 
 working of the dredge, divert this material into separate sluices. 
 
 The time required to clean up the tables and sluices varies on the 
 different dredges, and the frequency of the operation depends upon the 
 judgment of the man in charge and the nature of the material handled. 
 It is important that the clean-up is not made oftener than is necessary 
 to prevent loss by overloading the riffles. The speed with which the 
 clean-up is accomplished is also an important item, as the dredges are 
 usually shut down during the operation, though in some cases the dig- 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 77 
 
78 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 gini^' is not interrupted, as the entire flow of material from the screen 
 is diverted to some of the tables while the others are being cleaned. It 
 is customary on clean-up days to overhaul the machinery and make any 
 minor repairs that are necessary. 
 
 The method used in cleaning up varies according to the idea of the 
 different operators, but the principle is much the same. Commencing 
 at the upper end, the riffle frames are taken up and washed and laid 
 aside. A hose is used to assist in gathering the amalgam and con- 
 
 No. 69. Folsom No. 4 Dredge, showing clean-up vat and sluice. 
 
 centrates, which are then scraped into buckets. dep< sited in vats, and 
 later carefully fed into a small sluice, usually on the order of a long-tom 
 ecpiipped with stops, mercury traps, and riffles ; the amalgam and quick- 
 silver is collected and strained and the amalgam is retorted and melted. 
 In some districts a great deal of shot lead, iron nails, coins and orna- 
 ments are picked up by the dredges and lodge in the tables. This 
 material, which all collects some amalgam, forms a second product, 
 which is treated whenever a sufficient quantity accumulates and shipped 
 in the form of a base bullion. 
 
 The loss of gold from the gold-saving tables and sluices is, probably. 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 79 
 
80 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 in most cases a great deal less than is ordinarily supposed. Many tests 
 have been made in the various districts to determine the amount of these 
 losses, and in most cases the loss was found to be small. 
 
 It is very difficult to thoroughly sample the dredge tailing and to 
 determine the difference between the actual gold content of the ground 
 and the recovery on the dredge. In one of the most thorough tests 
 made for this purpose a small bucket elevator was used, the material 
 being taken through perforations in the bottom of the tail sluice and 
 passed to a small wooden sump in which the lower sprocket wheel of the 
 elevator was mounted. The material was somewhat concentrated owing 
 
 No. 71. Corner in retorting room at Natoma. 
 
 to the method of collection, but this could not be avoided. The speed of 
 the elevator was arranged so that at the end of each shift approxi- 
 mately two cubic yards of material would be collected, which was then 
 carefully rocked and panned. 
 
 All of these tests showed an appreciable loss both of quicksilver and 
 amalgam by the dredge, but what the exact percentage of loss was as 
 compared to the gold content of the yardage handled during the time of 
 the test is difficult to state. It is estimated by those competent to judge 
 that the average loss in dredging, while varying Avith different condi- 
 tions, methods of operating, and effideney of labor, does not exceed 10 
 per cent of the total gold content of the material handled, and on care- 
 fully operated boats probably not over 5 per cent, which would compare 
 favorably with any other form of placer mining. 
 
 Several tests were made bv the Viloro Svndicate, Limited, and other 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 81 
 
 companies at Oroville, to determine the platinum content of the ground 
 and the loss of platinum in dredging operations. The loss of platinum, 
 while appreciable, was found insufficient to warrant the installation of 
 suitable concentrating machinery to recover same. 
 
 The working time of a dredge is twenty-four hours, divided into three 
 eight-hour shifts. Each dredge is usually operated by a crew of nine 
 men, one dredgemaster and one shoreman, making a total of eleven men. 
 Occasionally additional men are employed, usually on day shift, as 
 special work may require. The usual dredge crew of one shift consists 
 of a winchman and two oilers or deckmen. The prevailing wages, in 
 California, are : 
 
 Dredgemasters, from $125 to $200 per mouth. 
 
 Winchmen, $3 to $1 per shift of eight hours. 
 
 Oilers or deckmen, $2.50 or $3 per shift of eight hours. 
 
 Shoremen or outside labor, from $2 to $2.75 per nine-hour shift. 
 
 Chinese, $1.50 to $1.75 per nine-hour shift. 
 Where there are a number of dredges a clean-up man, with one or 
 more assistants, is employed in addition to the regular dredge crew; 
 under his direction the gold on the tables of each dredge is removed at 
 regular intervals, usually once a week. The clean-up man usually has 
 charge of the retorting of the amalgam and the melting of the gold also, 
 and because of this last duty is often known as the company 's gold man. 
 The cost of a complete California type dredge varies considerably 
 and is governed by the depth to be dredged below water line and the 
 character of material to be handled. The following figures give a 
 general idea of the cost of different size dredges installed complete and 
 ready for operation: 3 and 31/0 cubic feet, from $50,000 to $60,000; 
 5 and 51/2 cubic feet, from $50,000 to $90,000 ; 7 and 71/0 cubic feet, from 
 $80,000 to $120,000; 8 and 81/2 cubic feet, from $120,000 to $175,000; 
 9 and 9i4 cubic feet, from $130"000 to $200,000; 12 and 13i/o cubic feet, 
 from $17*5,000 to $225,000. 
 
 Several placer mining dipper dredges, ranging in sizes of from II/4 
 to 21/^-yard bucket capacity, have ])een operated in the Oroville district 
 at various times. 
 Among these, the 
 "Plutus," of 13^- 
 y a r d capacity, 
 owned by John W. 
 Ferris, was one of 
 the first dredges in 
 the district. 
 
 The washing ma- 
 chinery, gold-SaV- No. 72. Old type clipper dredge, equipped with double hoppers, 
 incr fnhlAc ofr> screens and stackers. Dredge of the Yreka Creek Gold 
 lUe. lauies, eiC, Dredging and Mining Company. Moved to Alaska. 
 
 6 GD 
 
82 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
DREDGE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION. 
 
 13 
 
 Avere installed on the same hull with the dredge niaehiiiery. which was 
 plaeed a little to one side of the center of the boat, in order to admit 
 of the washing machinery and 
 gold-saving apparatus being 
 placed on the opposite side. 
 
 The hull was 46 feet wide. 55 
 feet long, and 6 feet 6 inches 
 deep. The boom was 40 feet 
 long, and the dredge was capal)le 
 of digging 22 feet below the 
 water-line and dumping 18 feet 
 above the surface of the water. 
 This dredge was finally dis- 
 mantled, as the ground was 
 merged with that of other com- 
 panies. 
 
 An electrically driven ly^- 
 yard l)Urket capacity dipper 
 dredge was installed on the Oro- 
 ville Gold Dredging Company's 
 ground, and the dredge Avas 
 capable of digging 23 feet below 
 the surface of the water. The 
 size of the hull was 40 feet wide. 
 80 feet long, and 7 feet deep, 
 having a 40-foot boom. 
 
 This dredge was e(|uipped 
 with a perforated shalving 
 screen, about 6 feet wide and 18 
 feet long, placed in front at the 
 side of the dredge, Avith sluicing 
 tables running from beneath 
 the screen to a main sluice l)ox, 
 Avhich carried the screenings aft. 
 A belt couA-eyor Avas arranged 
 to car-ry tlie coarse material 
 from the lower end of the screen 
 to a central hopper placed at 
 the foot of an SO-foot swinging 
 stacker or tailing elevatoi- ar- 
 ranged on the rear of the boat. The stacker could be swung from one 
 side to llu' otlicr in an arc of about 140 degrees to deposit the tailing at 
 various points at the rear of the dredge. The dredge had a capacity of 
 about 1.800 yards in twenty-four hours Avilh one sliaking-screen, Avhich 
 
84 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 could have been increased, as the framework in front of the boat was 
 so arranged that another shaking-screen could have been added on the 
 opposite side. 
 
 A somewhat similar dredge of li/4-yard bucket capacity, electrically 
 driven, was installed on Wyman's Ravine, near Oroville, for the Garden 
 Ranch Gold Dredging Company. The boom on this dredge was 30 feet 
 long. This dredge also had a perforated shaking-screen 6 feet wide and 
 about 20 feet long, placed on one side of the boat with gold-saving tables 
 thereunder, emptying into a main sluice on board the dredge, which car- 
 ried the tailing to the rear of the boat. On account of the rather shal- 
 low ground, about 18 feet deep, a single belt conveyor about 80 feet long 
 arranged at the side, was ample to take care of the tailings. This 
 dredge with only one screen showed a capacity of from 30,000 to 40,000 
 cubic yards per month, which might possibly have been increased 33 V^ 
 per cent by having another screen installed on the opposite side. 
 
 The total cost of the dredge turned over ready for operation f. o. b. 
 railroad at Marion, Ohio, was approximately $25,000. 
 
 The builders and some operators claim that with the following condi- 
 tions there is a field for the dipper type of dredge : 
 
 First — Where the ground is somewhat shallow. 
 
 Second — Where the extent of ground is not sufficient to warrant a 
 costly dredge. 
 
 Third — Where the material is of a somewhat rough character, bould- 
 ers, stumps, etc. 
 
 Fourth — Where the ground is mixed with more or less clay, as the 
 dipper will relieve itself, notwithstanding the adhesiveness of the clay. 
 
 The Marion Steam Shovel Company build these dipper type of placer 
 mining dredges in the li/4, li/o, and 2i/2-yard sizes, either steam or 
 electrically driven, and arranged with a central screen or washing 
 apparatus a little to the rear of the center of the boat with gold-saving 
 tables on either side, on practically the same lines as now used on the 
 elevator type of dredge, requiring only one screen and one stacker to 
 take the full capacity of the digging end of the dredge. 
 
 The crew required to operate a dipper dredge running three shifts 
 consists of one dredgemaster, three levermen, three cranemen, three 
 oilers, and one laborer. 
 
WORKING COSTS. 
 
 85 
 
 IV. WORKING COSTS. 
 
 Different dredging companies have various methods of segregating 
 costs and there is often considerable variation in the methods employed. 
 In compiling the records for this book the endeavor has been to arrive 
 at the total cost within some degree of accurac3^ Working costs, in gen- 
 eral, depend a great deal on methods of bookkeeping and can not be used 
 in comparison unless a uniform system is employed. Ground even in 
 the same locality often varies to such an extent that different dredges 
 
 No. 75. Placer dredge operating on Australian River. 
 
 of the same make and bucket capacity and operating under the same 
 management show entirely different working costs. The dift'erence in 
 cost per cubic yard where one dredge only or where several dredges are 
 operating under one management is not great, working conditions being 
 the same and the management capable and economical in both instances. 
 It is apparent that should too large a yardage be reported as having 
 been dredged at a certain total cost, that the cost per cubic yard figured 
 from these results would be too low. Where dredges are operating in 
 swift running streams as in New Zealand, and elsewhere, the measure- 
 ment of yardage with any degree of accuracy is practically impossible. 
 In such cases the yardage is usually computed by counting the buckets 
 dumped per minute, some allowance being mndc for buckets only partly 
 filled. Whou dredges ai'c owned and operated by indixiduals llie ])rac- 
 
S6 
 
 GOLD DKKDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 tite of keeping exhaustive records, both as to yardage handled and 
 segregated items of "working costs, is not generall}^ followed. 
 
 In California all dredging companies arrive at the yardage luiiidled 
 
 No. 75. Monitors at work on cemented gravel bank. California type dredge. 
 
 by measuring the gravel bank ahead of the dredge. Careful daily 
 records are in most instances kept of all costs. 
 
 While high yardage and low working costs are desirable, it is not the 
 aim of the California dredge operator to make records at the expense 
 of good work, but to strive for the best economic results, and it is with 
 this end in view that the California type of dredge has been developed. 
 
 For many years small and light dredges, equipped with open con- 
 
WORKING COSTS. 
 
 87 
 
 nected buckets, head lines and short tray tailing stackers were used in 
 California with varying success, but as the loose shallow ground was 
 worked out and the gravel became deep and at times cemented, the large 
 California type of dredge equipped with heavy machinerj', spuds, and 
 
 licit tailing conveyor proved its superiority. 
 
 No. 77. Showing ladder and bucket line on 5-cubic-foot dredge, Oroville, Cal. 
 
 3-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 Remodeled from opt'ii-connerted. Five years and nine months in commission. 
 
 New Zealand type. 
 Summary of workhifj costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 Actual dredffins time. 7.21<i hours 40 miuutes: average dredgiuj;: time daily. 10 
 hours 43 minutes; cubic yards excavated. 4r»S,S82 ; average yardage daily, 1,2.j4 ; 
 acres dredged. 10.57 ; average depth of ground. 20.0 feet. 
 
 Cost per' p p 
 
 ;i:""'i c-i''*? of Tof"/ 
 
 Cost.s. 1 ard in 
 Cents. 
 
 Operating, material and labor. 
 
 Electricity : 
 
 R(>IKiirs 
 
 General e.xjienso 
 
 Ta.N<'s and insurance 
 
 ai7(l 19 
 
 1.5,071 92 
 
 2.918 2.5 
 
 1.685 88 
 
 'I'otal e.xi.ense I $32.166 84 
 
 2.03 
 .69 
 
 3.28 
 .63 
 .37 
 
 7.00 
 
 Cost. 
 
 28.9 
 9.9 
 
 46.9 
 9.1 
 5.2 
 
 100. 
 
 This dredge was working under very favorable conditions in rich 
 
 groiiiul. 
 
88 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 3-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Remodeled from open-connected. New Zealand type. 
 Workirig costs for the last twelve months the dredge was in operation. 
 Actual dredging time, 2,809 hours 30 minutes ; average dredging time daily, 16 
 hours 3 minutes ; cubic yards excavated, 173,665 ; average yardage daily, 992 ; acres 
 dredged, 3.97 ; average depth of ground, 27.1 feet. 
 
 Operating, material and labor. 
 
 Electricity 
 
 Water 
 
 Repairs 
 
 General expense 
 
 Taxes and insurance 
 
 Total expense 
 
 $4,816 69 
 1.565 40 
 
 240 00 
 7,199 63 
 1,358 43 
 
 845 26 
 
 2.77 
 .90 
 .14 
 
 4.15 
 .78 
 .49 
 
 30.1 
 9.8 
 1.4 
 
 44.9 
 8.5 
 5.3 
 
 $16,025 41 
 
 9.23 
 
 100. 
 
 Gross returns per cubic yard, 7.66 cents ; loss. 1.57 cents. 
 This dredge was working on a headline in difficult ground where now 
 a new 7-eubic-foot spud dredge is working at a profit. 
 
 3J^-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Six and one half years in commission. California type. 
 Working costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 Actual dredging time, 305 days 21 hours ; average dredging time daily, 20 hours 
 30 minutes ; cubic yards excavated, 461,882 ; average yardage daily, 1,510 ; acres 
 dredged, 7.4. average depth of ground, 34 feet. 
 
 Cost per 
 I Cubic 
 Yard in 
 
 I Cents. 
 
 Operating, labor 2.853 
 
 Power, electric 1.487 
 
 Water : .195 
 
 Repairs, material and labor 1.717 
 
 General expenses, taxes, insurance, smelting and express ; 1.077 
 
 Total expenses 7.329 
 
 Gross output, $73,475.91; net output, .$39,628.37. 
 
 Operating under difficult conditions, owing to location of land, which 
 is subject to overflow during high water. The gravel is a fairly compact 
 clean river wash. 
 
 S'/^-CUBiaFOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 California type. 
 
 Working costs during the first seven years in operation. 
 
 
 1st 
 Year. 
 
 2d 
 Year. 
 
 3d 
 Year 
 
 4th 
 Year. 
 
 5th 
 Year. 
 
 6th 
 Year. 
 
 ' 7th 
 Year. 
 
 Labor . , _ . _ 
 
 2.913 
 
 1.886 
 
 3.133 
 1.960 
 0.180 
 3.383 
 0.658 
 
 3.975 
 2.467 
 0.255 
 2.624 
 0.797 
 
 2.687 
 1.542 
 0.194 
 2.515 
 0.672 
 
 3.011 
 1.446 
 0.211 
 2.395 
 1.354 
 
 2.853 
 1.487 
 0.195 
 1.717 
 1.077 
 
 2.838 
 
 Power - 
 
 1.535 
 
 Water . .. 
 
 0.228 
 
 Repairs and supplies 
 
 General expenses .. 
 
 2.415 
 0.745 
 
 1.743 
 1.323 
 
 
 
 Total costs, in cents 
 
 Cubic yards handled 
 
 7.959 
 485,016 
 
 9.314 
 466,262 
 
 10.118 
 352,826 
 
 7.610 
 465,207 
 
 8.417 
 425,843 
 
 7.329 
 461.882 
 
 7.667 
 395.316 
 
WORKING COSTS. 
 
 89 
 
 In the above costs are included the operating expenses, total cost of 
 repairs necessary to keep the dredge in the best working condition, also 
 the cost of all extraordinary breakages and accidents. 
 
 The dredge was digging to an average depth of about 35 feet in fairly 
 compact clean gravel, carrying little clay and few large boulders. The 
 ground is subject to overflow during high water, thus increasing the 
 working costs during the winter months. 
 
 4-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Nine years in commission. Early Montana type remodeled to California type. 
 
 Working costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 Actual dredging time, 7,057 hours ; average dredging time daily, 19 hours 20 
 minutes ; cubic yards excavated, 484,387 ; average yardage daily, 1,327 ; acres dredged, 
 14.60; average depth of ground, 20.6 feet. 
 
 Total 
 Cost. 
 
 Cost per 
 Cubic 
 
 Yard in 
 Cents. 
 
 Percent 
 
 of Total 
 
 Cost. 
 
 Operating, material and labor 
 
 Electricity 
 
 Water 
 
 Repairs 
 
 General expense 
 
 Taxes and insurance 
 
 $8,832 08 
 4,330 04 
 1,500 00 
 
 12,498 00 
 3,173 96 
 1,266 85 
 
 1.83 
 .89 
 .31 
 
 2.58 
 .65 
 .26 
 
 27.9 
 13.7 
 
 4.8 
 39.5 
 10.0 
 
 4.1 
 
 $31,600 93 
 
 6.52 
 
 100. 
 
 Digging on low land subject to overflow in flood times. The gravel is 
 mostly a clean river wash, in places very shallow. The character of the 
 bedrock is a soft tufa with uneven contours. This dredge was remodeled 
 from a doul)le-lift to a single-lift. 
 
 S-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Four and one half years in commission. California type. 
 Working costs for the last tivelve months in operation. 
 Actual dredging time, (5,507% hours ; acres dredged, 13.96 ; cubic yards excavated. 
 812.355 ; average depth of ground, 36.06 feet. 
 
 Lubic I of Total 
 
 Yard in 
 Cents. 
 
 Cost. 
 
 Operating,* material and labor _.- 2.301 34.568 
 
 Power, electric 1.081 16.231 
 
 Repairs, material and labor 2.923 43.890 
 
 Taxes and insurance 0.354 5.311 
 
 6.659 100. 
 
 * Under "Operating" is included all expenses for salaries, bullion, general expenses, 
 labor and supplies, and vi'ater. 
 
 Digging in average ground, carrying considerable clay. The surface 
 of the ground is covered by a thick growth of small timber which must 
 be cleared l)efore dredsins:. 
 
IM) GOLD DREDGING IN CALIKORXIA. 
 
 5-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Throe j'ears ;ind li\'o nionllis in commission. Califoi-ni;i type. 
 Snminarn of loorkiny costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 Actual dredgiug time, G,79S hours 45 minutes ; average dredging time daily. 18 
 hours 35 minutes ; cubic yards excavated, 1,148,480 ; average yardage daily, 3,138 ; 
 acres dredged, 27.91 ; average depth of ground, 25.5 feet. 
 
 Total 
 cost.s. 
 
 Operating, material and labor $10,066 19 
 
 Electricity 6,031 50 
 
 Water 603 34 
 
 Repairs 20,271 98 
 
 General expense 2,913 26 
 
 Taxes and instirance 3,766 93 
 
 Total expense $43,653 20 
 
 3.J 
 
 100. 
 
 This dredge is working in loose gravel with a heavy overburden of 
 sandv loam. 
 
 5-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Two years and five months in commission. California type. 
 
 Working costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 Actual dredging time, 6,790 hours 35 minutes : average dredging time daily. IS 
 
 hours 30 minutes ; cubic yards excavated, 1,148,802 ; average yardage daily, 3,148 ; 
 
 acres dredged, 23.87 ; average depth of ground, 29.9 feet. 
 
 Cost per 
 Total I Cubic 
 Costs. Yard in 
 Cents. 
 
 Per Cent 
 
 of Total 
 
 Cost. 
 
 Operating, material and labor 
 
 Electricity 
 
 Water 
 
 Repairs 
 
 General expense 
 
 Taxes and insurance 
 
 $9,475 59 
 
 5,607 00 
 
 300 00 
 
 21,719 28 
 2,865 88 
 1,820 10 
 
 $41,787 85 
 
 .82 
 .49 
 .03 
 1.89 
 .25 
 .16 
 
 3.64 
 
 22.7 
 
 13.4 
 
 0.7 
 
 52.0 
 
 6.9 
 
 4.3 
 
 100. 
 
 No. 78. Ground to be dredged, partly cleared of brush and trees. Oroville District. 
 
WORKING COSTS. 
 
 91 
 
 This dredge was digging' in loose gravel with a heavy overburden of 
 light soil. The heavy cost of maintenance is due mostly to the installing 
 of a new upi)er tumbler, a complete line of bucket bottoms, and a new 
 stacker belt. 
 
 5-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Four Ncais and seven months in commission. California type. 
 
 ^^'ol•kill(J costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 Actual drodgin.!! time. (j.(j44 hours '20 minutes; averase dredsinu tiiiif daily. IS 
 
 hours 12 minutes: cubic yards excavated, 599,014; average yardage daily, 1,643; 
 
 acres dredged. 9.(;t! : average depth of ground. 8S.5 feet. 
 
 Yard'in -'''^^'-' 
 Cents. 
 
 Operating, material and labor $10,599 83 
 
 Electricity 5.490 00 
 
 Water 1..500 00 
 
 Repairs 24,127 04 
 
 General expense 2.836 61 
 
 Taxes and insurance 1,402 75 
 
 Total expense $45,956 83 
 
 Working under great difficulties against a 20-foot bank and rising 
 bedrock. It was necessary to cut through the bedrock, which rose above 
 the water level to a sufficient depth to enable the dredge to maintain its 
 course. 
 
 Heavy repair cost, due to installing of new tuinl)ler. conveyor l)elt, 
 repairs to digging ladder, and replacing of screen, etc.. accounts for 
 .'')2.2 per cent of the total working cost. 
 
 r^' 
 
 Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields' dredges, each of 6-cubic-foot capacity. 
 California type dredges. 
 
r»2 
 
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WORKING COSTS. 
 
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IH GOF.D DREDCING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 6-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Four years in commission. 
 
 Snmmari/ of ivorkiiiy costs for the last tioelve months in opcrdtUm. 
 
 Working days in year 3g3 
 
 Working hours in year 8.712 
 
 Possible working hours 8,60U 
 
 Total hours machine was digging during year 5,730 5-6 
 
 Power was off, hours Hqj 
 
 Percentage of total hours digging 65.42 
 
 Percentage of possible hours digging 66.62 
 
 Surface area worked out, acres 11.956 
 
 Average depth of cut, feet 25.12 
 
 Cubic yards handled 541,744 
 
 Cubic yards handled per day 1,492 
 
 Cubic yards handled per digging hour 94.52 
 
 Gross value extracted $61,646 37 
 
 Gross A^alue extracted per day $169.82 
 
 Gross value extracted per digging hour 10.75 
 
 Gross value extracted per yard dug .11380 
 
 Division of costs. 
 
 Co.^t per 
 Cubic Yard Total 
 Dug. 
 
 Labor $0.02430 
 
 Power .01328 
 
 Supplies .00703 
 
 Shop repairs and parts .010.55 
 
 Freight .00118 
 
 General expenses and boarding house, loss .00130 
 
 Land clearing .00045 
 
 Expense. 
 
 
 $13,163 68 
 
 
 7.196 61 
 
 
 3,810 47 
 
 
 5.718 09 
 
 
 638 57 
 
 
 706 30 
 
 
 244 10 
 
 
 
 $31,477 82 
 
 Total cost at dredge $0.05809 
 
 Profit over and above cost at dredge $0.05571 $30,168 55 
 
 Other costs — Administration, taxes, insurance, etc. 
 
 San Francisco office, management and traveling expenses $0,007.59 $4,116 15 
 
 Treasurer's office expenses .00041 225 00 
 
 Taxes .00180 922 67 
 
 Insurance .00086 521 63 
 
 Total administration .$0.01066 $5,785 45 
 
 Add costs at dredge as above .05809 31,477 82 
 
 Total costs all included $0.06875 $37,263 27 
 
95 
 
No. 79. Yearly record sheet, used by some California dredging 
 
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WORKING COSTS. 
 
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WORKING COSTS. 
 
 97 
 
 7-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Three years and nine months in commission. California type. 
 Summary of ivorking costs for the last twelve ynonths in operation. 
 Actual dredging time. 6,390 hours 20 minutes ; average dredging time daily, 17 
 hours 28 minutes : cubic yards excavated, 1,033,694 ; average yardage daily, 2,824 ; 
 acres dredged. 24.23 : average depth of ground, 26..5 feet. 
 
 Total 
 Costs. 
 
 Cost per pp. 
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 of Total 
 
 in Cents 
 
 Cost. 
 
 Operating, material and labor ' .$11,155 55 
 
 Electricity 6,640 80 
 
 Water 1.500 00 
 
 Repairs 27,786 14 
 
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 Taxes and insurance 2,(127 66 
 
 1.08 
 
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 6.6 
 
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 Total expense .$52,593 93 
 
 5.09 
 
 100. 
 
 Gross returns per cubic yard. 11.02 cents ; net returns per cubic yard, 5.93 cents. 
 
 This dredge is working in heavy compact gravel. The replacing of 
 the upper and lower tuml)ler shafts, new revolving screen, and conveyor 
 belt accounts for the loss in working time and heavy repair costs. 
 
 7-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 One year and three months in commission. California type. 
 
 Woi'king costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 Actual dredging time. 6,313 hours 35 minutes ; average dredging time daily, 17 
 
 hours IS minutes : cubic yards excavated. 1,114.605 ; average yardage daily, 3,054 ; 
 
 acres dredged, 25.05 : average depth of ground, 27.6 feet. 
 
 ""cS'lP^Cent 
 Yard ! of Total 
 in Cents. 
 
 Cost. 
 
 Operating, material and labor $13,467 22 1.21 29.7 
 
 Electricity I 6,954 27 .62 15.3 
 
 Water 315 00 .03 0.7 
 
 Repairs 20,192 95 1.81 44.5 
 
 General expense 3,173 96 .29 ! 7. 
 
 Taxes and insurance. 
 
 1,266 85 
 
 .11 
 
 Total expense $45,370 25 
 
 4.07 
 
 2.8 
 
 100. 
 
 Gross returns per cubic yard, 9.76 cents ; net revenue per cubic yard, 5.69 cents. 
 Digging in compact gravel. 
 
 / — GO 
 
98 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 7-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Two years and nine months in commission. California type. 
 Working costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 Actual dredging time, 6,917 hours 25 minutes ; average dredging time daily. 18 
 hours 57 minutes ; cubic yards excavated, 1,017.167 ; average yardage daily, 2,7S7 ; 
 acres dredged, 22.43 ; average depth of ground, 28.1 feet. 
 
 Total 
 Costs. 
 
 Operating, material and labor $11,188 09 
 
 Electricity 6,603 98 
 
 Water 1.500 00 
 
 Repairs 22.330 72 
 
 General expense 2,836 67 
 
 Taxes and insurance 1.402 74 
 
 Cost per ; p f, t 
 in Cents. 
 
 Cost. 
 
 1.10 i 
 
 24.4 
 
 .65 
 
 14.4 
 
 .15 
 
 3.3 
 
 2.19 
 
 48.7 
 
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 6.2 
 
 .14 
 
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 Total expense j $45,862 20 
 
 4.51 
 
 100. 
 
 Gross returns per cubic yard, 19.11 cents ; net returns per cubic yard, 14.60 cents. 
 
 Working under difficulties in heavy, compact ground. In the cost of 
 repairs is included the cost of a new steel spud and a new revolving 
 screen. The time lost is due to the breaking of the steel spud. 
 
 7-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Nine months and ten daj's in commission. California type. 
 Actual dredging time. 5,088 hours 25 minutes : average dredging time daily. 17 
 hours 52 minutes; cubic yards excavated, 838,885; average yardage daily, 2,943; 
 acres dredged, 14.66 ; average depth of ground, 85.5 feet. 
 
 Total 
 Costs. 
 
 Cost per pproent 
 Cubic i^ercent 
 
 Yard 
 in Cents. 
 
 of Total 
 Cost. 
 
 Operating, labor and material 1 $9,980 60 1.19 
 
 Electric power 5,805 00 .69 
 
 Water 
 
 Repairs 10,200 97 1.22 
 
 General expense : 2,217 73 .26 
 
 Taxes and insurance 1.421 19 .17 
 
 Total expense $29,625 49 
 
 33.7 
 19.6 
 
 34.4 
 7.5 
 
 4.8 
 
 3.53 
 
 100. 
 
 Gross returns per cubic yard, 6.86 cents ; net returns per cubic yard, 2.83 cents. 
 
 Digging in heavj', difficult ground ; gravel coarse, compact and partly 
 cemented. This dredge replaced an open-connected-bucket dredge, 
 which was working on this property and could not handle the ground 
 to a profit. 
 
WORKING COSTS. 
 
 99 
 
 75^-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Nine months and six days in commission. California type. 
 Summary of working costs. 
 
 Actual dredging time, 5,582 hours 15 minutes ; average dredging time daily, 19 
 hours 52 minutes; cubic yards excavated, 944,879; average yardage daily, 3.363; 
 acres dredged, 20.425 ; average depth of ground, 28.7 feet. 
 
 Total 
 Ccsts. 
 
 Cost per 
 
 Cubic 
 
 Yard 
 
 in Cents. 
 
 Percent 
 
 of Total 
 
 Cost 
 
 Operating, labor and material $8,939 64 
 
 Electricity 5,440 80 
 
 Repairs 12,308 73 
 
 General expense 2,559 67 
 
 Taxes and insurance 3,683 84 
 
 Bullion expenses 569 39 
 
 .95 
 .58 
 1.30 
 .27 
 .39 
 .06 
 
 Total expense $33,502 07 
 
 3.55 
 
 26.7 
 16.3 
 36.7 
 
 7.6 
 11.0 
 
 1.7 
 
 100. 
 
 Gross returns per cubic yard, 14.99 cents ; net returns per cubic yard, 11.44 cents. 
 
 This dredge is working in fairly compact gravel with a heavy over- 
 burden. 
 
 71/^-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 California type. 
 
 Summary of operations for two years eleven months and twelve days. 
 
 Actual dredging time, 18,464 hours 55 minutes ; acres dredged, 54.649 ; cubic yards 
 excavated, 3,458,229 ; average depth of ground, 27.9 feet. 
 
 Total 
 Costs. 
 
 Co.st per 
 Cubic 
 
 Yard in 
 Cents. 
 
 Operating, labor and material $24,899 24 
 
 Electricity 14,045 34 
 
 Water 
 
 Eepairs 1 51,859 55 
 
 General expense 8,333 30 
 
 Taxes and insurance j 8,542 77 
 
 Bullion expenses 941 19 
 
 Total expense $108,621 39 
 
 4.42 
 
 Gross returns per cubic yard, 9.30 cents ; net returns per cubic yard. 4.88 cents. 
 
 These costs include depreciation and all fixed charges. The dredge 
 is M^orking in average bench gravel. 
 
100 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 
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WORKING COSTS. 
 
 101 
 
 7I/I-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 Two and one half years in commission. California type. 
 Sumtnary of working costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 Actual dredging time, 6,900 hour.s 50 minutes ; cubic yards excavated, 1,281,351 ; 
 average depth of ground, 67.8 feet. 
 
 Operating, labor 
 
 Electricity 
 
 Water 
 
 Repairs, labor and material 25,730 67 
 
 General expense 5,856 56 
 
 Total expense ' $58,056 50 
 
 4..53 
 
 These costs include depreciation and all fixed charges. This dredge 
 is working in medium light gravel overlain by hydraulic tailing. 
 
 7'/4-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 Two and one half years in commission. California type. 
 Summary of working costs for the last twelve months in operation. 
 Actual dredging time, 6,402 hours 35 minutes ; cubic yards excavated, 1.369,844 ; 
 average depth of ground, 70.2 feet. 
 
 Total 
 Costs. 
 
 Cost per 
 
 Cubic Yard 
 
 in Cents. 
 
 Operating, labor $13,375 88 I 
 
 Electricity 10,596 44 ' 
 
 Water 
 
 Repairs, labor and material 26.522 49 
 
 General expense 6,357 08 
 
 Total expense ■ $56,851 89 
 
 4.15 
 
 These costs include depreciation and all fixed charge.s. This dredge 
 is working in medium light gravel overlain by hydraulic tailing. 
 
 8-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 Four months and eight days in commi.ssion. California typi-. 
 Working costs. 
 Days operating, 130; actual dredging time, 2,369 hours 5 minutes: cubic yards 
 excavated, 626,264 ; average depth of ground, 24 feet ; acres dredged, 16.38. 
 
 I Cost per 
 
 Total ' Ciil>ic 
 Costs. Yard in 
 
 I Cents. 
 
 Operating, labor and material. 
 
 Electricity — 
 
 Water 
 
 Repairs 
 
 General expense 
 
 Taxes and insurance 
 
 Bullion expenses 
 
 Total expense $15,455 86 
 
 $6,846 02 
 3,326 00 
 
 2,524 44 
 
 1,241 38 
 
 1.237 18 
 
 280 84 
 
 2.47 
 
 Gross returns per cubic yard, 11.72 cents ; net returns per cubic yard. 9.25 cents. 
 
102 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 These costs include depreciation and all fixed charges, 
 is digging average bench gravel. 
 
 The dredge 
 
 8-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 Six months in commission. California type. 
 Summary of working costs. 
 Days operating, 171 ; actual dredging time, 3,162 hours 5 minutes ; cubic yards 
 excavated, 583,927; acres dredged, 8^/^ ; average depth of ground, 42.5 feet. 
 
 Total 
 Costs. 
 
 Cost per 
 Cubic 
 
 Yard in 
 Cents. 
 
 Operating, labor and material. 
 
 Electricity 
 
 Eepairs 
 
 General expense 
 
 Taxes and insurance 
 
 Bullion expenses 
 
 $9,879 13 
 3,470 40 
 6,343 22 
 1,665 14 
 1,383 91 
 302 58 
 
 Total expense 
 
 $23,044 38 
 
 3.95 
 
 Gross returns per cubic yard, 12.67 cents ; net returns per cubic yard, 8.72 cents. 
 
 These costs include depreciation and all fixed charges. The dredge 
 is operating in light gravel and against a bank about 10 feet above the 
 water line. 
 
 9-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 California type. 
 Workijig costs for the first five months in operation. 
 
 Cubic yards excavated 580,310 
 
 Cubic yards per month 116,062 
 
 Average depth of ground, feet 51 
 
 Total cost $29,009.18 
 
 Cost per cubic yards in cents 4.98 
 
 These costs include all fixed charges. This dredge is digging under 
 
 most difficult conditions in cemented gravel and against a bank 20 feet 
 
 above the water level. 
 
 13^-CUBIC-FOOT CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGE. 
 
 Nearly eight months in commission. California type. 
 Working costs. 
 Days operating, 235 ; actual dredging time, 4,478 hours 20 minutes ; cubic yards 
 excavated, 1,830,201 ; acres dredged, 60.02 ; average depth of ground, 19 feet. 
 
 Total 
 Costs. 
 
 Cost per 
 Cubic 
 
 Yard in 
 Cents. 
 
 Operating, Tabor and material. 
 Electricity 
 
 Water 
 
 $18,690 91 
 8,618 70 
 
 Repairs 10,246 87 
 
 General expense 2,114 02 
 
 Taxes and insurance 1,759 25 
 
 Bullion expenses 736 09 
 
 Total expense j $42,165 84 
 
 2.3 
 
 These costs include all operating costs, depreciation, insurances, tax, 
 and all fixed charges. This machine is digging in fine gravel wash. 
 
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TABLE SHOWING WORKING COSTS OF CLOSE-CONNECTED-BUCKET ELEVATOR DREDGES OPERATING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Bucketa. Fig\ir 
 
 •Working 
 
 Period for 
 
 PigarcB Given. 
 
 ; Month. Year. Month. Ho 
 
 1 L. 
 
 ■nine Dred^ng. 
 
 Hours. Hin. 
 
 6,780 I 
 6,607 
 6,513 
 19.463 
 6.015 
 
 8,582 
 
 16 ! 
 
 13,464 
 
 55 
 
 6,402 
 
 36 - 
 
 6,651 
 
 65 
 
 7,048 
 
 10 
 
 6.849 
 
 05 
 
 Depth of Ground 
 
 TBge. Min. Max. 
 
 23.87 
 13.96 
 11.86 
 43.M 
 16.75 
 
 27.91 
 12.05 
 25.0,'i 
 24.23 
 
 28.95 
 24.75 
 51.88 
 25.19 
 43.17 
 15.80 
 18.83 
 
 18 I 33 I 77.43 I 
 
 islon for figHr«B uivi 
 
 23.44 
 39.47 
 24.73 
 .52.51 
 51.25 
 26.2 
 
 I 
 
 Qround Worked. 
 
 Cubic Cubic 
 YardB. Yards. 
 
 1,148,802 I 
 812,356 
 692,078 
 
 2,089,163 !. 
 
 1.114.60.-1 
 1,033.694 
 1,194.146 
 
 2,468,229 
 1,369,844 
 1,257,055 
 1,177.772 
 1,962,448 
 1,604,369 
 1,722,281 
 1,339,464 
 l,666,6il8 
 170,830 
 
 231,375 
 236,633 
 274,318 
 
 195,403 
 231,885 
 292,067 
 
 266,758 
 239,768 
 257,996 
 218,189 
 
 3,148 
 
 iiois' 
 
 1,872" 
 
 3,138 
 2,122 
 3.054 
 
 4,791 
 3.710 
 4,361 
 
 Labor and Material. 
 
 
 
 2.07 
 2.20 
 
 
 
 2.64 
 
 
 
 2.81 
 
 
 
 3.31 
 
 
 
 2.49 
 
 
 
 1.97 
 
 
 
 2.66 
 
 
 
 2.45 
 
 
 
 2.65 
 
 
 
 1.60 
 
 
 
 2.33 
 
 8,397 
 
 2.41 
 
 RUNNlKti EXPRNSES. 
 
 Mftteritil Only. 
 
 Electric Pone 
 
 Labor and Material. Material Only. 
 
 ieneral Ezttenses. Taxes and Ins) 
 
 ''Sf.'bS?' I Percent %t per 
 
 Smeltine and Expreu 
 
 Operating in very favorable ground. 
 Operating in average fair ground. 
 ' Operating in average fair groand. 
 
 3peratin|, 
 partly stopped for r 
 
 Digging under favorable conditions. 
 
 Digging in very difficult ground. 
 
 Compact gravel. 
 
 Difficult ground ; heavy replacement chai^es- 
 
 Average fair ground; dredge partly shut down 
 in Kebruarv, Anguat, Seplenilier, October, 
 and Novemoer, 
 ii Average fair ground; dredge partly shutdown 
 11 in August, September, and October. 
 
 Average digging ground. 
 I Average digging ground. 
 
 Average digging ground. 
 ; Average digging ground. 
 ' Fairly tight; free washing ground. 
 
 Fairly tight; free washing ground. 
 
 Fairly tight ; free wasliinp ground. 
 , Light and partly cemented gravel. 
 I Light and partly cemented gravel. 
 
 Fairly loose gravel. 
 
 Fairly loose gravel. 
 
WORKING COSTS. 
 
 103 
 
 STATEMENT SHOWING LOST TIME. 
 5-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket elevator dredge. Five and one half years in 
 
 operation. 
 Lost time for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 Total Time Lost. 
 
 Bucket line, ladder and tumblers 198 hours 35 minutes 
 
 o " PPT15 - - 76 hours 5o minutes 
 
 stnPtrpr - 32 hours 10 minutes 
 
 PumDs 5 hours 50 minutes 
 
 winfhps" - - 26 hours 45 minutes 
 
 T inp«r 89 hours 40 minutes 
 
 Power """II"I"-I"-------I--- 283 hours 10 minutes 
 
 Stepping'a'head'III" 298 hours 
 
 Clean-ups 56 hours ^^ . ^ ^ 
 
 Other causes 736 hours 10 minutes 
 
 Total time lost 1.803 hours 15 minutes 
 
 Total time running 6,980 hours 45 minutes 
 
 Total time possible 8,784 hours 
 
 STATEMENT SHOWING LOST TIME. 
 
 31/,-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket elevator dredge. Six and one half years in 
 
 operation. 
 Total time lost for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 Bucket line 
 
 Screens 
 
 Stacker 
 
 Pumps 
 
 Winches 
 
 Lines 
 
 Power 
 
 Stepping ahead 
 
 Clean-ups 
 
 Other causes 
 
 Total time lost. 
 Total time running 
 Total time possible 
 
 Total Time Lost. 
 
 25 minutes 
 30 minutes 
 
 1,578 hours 20 minutes 
 7,205 hours 40 minutes 
 8,784 hours 
 
 Per Cent 
 of Total. 
 
 5.22 
 .46 
 .33 
 .45 
 .66 
 .16 
 
 4.51 
 .97 
 .58 
 
 4.63 
 
 STATEMENT SHOWING LOST TIME. 
 5-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket elevator dredge. Four and one half years in 
 
 commission. 
 Lost time for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 Total Time Lost. 
 
 Percent 
 
 of Total 
 
 Lost 
 
 Time. 
 
 Bucket line .- 
 
 161 
 
 212 
 
 81 
 
 502 
 
 83 
 
 95 
 
 116 
 
 28 
 
 18 
 
 420 
 
 239 
 
 164 
 
 64 
 
 87 
 
 2.276 
 6.507 
 8,784 
 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 
 hours 
 
 hours 
 hours 
 hours 
 
 5 
 35 
 45 
 10 
 
 5 
 10 
 50 
 
 55 
 30 
 5 
 10 
 45 
 55 
 40 
 
 40 
 20 
 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 
 1 
 
 1.834 
 
 Tumblers _ _ _ .. .- 
 
 2.420 
 
 Screens - 
 
 .931 
 
 Ladder 
 
 5.717 
 
 Pumps - - 
 
 .946 
 
 Winches 
 
 1.083 
 
 Lines . 
 
 1.330 
 
 Spuds 
 
 .319 
 
 Motors . 
 
 .215 
 
 Power .. 
 
 4.787 
 
 Stacker . 
 
 2.722 
 
 Stepping ahead 
 
 1.869 
 
 Clean-ups 
 
 .737 
 
 Stumps ... 
 
 .010 
 
 Other causes 
 
 .998 
 
 
 
 Total time lost 
 
 25.918 
 
 Total time running . 
 
 74.082 
 
 Total time possible . 
 
 100. 
 
 
 
102 
 
 Tb 
 
 is dii 
 
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 Cubit, 
 Cubic; 
 Avers- 
 Total ' 
 
 Cost 
 
 Th 
 most 
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 excavj 
 
 Oper£ 
 Elect: 
 Wate 
 Repai 
 Gener 
 Taxes 
 Bulli( 
 
 T( 
 
 
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 « 
 
 81 
 
 81 
 
 ei 
 
 81 
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 81 
 81 
 81 
 81 
 £1 
 
 Th 
 and i 
 
WORKING COSTS. 
 
 103 
 
 STATEMENT SHOWING LOST TIME. 
 5-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket elevator dredge. Five and one half years in 
 
 operation. 
 Lost time for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 Total Time Lost. 
 
 Bucket line, ladder and tumblers 198 hours 35 minutes 
 
 Screens 76 hours 55 minutes 
 
 Stacker II. 11""- 32 hours 10 minutes 
 
 Pumps IIIIII-III II 5 hours 50 minutes 
 
 Winches' ....-"- 26 hours 45 minutes 
 
 Lines .-.IIIIII IIIII 89 hours 40 minutes 
 
 Power 283 hours 10 minutes 
 
 Stepping"ahe'ad"IIIII 298 hours 
 
 Clean-ups 56 hours 
 
 Other causes 736 hours 10 minutes 
 
 Total time lost 1,803 hours 15 minutes 
 
 Total time running 6,980 hours 45 minutes 
 
 Total time possible 8,784 hours 
 
 STATEMENT SHOWING LOST TIME. 
 
 314-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket elevator dredge. Six and one half years in 
 
 operation. 
 Total tim,e lost for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 
 
 Total Time 
 
 Lost. 
 
 Percent 
 of Total. 
 
 Bucket line - 
 
 458 
 40 
 29 
 39 
 57 
 14 
 
 396 
 84 
 50 
 
 406 
 
 1,578 
 7,205 
 8,784 
 
 hours 25 
 hours 30 
 hours 
 hours 40 
 hours 30 
 hours 40 
 hours 20 
 hours 55 
 hours 45 
 hours 35 
 
 hours 20 
 hours 40 
 hours 
 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 
 minutes 
 minutes 
 
 5.22 
 
 Screens - .---__- 
 
 .46 
 
 Stacker - .- _ . -_ 
 
 .33 
 
 Pumps _ - 
 
 .45 
 
 Winches - - 
 
 .66 
 
 Lines . _ . _ - 
 
 .16 
 
 Power 
 
 Stepping ahead _- . -. .- 
 
 4.51 
 .97 
 
 Clean-ups . .. . - ._ .- 
 
 .58 
 
 Other causes _ _ . _ . 
 
 4.63 
 
 Total time lost. ... . . ._ ._ 
 
 
 Total time running 
 
 Total time possible 
 
 
 STATEMENT SHOWING LOST TIME. 
 5-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket elevator dredge. Four and one half years in 
 
 commission. 
 Lost time for the last twelve months in operation. 
 
 Total time lost.. 
 Total time running. 
 Total time possible . 
 
 2,276 hours 40 minutes 
 6..507 hours 20 minutes 
 8,784 hours 
 
 
 Total Time Lost. 
 
 Percent 
 
 of Total 
 
 Lost 
 
 Time. 
 
 Bucket line . .. ... 
 
 161 hours 5 minutes 
 212 hours 35 minutes 
 
 81 hours 45 minutes 
 502 hours 10 minutes 
 
 83 hours 5 minutes 
 
 95 hours 10 minutes 
 116 hours 50 minutes 
 
 28 hours 
 
 18 hours 55 minutes 
 420 hours 30 minutes 
 239 hours 5 minutes 
 164 hours 10 minutes 
 
 64 hours 45 minutes 
 55 minutes 
 
 87 hours 40 minutes 
 
 1.834 
 
 Tumblers ...... 
 
 2.420 
 
 Screens ... .. 
 
 .931 
 
 Ladder . . . 
 
 5.717 
 
 Pumps ... .. 
 
 .946 
 
 Winches .. 
 
 1.083 
 
 Lines . ... 
 
 1 330 
 
 Spuds . . 
 
 319 
 
 Motors 
 
 .215 
 
 Power 
 
 4 787 
 
 Stacker 
 
 9 70'> 
 
 Stepping ahead 
 
 1.869 
 
 Clean-ups 
 
 737 
 
 Stumps 
 
 010 
 
 Other causes 
 
 .998 
 
 
 
 25.918 
 74.082 
 100. 
 
104 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
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WORKING COSTS. 
 
 105 
 
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 O CO CO C^ rH T— I i-H 
 
 Depth, 
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 Cable. 
 
 1 i'^ I 
 
 Clean-ups 
 
 <0 lO O O "O O C3 
 
 Stepping 1-- c^ op lo ,-- rH c^ 
 Ahead., ooooooo 
 
 Main 
 Gearing 
 
 Power Off 
 
 Oiling 
 
 IIOIOOOIOIO 
 1 C-1 rt CO CO CO CO 
 
 [ooooods 
 
 S ! Motors 
 
 I I I I I 
 
 Spuds 
 
 Side 
 Lines. 
 
 Ladder 12 §S 
 
 Winch.. looo 
 
 Side-line 
 Winch. 
 
 Sand 
 Pumps 
 
 Water 
 Pumps 
 
 Conveyor 
 
 Screens ... 
 
 Lower 
 Tumbler 
 
 i ■ 
 
 Upper I 
 Tumbler 
 
 
 Bucket 
 Line .. 
 
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106 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 V. CALIFORNIA DREDGING DISTRICTS. 
 
 1. BITTE COUMY. 
 
 Butte County, comprising an area of 1,720 square miles, or 1,100,800 
 acres, with a population of about 30,000 inhabitants, is situated about 
 150 miles from San Francisco. It is bounded on the north and east by 
 Tehama and Plumas counties, on the south b}^ Yuba and Sutter, and on 
 the west by Colusa and Glenn counties. 
 
 Oroville, the county seat, with a population of 6,000 is located on the 
 Feather River. It is on the main line of the Western Pacific and is 
 
 No. 81. View of Feather River, near Oroville. 
 
 reached bj^ branch lines of the Southern Pacific and Northern Electric 
 railroads. 
 
 There are two rivers in the county, the Sacramento and Feather. The 
 Sacramento River forms the western boundary, and is navigable 100 
 miles north of Butte County, and south, its entire length to San Fran- 
 cisco Bay. The Feather River drains an area of about 3,640 square 
 miles, and flows through the center of the county, supplying water to a 
 number of irrigation systems, the most important being the Butte 
 County Canal Company's and the Feather River Canal Company's 
 ditches. 
 
 In the northern and eastern parts of the county, which are mountain- 
 ous and covered with timber, lumbering, stock raising and mining are 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 107 
 
 he 
 
 ly 
 
 he 
 ds 
 he 
 
 of 
 
 ig 
 
 ty 
 
 0- 
 
 ■r. 
 
 ly 
 
 es 
 
 111 
 
 te 
 
 It 
 
 ir 
 
 j-/icuuuijuv Jiitr. ^vs uieuyuig in v^aiiiuiiiia uegaii in me vjruvuiu aisinct, 
 
 it may be of interest to give in detail some of the early history of the 
 
 industry. 
 
SUTTER COUNTY 
 
 MAP OF BUTTE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, SHOWING LOCATION OF DREDGING LAND. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 107 
 
 carried on, while in the valley and foothill regions, gold dredging is the 
 leading industry, fruit growing and agriculture being also extensively 
 carried on. 
 
 Butte County is well supplied with transportation facilities. The 
 Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, and Northern Electric railroads 
 traverse the county, and river steamers run regular schedules on the 
 Sacramento River. 
 
 There are 1,600 miles of public roads in the county, 152 miles of 
 electric power lines, four electric power plants, 442 miles of irrigating 
 ditches, and 14.000 acres of land under irrigation. 
 
 The following table shows the mineral production of Butte County 
 from 1900 to 1908 : 
 
 
 1900. 
 
 1901. 
 
 1902. 
 
 190S. 
 
 1904. 
 
 Brick . -. 
 
 $485"589 
 600 
 
 "£515 
 T3"082 
 
 $7,200 
 
 864,978 
 
 1,500 
 
 'l'455 
 '4^634 
 
 $5,000 
 
 916,782 
 
 750 
 
 'l'556 
 "2'2i9 
 
 $7,200 
 
 1,571,507 
 
 250 
 
 250 
 
 "l"555 
 
 210 
 
 • 358 
 
 $4,020 
 
 Gold - - 
 
 1,932,552 
 
 Lime . .- - 
 
 
 Limestone 
 
 
 Macadam 
 
 
 Mineral water 
 
 1,512 
 
 Platinum .. _ . 
 
 1,000 
 
 Silver .. 
 
 2.302 
 
 Unapportioned . 
 
 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 $500,786 
 
 $879,767 
 
 $926,251 
 
 $1,581,325 
 
 $1,941,386 
 
 
 
 
 1905. 
 
 1906. 
 
 1907. 
 
 1908. I 
 
 Brick 
 
 Gold 
 
 Lime 
 
 Limestone .. .- - 
 
 $3,200 
 2,607,500 
 
 "I'SOO 
 1.770 
 7.1M 
 
 $1,300 
 3,016,747 
 
 'i"950 
 
 475 
 
 10,853 
 
 $2,786^840 
 
 "2"i40 
 "a 967 
 
 $3,139'398 
 
 "7"9i6 
 
 2,450 
 
 12J08 
 
 
 Macadam 
 
 Mineral water . - - 
 
 
 Platinum .. 
 
 
 Silver 
 
 Unapportioned 
 
 $105"870 
 
 Totals 
 
 $2,621,104 
 
 $3,031,325 
 
 $2,797,947 
 
 $3,162,472 
 
 $17,548,233 
 
 
 
 Nearly all dredge mining in Butte County is carried on in the Oro- 
 ville or Feather River district on land adjacent to the Feather River. 
 The district, comprising a dredgeable area of about 6,450 acres, nearly 
 two thirds of which has been already dredged, includes in its boundaries 
 part of Oroville and extends six miles south of the town, ranging from 
 one to several miles in width. Some minor dredging areas in Butte 
 County are located near Oroville on Wymau's Ravine and Honcut 
 Creek, tributaries of the Feather River, and on Butte Creek near 
 Diamondville. As dredging in California began in the Oroville district, 
 it may be of interest to give in detail some of the early history of the 
 industry. 
 
106 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Butte Coi 
 acres, with ; 
 150 miles fr 
 Tehama and 
 the west by 
 
 Oroville, t 
 Feather Riv 
 
 i 
 
 A 
 
 \ 
 
 7-/f|,V^ 
 
 1 
 
 reached by b 
 railroads. 
 
 There are t 
 Sacramento 
 miles north o' 
 cisco Bay. 1 
 miles, and fio^ 
 number of i 
 County Cana 
 ditches. 
 
 In the northern and eastern parts of the county, which are mountain- 
 ous and covered with timber, lumbering, stock raising and mining are 
 
 "^^^ 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 107 
 
 carried on, while in the valley and foothill regions, gold dredging is the 
 leading industry, fruit growing and agriculture being also extensively 
 carried on. 
 
 Butte County is well supplied with transportation facilities. The 
 Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, and Northern Electric railroads 
 traverse the county, and river steamers run regular schedules on the 
 Sacramento River. 
 
 There are 1,600 miles of public roads in the county, 152 miles of 
 electric power lines, four electric power plants, 442 miles of irrigating 
 ditches, and 14,000 acres of land under irrigation. 
 
 The following table shows the mineral production of Butte County 
 from 1900 to 1908 : 
 
 
 1900. 
 
 1901. 
 
 1902. 
 
 1903. 
 
 1904. 
 
 Brick 
 
 $485'589 
 600 
 
 "I'sis 
 
 ia082 
 
 $7,200 
 
 864,978 
 
 1,500 
 
 'U55 
 '4;634 
 
 $5,000 
 
 916,782 
 
 750 
 
 '1^500 
 "2'2i9 
 
 $7,200 
 
 1,571,507 
 
 250 
 
 250 
 
 'X550 
 
 210 
 
 • 358 
 
 $4,020 
 
 Gold 
 
 1,932,552 
 
 Lime .---._ . 
 
 
 Limestone .. . 
 
 
 Macadam _ ._ 
 
 
 Mineral water 
 
 1,512 
 
 Platinum .. .. 
 
 1,000 
 
 Silver 
 
 2,302 
 
 Unapportioned . 
 
 
 
 
 Totals — 
 
 $500,786 
 
 $879,767 
 
 $926,251 
 
 $1,581,325 
 
 $1,941,386 
 
 
 
 
 1905. 
 
 1906. 
 
 1907. 
 
 1908. 
 
 
 Brick ... 
 
 $3,200 
 2,607,500 
 
 "I'SOO 
 1.770 
 7,134 
 
 $1,300 
 3,016,747 
 
 'l"950 
 
 475 
 
 10,853 
 
 $2,786"840 
 
 "2"i40 
 "8^967 
 
 $3,139'398 
 
 "7'9i6 
 
 2,450 
 
 12J08 
 
 
 Gold . 
 
 
 Lime . .. 
 
 
 Limestone ._ ._ 
 
 
 Macadam . - 
 
 
 Mineral water . . . 
 
 
 Platinum .. - 
 
 
 Silver 
 
 
 Unapportioned 
 
 $105,870 
 
 Totals 
 
 $2,621,104 
 
 $3,031,325 
 
 $2,797,947 
 
 $3,162,472 
 
 $17,548,233 
 
 
 
 Nearh' all dredge mining in Butte County is carried on in the Oro- 
 ville or Feather River district on land adjacent to the Feather River. 
 The district, comprising a dredgeable area of about 6,450 acres, nearly 
 two thirds of which has been already dredged, includes in its boundaries 
 part of Oroville and extends six miles south of the town, ranging from 
 one to several miles in width. Some minor dredging areas in Butte 
 County are located near Oroville on Wyman's Ravine and Honcut 
 Creek, tributaries of the Feather River, and on Butte Creek near 
 Diamondville. As dredging in California began in the Oroville district, 
 it may be of interest to give in detail some of the early history of the 
 industry. 
 
108 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 "W. P. Hammon and Warren Treat were among the first to attempt 
 working the gravels for gold on a large scale or by different methods 
 than the sluice box or rocker. Treat, in the summer of 1S95, sunk a pit 
 
 about 100 feet square 
 
 to bedrock, using a «^^'^ ^-^ -'^^**«^- 
 
 centrifugal pump to 
 handle the water, and 
 in spite of the heavy 
 costs caused by the 
 rehandling of the 
 gravel several times 
 by manual labor and 
 for pumping, made a 
 profit. Hammon 
 working another pit 
 found the heavy tlow 
 of w a t e r on ap- 
 proaching bedrock 
 prevented profitable 
 w^orking of the lower 
 gravel, but from the 
 values recovered, 
 realized the great im- 
 portance of the 
 gravel fields if eco- 
 nomic methods could 
 be utilized, and had 
 for some time 
 thought of the then 
 little known process 
 of gold dredging in 
 connection with 
 same. He accord- 
 ingly secured favor- 
 able options on a 
 large area of ground 
 in the vicinity of 
 Oroville. Thomas 
 
 Couch, a Montana 
 mining man, was in- 
 terested in the ven- 
 ture by Frank T. 
 Southerland, a n d 
 agreed to have a 
 
 
 •^~_-.. > ■J3 
 
 :t^ 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 109 
 
 thorough test made of the gravel and to tinaiice the propositions if the 
 results proved satisfactory. 
 
 The manner of prospecting at that time was crude as compared to 
 present methods, a couple of Chinamen with picks, shovels, pans, and 
 rocker, comprised the outfit. A shaft was sunk until water-level was 
 reached and the gravel from same put through a rocker, the tailing 
 from the rocker being carefully panned. The results obtained from a 
 number of shafts sunk at various parts of the field were so satisfactory 
 that Captain Couch said that if the gravel contained gold below the 
 
 No. 83. Remnants of the first dredge at Oroville, the Feather River or 
 Couch No. 1, Oroville District, 1909. 
 
 water-level in proportion to that found above, he would feel justified 
 in ordering the construction of a dredge. In order to determine the 
 value of the gravel below water-level, permission was secured to use the 
 pumping plant of Treat, the pit being unwatered and the sides sampled. 
 The results being satisfactory, the contract was made for the first 
 dredge, the Couch No. 1, which after numerous changes and repairs 
 proved a success. Soon after this, the cooperation of the Lewishon 
 Brothers of New York was secured, and the Feather River Exploration 
 Comi)any organized; i^ractically all the stock of this company was held 
 by the Lewishons. Couch, Ilammon, and Southerland. 
 
 Whih:> much credit is due to Captain Couch, who has lieen thought 
 by many to be the principal figure in the early liislory of dredging in 
 California, it must not be overlooked that the whole scheme criginated 
 with W. P. Hammon. and it was his enterprise and faith in the project 
 that ciiconraged the others and kept the work going in spite of repeated 
 setbacks, sufficiently discouraging to overwhelm men of great determina- 
 tion. John J. Ilanilyn, the first secretary of the Feather River E.xplora- 
 tion Company, was anotluM- ])ione('r in tliis Held, and took an active part 
 in its development. 
 
 There is a great deal to be said regarding the development of the 
 dredging industry in the Oroville district, and many to whom credit 
 should be given for their part in the development of the California 
 
110 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 dredge, but time and space does not permit. It is a well known fact 
 that dredging in the Oroville district has been a great financial success, 
 and for this reason, the following table showing the production of gold 
 as nearly as can be ascertained during the first ten years of dredging 
 operations may be of interest : 
 
 Year. 
 
 Decrease. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Amount. ' Decrease. 
 
 1898 I $18,847 
 
 1899 132,412 
 
 1900 154,065 
 
 1901 396,919 
 
 1902 614,380 
 
 1903 1,329,998 
 
 1904 1,632,507 
 
 1905 .„ 
 
 1906 .-. 
 
 1907 — . 
 
 1908 — 
 
 Total 
 
 $2,261,887 
 2,768,782 
 2,697,092 
 3,043,051 
 
 $15,049,940 
 
 $71,690 
 
 The decrease in 1907 as compared with 1906 was partly due to two 
 dredges being completely wrecked and others more or less damaged by 
 
 No. 84. The old Oroville and California Company's Marion dipper dredges, wrecked by 
 floods in 1907. Oroville District. 
 
 floods during the spring of 1907, so that few of the dredges operated 
 continuously during the entire year. 
 
 During 1908, there were 35 dredges and 12 dredging companies 
 operating in the Oroville district. These were as follows : Indiana Gold 
 Dredging Company, 1 ; Butte Dredging Company, 1 ; El Oro Dredging 
 Company, 2 ; Ophir Gold Dredging Company, 2 ; Gold Run Dredg- 
 ing Company, 1 ; Viloro Syndicate, Limited, 1 ; Oro Water, Light and 
 Power Company, 6 ; Pennsylvania Dredging Company, 1 ; Oroville 
 Dredging, Limited, 9 ; Feather River Development Company, 6 dredges. 
 
"Tox^r^^xc^ 
 
 
 -^•s 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^^ 
 

 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 DREDGING IN THE OROVILLE DISTRICT. 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1909 there were thirteen companies in 
 the field, controlling about 6,450 acres and operating 30 dredges. 
 
 During the year one dredge was wrecked by floods, one reconstructed, 
 one destroyed by fire, one dismantled, and one put out of commission. 
 The following table shows the numerical strength of the dredges in the 
 Oroville district during the first and last half of 1909 : 
 
 
 Operat- 
 ing. 
 
 Recon- 
 structing. 
 
 Wrecked. 
 
 Dis- 
 mantled 
 or Closed 
 Down. 
 
 First half of 1909 
 
 30 
 28 
 
 1 1 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Last half of 1909 ._ . 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 The dredges wrecked were the Indiana No. 3, which was partly 
 destroyed by the floods of January 15th and later reconstructed and put 
 
 No. 85. Old Risdon dredge in operation. The Mangold No. 1, now dismantled. 
 
 in commission in July, and the Viloro No. 1. which was destroyed by fire 
 September 2d. The dredges dismantled or put out of commission were 
 the Leggett No. 3, w^hich was dismantled during the month of June, and 
 the Continental, which was put out of commission during the month of 
 November, liaving worked out the property. A numlier of the operating 
 dredges were laid up for repairs during the year ; among these were the 
 Empire, which turned over in the pond o^^^ng to a leak in the hull, and, 
 in consequence, was idle for the better part of two months. The Penn- 
 sylvania and Butte dredges were idle for some time, owing to repairs 
 to spuds and stackers, etc. 
 
 The heavy storms during the early part of the year delayed opera- 
 tions on some of the dredges, while minor repairs caused stoppages on 
 others, so that few of the dredges operated continuously during the 
 entire year. 
 
 The following table gives the names of the companies and dredges 
 operating in Butte County in 1909. as well as the type of the different 
 
1 
 
 d 
 
 ai 
 as 
 
 01 
 
 18! 
 18! 
 
 m 
 m 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 19( 
 
 di 
 
 
 ■id bsiiael 
 „v. , ...HiM 3TAT8 AIUHOtIJAD 
 
 -^1^^ 
 
 fl( 
 
 D 
 
 C( 
 in 
 P( 
 D 
 
 i 
 
 
 ^. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 DREDGING IN THE OROVILLE DISTRICT. 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1909 there were thirteen companies in 
 the field, controlling about 6,450 acres and operating 30 dredges. 
 
 During the j^ear one dredge was wrecked by floods, one reconstructed, 
 one destroyed by fire, one dismantled, and one put out of commission. 
 The following table shows the numerical strength of the dredges in the 
 Oroville district during the first and last half of 1909 : 
 
 
 Operat- 
 ing. 
 
 Recon- 
 structing. 
 
 Wrecked. 
 
 Dis- 
 mantled 
 or Closed 
 Down. 
 
 First half of 1909 
 
 30 
 
 28 
 
 1 1 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Last half of 1909 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 The dredges wrecked were the Indiana No. 3, which was partly 
 destroyed by the floods of January 15th and later reconstructed and put 
 
 No. 85. Old Risdon dredge in operation. The Mangold No. 1, now dismantled. 
 
 in commission in July, and the Viloro No. 1, which was destroyed by fire 
 September 2d. The dredges dismantled or put out of commission were 
 the Leggett No. 3, which was dismantled during the month of June, and 
 the Continental, which was put out of commission during the month of 
 November, having M'orked out the property. A inimber of the operating- 
 dredges were laid up for repairs during the year ; among these were the 
 Empire, which turned over in the pond owing to a leak in the hull, and, 
 in consequence, was idle for the better part of two months. The Penn- 
 sylvania and Butte dredges were idle for some time, owing to repairs 
 to spuds and stackers, etc. 
 
 The heavy storms during tlie early part of tlie yenv delayed opera- 
 tions on some of the dredges, while minor repairs caused stoppages on 
 others, so that few of the dredges operated continuously during the 
 entire year. 
 
 The following table gives the names of the companies and dredges 
 operating in Butte County in 1909, as well as the type of the ditlV'rent 
 
n2 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 No. 86. Remnants of one of the early dredges in the Oroville District. Old Risdon type. 
 
 No. 87. The Continental Dredge in 1909, after ten years in operation, four months before being 
 
 dismantled. Oroville District. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 113 
 
 dredges, the capacity of the buckets and the time the various dredges 
 have been in operation up to January 1, 1910 : 
 
 Company. 
 
 Dredge. 
 
 Type of 
 Dredge. 
 
 Date 
 Began 
 Opera- 
 tions. 
 
 
 ?3 
 
 OS: 
 
 OroviUe District. 
 Indiana Gold Drdg. and Min. Co. 
 
 Butte DredgiiiR Co. 
 
 El Oro Dredging Co. 
 
 OphirGold Dredging Co 
 
 Gardella 
 
 Gold Run Dredging Co 
 
 Viloro Syndicate, Ltd 
 
 Oro Water, Light and Power Co... 
 
 Pennsylvania Dredging Co. 
 OroviUe Dredging, Ltd 
 
 Natomas Cons, of California. 
 (Feather River Division) 
 
 Pacific Gold Dredging Co. 
 
 Leggett Gold Dredging Co 
 
 Wyman's Ravine District. 
 
 Leggett Mining Co 
 
 L. ct J. Gardella 
 
 Honcut Creek Di.<lrict. 
 Kentucky Ranch Gold Dredg. Co. 
 
 Butte Creek District. 
 Butte Creek Cons. Dredging Co... 
 
 Indiana No. 3... 
 
 Butte No. 1 
 
 El Oro No.l 
 
 El Oro No. 2 .... 
 
 Ophir 
 
 Nevada 
 
 Gardella 
 
 Baggett No. 1 ... 
 
 Viloro No. 1 
 
 Lava Bed No. 2.. 
 Lava Bed No. 3.. 
 
 Empire 
 
 Victor 
 
 Hunter 
 
 Pennsylvania... 
 California No. 2. 
 California No. 3. 
 Explorat'n No. 1. 
 Explorat'n No. 2. 
 Kxplorat'n No. 3. 
 Boston No. 4 ... 
 Continental ... 
 Feather No.l .. 
 
 (Cherokee) 
 Feather No. 2 .. 
 Feather No. 3... 
 Feather No. 4... 
 
 Pacific No. 1 
 
 Pacific No. 2 
 
 Pacific No. 3 
 
 Pacific No. 4 
 
 Leggett No. 3... 
 
 Leggett No. 4... 
 Gardella 
 
 Close 
 Close 
 
 Close 
 Close 
 Close 
 Close 
 Open 
 Open 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Open C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 
 Close C. 
 Close C. 
 Open C. 
 Close C. . 
 Close C. . 
 Close C. 
 Close C. . 
 Open C. . 
 
 1909. 
 
 Open C. 
 Open C. 
 
 Aug.... 
 
 July, '09 
 Nov. 26,'02 
 Dec. 26, '03 
 Jan. 22, '08 
 Aug. 4, '06 
 May 15,'04 
 May 1,'02 
 May 26, '06 
 Oct. 30,'04,Sept. 2 
 
 July, '03 1 
 
 Dec. 4, '04 
 April 22.'06 
 Sept. 4. '07 
 Aug. 13, '07 
 Nov., '02 
 Jan. 1,'03 
 Oct., '04 
 April, '02 
 Feb. 17,'05 
 Oct. 20,'06 
 May 2, '06 
 June, 1899 
 July, '02 
 
 Dec. 22. '06 
 Mar. 26,'08 
 Dec. 10,'02 
 Mav 1,'06 
 
 , '02 
 
 April, '04 
 
 Kentucky Open C. 
 
 Butte Creek [ Open C. 
 
 Jan. 26, '08 
 April, '04 
 
 Sept., '09 
 Oct. 12, '07 
 
 April, '09 
 May 1,'09 
 
 Nov 
 
 Dec. 31 
 
 Dec. 31 
 
 June 
 
 yr. mo. 
 6 
 7 1 
 
 6 11 
 11 
 
 3 5 
 
 5 7i 
 
 7 4 
 
 3 9 
 
 4 10 
 
 6 6 
 
 2 4 
 
 2 4i 
 7 2 
 6 
 
 5 2J 
 
 7 8i 
 
 4 lOi 
 
 3 2| 
 3 7i 
 
 10 4 
 
 7 6 
 
 3 
 
 1 9 
 
 7 
 3 
 
 7 6 
 
 5 8 
 1 11 
 5 2 
 
 4 
 2 2i 
 
 5} 
 5 
 11 
 
 Note.— Close C, Close connected; Open C, Open connected. 
 
 Tile production of gold from dredging operations in 1909 amounted 
 to about $2,900,000 or $103,571 per dredge for the average number of 
 working dredges. 
 
 The following table shoAvs the number of dredges in Butte County in 
 1910: 
 
 District. 
 
 Dredges. 
 
 
 Operat- 
 Vig. 
 
 Dis- 
 mantled. 
 
 Con- 
 structing. 
 
 Total. 
 
 OroviUe .„ 
 
 25 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 -- 
 
 1 
 
 26 
 2 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 Wyman's Ravine ... 
 
 Honcut Creek ... 
 
 Butte Creek 
 
 1 
 
 Totals 
 
 30 
 
 -- 
 
 1 
 
 31 
 
 
 8 — GO 
 
114 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 In the Oroville dis- 
 trict, on December 
 31, 1909, the Chero- 
 kee and Feather No. 4 
 dredges were perma- 
 nently closed down. 
 On the Cherokee 
 property a ISi/o-cubic- 
 foot dredge will be 
 put in operation dur- 
 ing 1910. 
 
 The Indiana Gold 
 Dredging Company 
 began operations in 
 1901 under the name 
 of the Indiana Gold 
 Dredging and Mining 
 Company, and up to 
 1907 commissioned 
 two dredges, the In- 
 diana No. 1 and No. 
 2. In 1907 the com- 
 pany made some 
 changes and reorgan- 
 ized under the laws 
 of the State of Ne- 
 vada, at the same 
 time changing t h e 
 name. The officers of 
 the company are lo- 
 cated at Oroville, 
 California, and the 
 names of the present 
 officers are as follows : 
 President, H. F. 
 Perry ; vice-presi- 
 dent, J. F. Newson; 
 secretary and mana- 
 ger, 0. C. Perry; 
 dredge superintend- 
 ent, Luther Hadley. 
 
 The holdings of the 
 company comprise 
 163 acres located in 
 sections 13 and 14, 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 115 
 
 township 19 north, range 3 east, and sections 18 and 19, township 19 
 
 north, range 4 east, all on the east side of the Feather River and about 
 
 one half to one mile distant from the 
 
 town of Oroville. The dredgeable area 
 
 comprises about 140 acres, of which more 
 
 than 100 acres have been dredged. ]\Iore 
 
 than two thirds of the dredging area 
 
 had been mined by Chinese and whites 
 
 by the processes in use before the advent 
 
 of the dredge; the rest is overflow land 
 
 located near the banks of the Feather 
 
 River. 
 
 Owing to the location of the overflow 
 land, the company has been burdened 
 with unusual expenses and serious dis- 
 asters to their dredging machines. On 
 March 17, 1907, the Indiana No. 1 and 
 No. 2 were wrecked by floods while work- 
 ing on low ground near the Feather 
 River. The machinery of No. 1 was 
 sold and put on a dredge operating at 
 Snelling, Merced County, and from the 
 wreck of No. 2, the Indiana No. 3 was 
 constructed, which was put in operation 
 in December of the same year. A little 
 over a year later, this dredge was partly 
 wrecked in the floods of January 15. 
 1909, and after being repaired and 
 partly recon.structed it was recommis- 
 sioned in July of the same year, and 
 since then has been in active operation. 
 
 The operations of the Indiana Gold 
 Dredging and Mining Company are of 
 special interest and worthy of notice 
 inasmuch as in the construction of the 
 Indiana No. 1 dredge, the company, 
 under the management of 0. B. Perry, 
 practically originated Avhat is known 
 to-day as the Bucyrus type of placer 
 mining elevator dredge. To understand 
 the difificiilties confronting the designers 
 of this dredge, one must know that the majority of the elevator dredges 
 in use for placer mining in America, up to 1901, were confined to two 
 distinct types of construction; the old style donble-lift Bucyrns type 
 of dredge, equipped with tail sluices and tail scow, and successfully 
 
116 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 used at Bannoek and Ruby, Montana, as well as in Idaho and California ; 
 and the Risdon type of dredge, constructed on the line of those operat- 
 ing in New Zealand, which was the principal type of elevator dredge in 
 use in California at that time. 
 
 The operations of the old type Bucyrus and Risdon dredges were con- 
 sidered in a measure satisfactory, and few attempts at improvements 
 
 1 
 
 No. 90. Old sand pump in operation. Indiana No. 1 Dredge. 
 
 had been made, due, probabl}^, to the policy of dredge constructors to 
 discourage the making of any changes, even in minor details, owing to 
 the cost attached thereto, and also because such changes emanated from 
 men considered comparatively inexperienced in this branch of mining. 
 It was, therefore, with difficultv that Messrs. Perry, Griffin, and 
 
 No. 91. Wreck of Indiana No. 2 Dredge in 1907. 
 
 Cameron, after failing with other concerns, persuaded the Bucyrus 
 Company, of South Milwaukee, to construct the machinery for a dredge 
 according to their ideas. The result was the Indiana No. 1 dredge, M^hich 
 as designed by 0. B. Perry, F. W. Griffin, D. P. Cameron, and Bucj^rus 
 Company, marked a decided change in dredge construction. It may be 
 said that the large dredges in California, to-day, are improvements along 
 the lines followed in the construction of this dredge. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 117 
 
 The Indiana Xo. 1 dredge was put in commission July 4. 1901, and 
 was in active operation for about six years, during which time it turned 
 over 48.82 acres of ground, and handled 2,645,330 cubic yards of gravel, 
 until destroyed by the floods of March 17, 1907. A general description 
 of this dredge is given in the following : Close-connected-bucket elevator 
 dredge, built to dig 35 feet below the surface of the water, and equipped 
 with plate-girder digging ladder, 78 feet long between centers, carrying 
 79 close-connected buckets in line, each of 3i/^-cubic-foot capacity, 
 dumping at a rate of 20 per minute and driven by a 50-horsepower 
 motor. The hull was 86 feet long, 35 feet wide on Avater-line, and 6 feet 
 3 inches deep, with a draught of 4 feet 6 inches. The stacker was a 
 Robins belt conveyor, 86 feet long between centers, carrying a 28-inch 
 
 No. 92. Indiana No. 3 Dredge, reconstructed from machinery of Indiana No. 2, 
 Oroville District. 
 
 belt, 180 feet long, and driven by a 20-horsepower motor. The washing 
 screens Avere of the flat shaking-screen type, with eccentric drive, and 
 driven by a 20-horsepower motor. An 8-inch centrifugal pump, driven 
 by a 40-horsepower motor, supplied water to the screens and gold-saving 
 tables. The sand pump, which was not in constant use, was driven by a 
 30-horsepower motor. 
 
 The gold-saving tables were constructed of wood and Avere of the 
 present side-table type, equipped with riffles and quicksilver traps, hav- 
 ing a total riffle area of 528 square feet. The collecting and distributing 
 pan used in connection with the washing and gold-saving arrangement, 
 consisted of a steel tray, having the bottom arranged to give a down 
 grade toward the center of the tray, the width and length being equal 
 to the size of the shaking screen. It was placed directly under the screen 
 to collect the screened gravel and to deposit same upon the gold-saving 
 tables placed directly below, through three 3-inch wide, elongated holes, 
 controlled by sliding plate doors. 
 
118 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 This dredge was constructed by Griffin and Cameron, who also in- 
 stalled Bucyrus machinery. The satisfactory operation of this dredge 
 brought about the reconstruction of the Continental which was of the 
 Bucyrus double-lift type, equipped with tail sluices and tail scow. 
 
 The Indiana No. 2 dredge was put in commission in February, 1903, 
 and constructed slightly larger and heavier than No. 1 dredge, but 
 along the same general lines. It was built to dig 36 feet below the 
 water-line, and was equipped with a plate-girder ladder, 88 feet long 
 between centers, carrying 80 buckets in line, each of -l-cubic-foot capac- 
 
 No. 93. Wreck of Indiana No. 3 Dredge in 1908. Oroville District. 
 
 ity, dumping at a rate of 18 per minute, and driven by a 50-horse- 
 power motor. 133,000 feet of lumber were used in the construction of 
 the hull, which was 80 feet long, 32 feet w^ide on water-line, and 6 feet 
 3 inches deep, with a draught of 4 feet. The washing screens were flat 
 shaking with eccentric drive, and the tailing stacker, a Robins belt 
 conveyor. The gold-saving arrangement was on the same order as that 
 installed upon the Continental dredge. The electric motor equipment 
 had a rated capacity of 150-horsepower, distributed as follows : For the 
 supply of water to screens and gold-saving tables, one 30-horsepower, 
 C. S., motor; sand pump, 30-horsepower motor; shaking screen and 
 stacker, one 20-horsepow^er, C. S., motor; digging or bucket drive motor, 
 50-horsepower, V. S. ; starboard winch motor, 20-horsepower. All the 
 motors were Westinghouse Company, 400 volt, 3 phase, 60 cycles. 
 This dredge was constructed by the Western Engineering and Construc- 
 tion Company, who installed Bucyrus machinery, 
 
 Indiana No. 3. — The construction and general design of Indiana 
 No. 3 dredge is practically the same as that of No. 2 dredge. 
 
 During the year 1908, the No. 3 dredge handled 250,959 cubic yards 
 of gravel, and up to January 1, 1909, the three dredges handled together 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 119 
 
 a total of about 5,470,370 cubic yards of gravel, and turned over about 
 100 acras of ground. 
 
 The Indiana Company also controls and operates the Indiana Machine 
 Shop Company, in which it employs about twenty-two men a day. In 
 their dredging operations, the company employs about eleven men. 
 
 Butte Dredging Company. — Was organized under the laws of the 
 State of Nevada, and the officers are as follows : President and manager, 
 William S. Noyes ; secretary and treasorer, B. S. Noyes, Mills Building, 
 San Francisco, California ; dredge superintendent, Harrison Appel. 
 
 No. 94. Reconstructing Indiana No. 3, June, 1909. Oroville District. 
 
 Oroville, California. The company'- owns one dredge which was put in 
 commission November 26, 1902, and dismantled in July, 1910. 
 
 The holdings of this company comprise an area of 80 acres located 
 on the west side of the Feather River, in section 7, township 19 north, 
 range 4 east, in Thermalito, and lots 134 to 137 of the townsite of Oro- 
 ville. ]\Iost of the ground was mined by hand or hydraulic processes 
 previous to dredging, and all of it is located on low, bar land, subject to 
 overflow during flood times. The gravel, which is overlain by hydraulic 
 tailing, was prospected by means of drills with test holes at intervals 
 of about one to every four acres. It is a loose river gravel, carrying 
 about 40 per cent of sand, and averaging 34 feet in depth to bedrock. 
 
 The Butte dredge is a close-connected-bucket elevator dredge, con- 
 structed by the Western Engineering and Construction Company, and 
 equipped with Bucyrus machinery. It was tlie first dredge to be con- 
 structed on the lines laid down in the design of tlie Indiana No. 1 dredge, 
 but was made larger and heavier than that dredge, the luiU being 10 feet 
 longer, and 6 feet Avider, and the machinerv heavier througliout. It was 
 
120 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 built to dig 36 feet below water-line. The hull is 90 feet long. 36 feet 
 wide, 7 feet deep, and has a draught of 41/2 feet. The digging ladder is 
 box-girder construction, carrying ninety 3i^-cubic-foot buckets. The 
 buckets weigh, each, 750 pounds, and the bucket bottoms, 452 pounds. 
 The screens are end-shaking, 7 feet wide, and 25 feet 3 inches long, hav- 
 ing an area of 129.6 square feet. The stacker is a Robins belt conveyor, 
 90 feet long between centers, carrying a 28-inch stacker belt, 188 feet 
 long. The gold-saving tables are arranged on the Holmes system, and 
 have an actual riffle surface of about 750 square feet. 
 
 No. 95. Butte No. 1 Dredge, 3J-cubic-foot, California type, Oroville District, July, 1909. 
 Repairing stern. Dismantled in 1910. See pages 205 and 206. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed upon the dredge has a rated 
 
 capacity of 165-horsepower, distributed as follows : 
 
 Pressure pump, 8-ineh Worthington centrifugal 40 h. p. motor 440 volts 
 
 Primary pump, 2-lneli Worthington volute 5 h. p. motor 440 volts 
 
 Sand pump, 6-incla Morris sand pump 30 h.p. motor 440 volts 
 
 Screen and stacker 20 h.p. motor 440 volts 
 
 Bucket drive 50 h.p. motor 440 volts 
 
 Winch motor 20 h.p. motor 440 volts 
 
 Rated capacity 165 h.p. 
 
 Average motor output 86 h.p. 
 
 All motors are General Electric Company. 
 
 Up to January 1, 1909, or during a little over six years, the dredge 
 turned over 40 acres of ground and handled about 2,665,000 cubic 
 yards of gravel. The company employs an average of eleven men and. 
 taken over a period of five years, has an average monthly pay roll of 
 $1,113.05. 
 
 El Oro Dredging Company. — This company began operations in 1904 
 and up to 1910 has commissioned two dredges, the El Oro No. 1 and 
 No. 2. The company was organized under the laws of Arizona, and the 
 present officers are as follows: President and manager, William S.. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 121 
 
 Noyes; vice-president, Ehvyn W. Stebbins; secretary and treasurer, 
 the company are located in the ]\Iills Building. San Francisco. Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 The company holdings comprise an area of 218.54 acres, located on 
 the east side of the Feather River about one mile inland, in sections 17 
 and 20, township 19 north, range 4 east. Practically all of this land 
 was covered by placer pits as a result of the early Chinese mining 
 previous to dredging. The gravel deposit is one of the most difficult to 
 dredge in Oroville district ; it is very tight and in places partly 
 cemented, and carries throughout considerable clay. The ground was 
 prospected by means of drills, with one test hole to every nine acres. 
 
 iiyi 
 
 No. 96. EI Oro No. 1 Dredge. Constructed by the Link-Belt Company of Chicago, Illinois. 
 
 The dredges were designed and constructed by the Link-Belt Com- 
 pany, of Chicago, Illinois, and are of the close-connected-bucket type of 
 placer mining elevator dredge, and were the first Link-Belt Companj^ 
 dredges in the district. 
 
 Up to January 1. 1909. while digging to an average depth of 30 feet, 
 the two dredges turned over 67.97 acres of ground and handled 
 3,310,000 cubic yards of gravel, an average of 84 cubic yards per work- 
 ing hour. During the year 1908, the two dredges handled, together, a 
 total of 1,190,193 cubic yards of gravel. 
 
 The El Oro No. 1 dredge was put in commis.sion December 26. 1903, 
 and has been in active operation for over six years. A general descrip- 
 tion of this dredge is as follows : 
 
 HhU. 
 
 Length 90 feet 
 
 Width 45 feet 
 
 Depth 7Afeet 
 
 Draught 6 feet 
 
 Mechanical Equipment. 
 
 Capacity of buckets 5 cubic feet 
 
 Average buckets per minute.. 18 
 
 Number of buckets in chain 90 
 
 Weight of buckets, each 1.53.3 pounds 
 
 Weight of bucket bottoms 928 pounds 
 
 Digging ladder, plate-girder type... 72 feet fiiinchos long 
 
 Screens, end-shaking, area llfi.2 square feet 
 
 Length of stacker, between centers 90 feet 
 
 Stacker belt .30 inches wide, U>n f.'Pt long 
 
122 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The ^old-saving tallies are arranged on the Hohnes system, and have 
 a riffle area of 420.7 square feet. The ladder-hoist lines are one inch, 
 the port and starboard bowlines are %-inch steel cables. The winch is 
 Link-Belt Company, seven drum. The upper tumbler is pentagon, the 
 lower tumbler is hexagon, and the spuds are made of wood and steel, 
 respectively. 
 
 No. 97. El Oro No. 2 Dredge, Oroville District, California. 
 
 The electric motor equipment has a rated capacity of 290-horsepower, 
 
 distributed as follows : 
 
 Pressure pump, 10-ineh Worthington centrifugal pump 100 h.p. 
 
 Primary pump, Worthington 2J-inch volute pump 5 h.p. 
 
 Sand pump, 6-inch Morris sand 40 h.p. 
 
 Shaker 20 h.p. 
 
 Bucket drive 75 h.p. 
 
 Stacker 20 h.p. 
 
 Winch 30 h.p. 
 
 Rated capacity 290 h.p. 
 
 All motors General Electric Company. The average power consumed 
 while in full operation is 137-horsepower or 102 kilowatts. 
 
 The El Oro No. 2 was built a little larger and heavier than dredge 
 No. 1, but along the same lines and by the same construction company. 
 This dredge has a total motor capacity of 390-horsepower, an average 
 motor output of 161-horsepower, and an average kilowatt output of 
 120 kilowatts. It began operations January 22, 1908. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 123 
 
 The company employs an average of thirty men, and has an average 
 monthly pay roll of $3,194.93. 
 
 Ophir Gold Dredging Company. — This company has an operating 
 plant of two dredges. It was organized under the laws of the State of 
 Nevada. The offices are located in the Clunie Building, San Francisco, 
 California, and the olScers are as follows: President, A. F. L. Bell; 
 vice-president, Roger Johnson ; secretary and treasurer, F. S. Mayhew ; 
 managers, Brayton and Mayhew; superintendent, R. E. Gruber. 
 
 The holdings of this company comprise an area of about 211 acres, 
 located in sections 17, 18, and 19, township 19 north, range 4 east, 
 about one mile inland on the east side of the Feather River. Less than 
 one half of this land was planted to orchard, etc., and most of it had 
 been mined previous to dredging. The gravel Avas well prospected by 
 drills, and averages about 27 feet in depth to bedrock; in character, 
 the deposit is fairly compact, carrying in places considerable clay, but 
 few large boulders. 
 
 Part of the holdings of this company belonged formerly to the Nevada 
 Gold Dredging Company, which was originally the Central Gold Dredg- 
 ing Company. The Nevada dredge, now operated by the Ophir Com- 
 pany, was originally commissioned ]May 15, 1904, by the Central Gold 
 Dredging Company. Later, when this company was taken over by the 
 Nevada Company, the name of the dredge was changed to Nevada and 
 has remained the same after the consolidation of the Nevada Company 
 with the Ophir Company. The Ophir dredge was commissioned August 
 4. 1906, and is the only dredge put in operation by the Ophir Gold 
 Dredging Company. Both dredges are of the close-connected-bucket 
 elevator type constructed by the Western Engineering and Construction 
 Company, and equipped with Bucj-rus machinery. 
 
 The total yardage handled by the two dredges during the year ending 
 December 31. 1908, was about 1,064,000 cubic yards of gravel. The 
 total yardage handled by the Ophir dredge during the first three years 
 in operation amounted to about 1,800,000 cubic yards. 
 
 The Ophir dredge was built to dig 36 feet below water-line. The hull 
 is 100 feet long, 36 feet wide on water-line, about 40 feet wide on deck 
 line. 7 feet 9 inches deep, and has a draught of 5 feet. The digging 
 ladder is lattice-girder construction 83 feet long between centers, weiglis 
 58,103 pounds, and carries 77 5-cubic-foot buckets, weighing each 1,428 
 pounds, and dumping at the rate of twenty per minute. The stacker is 
 a Robins belt conveyor, 90 feet long between centers, carrying a 28-inch 
 belt, 186 feet long. The shaking screens are 7 feet and 7 feet 9 inches 
 wide, respectively, and are 14 feet long. The gold-saving tables are of 
 the Holmes system, having an actual riffle surface of 832 square feet. 
 
124 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The electric motor equipment on the dredge has a rated capacity of 
 26214-horsepower, distributed as follows : 
 
 S-inch pressure pump 50 h. p. motor 900r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 5-inch hopper and primary pump 7^ h.p. motor 1800 r. p.m. C.S. 
 
 Sand pump 50 h. p. motor 900 r. p.m. C.S. 
 
 Shaking screen 20 h. p. motor 1200 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Bucket drive 100 h.p. motor 720 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Stacker 15 h.p. motor 1200 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Winch 20 h.p. motor 1200 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Rated capacity 2622 h.p. 
 
 All motors are General Electric Company, 3-phase, 60-eyeles, 400-volts. 
 This dredge was put in operation August 4, 1906, and is in good 
 working condition after a little over three years of active service. 
 
 The Nevada dredge w^as put in commission over two years prior to the 
 Ophir, and is, in every respect, smaller and lighter. This dredge was 
 built to dig 36 feet below the water-line. The hull is 90 feet long, 32 
 feet wide, on the water-line, 6 feet 3 inches deep and draws 4 feet ; the 
 digging ladder is plate-girder construction, and carries 92 4-cubic-foot 
 buckets, weighing, each, 625 pounds, dumping on an average of 19 per 
 minute. The revolving screen is 6 feet in diameter, 24 feet long. The 
 stacker is a Robins belt conveyor, 85 feet long between centers, carrying 
 a 28-inch stacker belt, 176 feet long. 
 
 The gold-saving arrangement consists of wood side-tables, equipped 
 with Hungarian riffles and C[uicksilver traps. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed upon the dredge has a total 
 capacity of 168-horsepower, distributed as follows : 
 
 Pressure pump 40 h.p. motor 900 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Primary pump 3 h.p. motor 1800 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Sand pump 50 h.p. motor 900 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Shaking screen 15 h.p. motor 1200 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Bucket drive 50 h.p. motor 720 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Stacker 15 h.p. motor 1200 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Winch 15 h.p. motor 1200 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Rated capacity 168 h.p. 
 
 All motors General Electric Company, 440-voIt, 3-phase, 60 cycles. 
 
 This dredge was put in commission May 15, 1904, and after nearly six 
 years in operation, is in good working condition. It was the first close- 
 connected-bucket elevator dredge to be equipped with revolving screen. 
 
 The company emploj^s about twenty men. 
 
 Gardella Dredging. — This is a private concern owned by Laurence 
 Gardella, of Oroville, California, and operating one dredge. 
 
 The holdings comprise an area of 40 acres, formerly planted to 
 orchard, located in section 18, township 19 north, range 4 east, about 
 one mile inland on the east side of the Feather River. 
 
 Gardella dredge, formerly known as California No. 1 dredge, was 
 originally built for the Boston and California Dredging Company in 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUXTY. 
 
 125 
 
 1903. It was constructed by the Risdon Iron Works and after serving 
 its usefulness with the original company, was sold to Gardella. After 
 working out the Gardella property at Oroville, the dredge was dis- 
 mantled late in 1909 and moved to Honcut Creek, where it began opera- 
 tions in February. 1910, on the Gardella holdings. 
 
 Gold Bnn Dredging Company began operations in 1906 and has an 
 operating plant of one dredge, known as Baggett No. 1. The officers of 
 this company are as follows : President. N. R. Baggett ; first vice-presi- 
 dent. R. E. Starr; secretary. D. Jones; treasurer. R. E. Starr; manager, 
 
 
 < 
 
 S^|a^^^^^ 
 
 w^^^^^Bl^S^'^^ '""^f^^c^i^SH 
 
 
 ^j^p^i^*^' jKb^^!J5'BPJfiB8yS^ 
 
 c* 
 
 "-"^ *#r«r-. 
 
 No. 98. Drilling blast holes in front of dredge for the purpose of loosening gravel. 
 Gold Run property, Oroville District. 
 
 L. N. Parks; main office. 3Iills Building, San Francisco; manager's 
 office, Oroville, California. 
 
 The holdings comprise an area of 122 acres, located in sections 20 and 
 29, township 19 north, range 4 east, on the east side of the Feather 
 River, about one and one fourth miles inland. Practically all of tliis 
 land was uncultivated and had been mined l\v hand previous to 
 dredging. 
 
 The gravel was prospected by means of shafts, and, like the El Oro 
 deposit, it is very compact and in places partly cemented, carrying 
 consideralile day and some large boulders. The average depth to bed- 
 
126 GOLD DREDGING EST CALIFORNIA. 
 
 rock is about 35 feet. An electrically driven Keystone drilling machine 
 is operated ahead of the dredge and the ground is loosened by blasting 
 the drill holes. 
 
 The Baggett dredge was put in commission May 26, 1906, and since 
 beginning of operations has turned over about 28 acres of ground and 
 handled 1,500,000 cubic yards of gravel. The dredge was designed and 
 constructed by the Risdon Iron "Works and is of the new Risdon type. 
 The following is a general description of the dredge : 
 
 Hull. 
 
 Length 94 feet 
 
 Width 34 feet 
 
 Depth 7feet 
 
 Draught 4 feet 6 inches 
 
 Mechanical Equipuient. 
 
 Capacity of buckets 7 cubic feet 
 
 Buckets per minute 12 
 
 Number of buckets in chain 37 
 
 Weight of buckets, each 1,500 pounds 
 
 Weight of links, each 440 pounds 
 
 Digging ladder, solid girder 74 feet long, 45,000 pounds 
 
 Revolving screen 26 feet long 
 
 Stacker, Risdon bucket type; gold-saving area, 360 square feet. 
 The electric motor equipment has a total rated capacity of 215-horse- 
 pow^er, distributed as follows : 
 
 Motor Equipment. 
 
 Pressure pump 50 h.p. 
 
 Primary pump 5 h.p. 
 
 Revolving screen 10 h.p. 
 
 Bucket drive 75 h.p. 
 
 Stacker 20 h.p. 
 
 Winch 20 h.p. 
 
 Ladder hoist 35h.p. 
 
 Rated capacity 215h.p. 
 
 The dredge is roomy, well-kept, and in good working order. Owing 
 to the hard digging it is contemplated changing the bucket-line to close- 
 connected. 
 
 The company emploj-s about twelve men. 
 
 Viloro Syndicate, Limited. — This company began operations in 190-1, 
 and up to 1909, operated one dredge, the Viloro No. 1. The secretary 
 is C. W. Moore, with offices at 5 London Wall Building, Loudon, Eng- 
 land. The American agent is H. L. Gunzburger, with offices at 519 
 California street, San Francisco. The members of the London Com- 
 mittee are Walter IMcDermott, chairman ; INIichall Arg David. Thomas 
 H. Leggett. The local manager at Oroville, California, is W. H. James. 
 
 The holdings of the company comprise an area of 200 acres, located 
 in sections 5, 19, and 30, township 19 north, range 4 east, on the east 
 side of the Feather River, about one and one half miles inland. The 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 127 
 
 dredgeable area comprises about 170 acres, of which about 150 acres 
 had been previously mined by hand, and none of this ground was 
 suitable for cultivation. The property was prospected by means of 
 drills. The gravel deposit is compact, carrying medium coarse gravel, 
 and in places, considerable clay. The average depth to bedrock is about 
 30 feet. A little platinum is recovered with the gold. 
 
 The Viloro No. 1 dredge was commissioned October 30, 1904, and was 
 destroved by fire on September 2. 1909. after nearly five years in opera- 
 
 No. 99. New type Risdon dredge, showing front gantry with ladder hoist. The Baggett 
 No. 1 ; 7-cubic-foot buckets. Gold Run Dredging Company, Oroville, Gal. 
 
 tion. The disaster occurred during the night, when the hull sprang a 
 leak, and it is thought that when the dredge listed, the electric wires 
 became entangled, thus starting the fire. The dredge had just under- 
 gone repairs and had been made ready to resume operations. This com- 
 pany bought the California No. 3 dredge from the Oroville Dredging 
 Limited, to replace the Viloro dredge. 
 
 The Viloro No. 1 was a close-connected-bucket elevator dredge, con- 
 structed b}' the Western Engineering and Construction Company, and 
 equipped Avith Bucyrus machinery. It was built to dig 36 feet below the 
 water-line. The hull was 98 feet long, 36 feet Avide on water-line, 7 feet 
 deep, and had a draught of 5 feet. The digging ladder was lattice-girder 
 
r2b 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 129 
 
 construction, 78 feet long between 
 centers, and carried 72 5-cubic- 
 foot buckets, weighing, eacli, 1,254 
 pounds, and dumping at the rate 
 of 20 per minute. The shaking 
 screen was 7 feet wide and 28 feet 
 long, with an area of 162 square 
 feet. The stacker was a Robins 
 belt conveyor, 90 feet long between 
 centers, carrying a 30-inch stacker 
 belt, 185 feet long. 
 
 The electric motor equipment in- 
 stalled upon the dredge had a rated 
 capacity of 242i/2-horsepower, dis- 
 tributed as follows : Two 7-inch 
 pressure pumps, 50-horsepower ; 
 primary pump, 3-horsepower ; sand 
 pump. 30 - horsepower ; shaking 
 screen . 20-horsepo wer ; bucket 
 drive, 100-horsepower; stacker, 15- 
 horsepower; winch, 20-horsepower. 
 All motors were General Electric 
 Company, 3-phase, 60-cycles, 440- 
 volt. 
 
 The gold - saving arrangement 
 consisted, in a general wiiy, of 
 wood side-tables equipped with 
 Hungarian riffles and quicksilver 
 traps, and had a riffle area of about 
 1,000 square feet. 
 
 Oro Water, Light and Power 
 Company. — This company began 
 operations in 1903 and has an 
 operating plant of five dredges. 
 The officers are, president, J. W. 
 Goodwin ; secretary and treasurer, 
 J. K. ]\Ioffatt, Chronicle Building, 
 San Francisco, California; man- 
 ager. Karl Krug, Oroville, Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 The holdings of the company 
 comprise an area of about 1,616 
 acres, of which about 1,300 are 
 
 9— GD 
 
130 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 located on the east side of the Feather River in sections 18, 19, and 30, 
 township 19 north, range 4 east, and in sections 25 and 33, township 19 
 north, range 3 east, and section 3, township 18 north, range 3 east ; and 
 
 No. 102. Showing front gantry and bucket-line on an old Risdon dredge. The Marigold 
 No. 2, now out of commission. 
 
 the rest on the west side of the river in section 24, township 19 north, 
 range 3 east. The dredgeable area is estimated at about 1,400 acres, all 
 of which is inland, and most was unsuitable for horticultural purposes. 
 
 No. 103. Marigold No. 2 Dredge in 1909. Oroville District. 
 
 The company took over the holdings of the Lava Bed Dredging Com- 
 pany with an operating plant of two new elevator dredges, and one 
 dredge out of commission ; and the Marigold Gold Dredging Company 
 wdth two Risdon elevator dredges, now out of commission. Three of the 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 131 
 
 dredges now in operation were installed by the present company and are 
 all of the elose-eonneeted-bucket elevator type. 
 
 The names of the dredges at present operating are as follows: Lava 
 Bed No. 2, and No. 3, Empire, Hunter, and Victor. All of these 
 dredges are 5-eubic-foot close-conneeted-bueket elevator dredges, con- 
 structed by the "Western Engineering and Construction Company and 
 equipped with Bucyrus machiner}-. ^Mechanically they are practically 
 the same. A general description of the dredges is as follows : 
 
 Lava Bed No. 2. — This dredge, which was originally constructed for 
 the Lava Bed Dredging Company, was put in commission in July, 1903. 
 It was built to dig 36 feet below the water-line, and is equipped with 
 5-eubie-foot buckets. 190,000 feet of lumber were used in the construc- 
 tion of the hull, which is 96 feet long, 36 feet wide on water-line, and 7 
 feet deep, with a draught of 4 feet 6 inches. The stacker is a Robins 
 belt conveyor, 90 feet long between centers, carrying a 30-inch belt, 187 
 feet long. The washing screens are flat, shaking with eccentric drive, 
 and the gold-saving tables are the same as those ordinarily installed 
 upon standard California elevator dredges. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed upon the dredge has a rated 
 capacity of 208-horsepower, distributed as follows : 
 
 Pressure pump, for supply of water to screens 
 
 and gold tables 50 h. p. motor 850 r.p.m. CS. 
 
 Primary pump, for supply of water to hopper.. 3 h.p. motor 1700 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Sand pump, not often used 30 h.p. motor 850 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Shaking screen and tailing stacker motor, to- 
 gether 30 h.p. motor 850 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Main digging or bucket drive motor 75 h.p. motor 600 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Starboard winch motor 20 h.p. motor 1200 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Rated capacity 208 h.p. 
 
 All motors are Westinghouse Company. 3-phase. 60-cycles, 400-volt. 
 
 Lava Bed No. 3. — This dredge, which was constructed for the Lava 
 Bed Dredging Company, was put in commission December 4, 1904. It 
 was constructed slightly larger and heavier than No. 2 dredge, but along 
 the same general lines. It was built to dig 40 feet below the w^ater-line, 
 and is ecpiipped with 5-cubic-foot buckets, which dump at the rate of 20 
 per minute. Each of the buckets weighs 1.125 pounds, and the plate- 
 girder digging ladder has a total weight of 54,524 pounds. The washing 
 screens are flat, shaking, and the gold-saving tables are arranged much 
 on the same order as those used on No. 2 dredge. The tailing stacker is 
 a Robins belt conveyor, 90 feet long, carrying a 30-inch belt, 187 feet 
 long. It required ] 95,000 feet of lumber in the construction of the hull, 
 which is 104 feet long, 36 feet wide on water-line, and 7 feet deep, with 
 a draught of 4 feet 6 inches. 
 
132 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The electric motor equipment as installed upon the dredge has a 
 
 rated capacity of 203-horsepower, distributed as follows : 
 
 Pressure pump, two 7-inch direct-connected to 
 
 one 50 li.p. motor 685 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Primary pump 3 h. p. motor 1800 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Shaking screen 15 h. p. motor 1200 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Main digging or bucket drive 100 h. p. motor 600 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Tailing stacker 15 h. p. motor 1200 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Starboard winch 20 h. p. motor 900 r.p.m. "V.S. 
 
 Rated capacity 203 h. p. 
 
 All motors are Westinghouse Company, 3-phase, 60-cycles, 400-volt. 
 
 Empire Dredge. — This dredge was put in commission April 22, 
 1906. It was built to dig 38 feet below the water-line, and is equipped 
 with 82 5-cubic-foot buckets weighing, each, 1,330 pounds, and dump- 
 ing at the rate of 19 per minute. The digging ladder weighs complete 
 
 No. 104. Empire Dredge, 5-cubic-foot, California type. Oroville District. 
 
 03,925 pounds. The revolving screen is 24 feet long and 6 feet in diam- 
 eter; and the tailing stacker is a Robins belt conveyor, of lattice- 
 girder construction, 90 feet long between centers, and carries a belt 30 
 inches wide and 187 feet long. It required 210,000 feet of lumber in the 
 construction of the hull, which is 102 feet long, 36 feet wide on water- 
 line, and 7 feet 9 inches deep, with a draught of 5 feet. For supplying 
 water to screen and gold tables, which are of the Holmes type, the 
 dredge is equipped with one 8-inch centrifugal pump, delivering 1,800 
 gallons per minute against a 60-foot head. Water for the hopper and 
 spraying pumps is being supplied by a l-inch centrifugal pump, operat- 
 ing against a 65-foot head. 
 
 The electric motor equipment as installed upon the dredge has a 
 rated capacity of 225-horsepower, distributed as follows: 
 
 Pressure pump, one 8-inch centrifugal 50 h.p. motor 850 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Primary pump, one 4-inch 15 h.p. motor 1120 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Revolving screen and stacker, together 20 h.p. motor 1120 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Main digging or bucket drive 100 h.p. motor 600 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Tailing stacker 20 h.p. motor 1120 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Starboard winch 20h.p.motor 900 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Rated capacity 225 h.p. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 133 
 
 Hunter Dredge. — This 
 dredge was put in com- 
 mission August 13, 1907. 
 It is built to dig 38 feet 
 below the water-line, and 
 is equipped with 82 5- 
 cubic-foot buckets, dump- 
 ing at the rate of 20 per 
 minute, and weighing, 
 each. 1.291 pounds. It 
 required 215,000 feet of 
 lumber in the construc- 
 tion of the hull, which is 
 102 feet long, 36 feet 
 wide, on water-line, and 
 7 feet 9 inches deep, with 
 a draught of 5 feet. The 
 revohdng screen is 25 feet 
 6 inches long, with a 
 diameter of 6 feet, and 
 operates at a speed of 
 nine revolutions per min- 
 ute. The stacker is a 
 Robins belt conveyor, of 
 lattice - girder construc- 
 tion. 102 feet long be- 
 tween centers, carrying a 
 belt 30 inches wide, and 
 about 212 feet long. The 
 gold-saving tables are the 
 same as those installed 
 upon the standard eleva- 
 tor dredges in California. 
 The water supply for 
 washing and sluicing 
 purposes is furnished by 
 one 8-inch centrifugal 
 pump, delivering 1,800 
 gallons per minute 
 against a 50-foot head, 
 and the water supply for 
 hopper and priming 
 pumps, etc., is furnished 
 by one 4-inch centrifugal 
 pump, operating against 
 
134 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 a 65-foot head. The electric motor equipment as installed upon the 
 dredge has a rated capacity of 225-horsepower, distributed as follows: 
 
 Pressure pump, one 8-inch centrifugal 50 h.p. motor 850 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Primary pump, one 4-inch centrifugal 15 h.p. motor 1120 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Revolving screen 20 h.p. motor 1120 r.p.m. C.S. 
 
 Main digging or bucket drive, one 100 h.p. motor 600 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Tailing stacker, one 20 h.p. motor 1120 r.ii.m. C.S. 
 
 Starboard winch motor, one 20 h.p. motor 900 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
 Rated capacity 225 h.p. 
 
 All the motors are Westinghouse Company 3-phase, 60-cycle, 400-volt. 
 
 The Victor dredge was put in commission September 4, 1907, and in 
 construction is practically a duplicate of the Hunter dredge. The com- 
 pany employs an average of 60 men. 
 
 New York Machine Shoj). — Aside from dredging operations, the Oro 
 Water, Light, and Power Company controls and operates the New York 
 Machine Shop, which is well eciuipped and large enough to handle all the 
 repairs necessary to the dredges. 
 
 Pennsylvania Gold Dredging Company. — This company began opera- 
 tions in 1902, and has an operating plant of one dredge. The company 
 is controlled by S. W. Cheney, with offices at 327 First street, San Fran- 
 cisco. James Nesbit is superintendent at Oroville. 
 
 The company holdings comprise an area of 155.5 acres, located on the 
 east side of the Feather River in section 25, township 19 north, range 3 
 east, and formerly the property of the California Dredging Company, 
 which had an operating plant consisting of one dipper dredge. Most of 
 the ground had been mined by hand previous to dredging and none of 
 it was cultivated with success. The property was prospected by means 
 of drills. The gravel is medium coarse and free from clay, averaging 
 about 28 feet in depth to bedrock. 
 
 Tlie Pennsylvania dredge was put in operation in November, 1902. 
 It was designed and constructed by the Golden State Miners ' Iron Works 
 of San Francisco, and differs in many points of construction from those 
 operating in the field. It is of the close-connected-bucket elevator 
 type, having 54 buckets in line, each of 6-cubic-foot capacity, and made 
 of solid cast steel, each weighing 1,450 pounds. The hull is 80 feet long, 
 and 36 feet wide on water-line, with a draught of 5i/2 feet. The gold- 
 saving arrangement is of special design, having a riffle surface of about 
 800 square feet. There are two shaking-screens, one above the other; 
 the upper having 1^-inch holes, and the lower, 14-inch holes. After 
 the upper screen wore out it was not replaced, so that the dredge has, 
 now, but one set of shaking-screens, similar to those in use on the other 
 dredges. The stacker is a belt conveyor, driven from the outer end. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed upon the dredge has a total 
 capacity of 220-horsepower, distributed as follows: Pressure pump 
 
DREDGING DI8TfUCTS BLTTE COl'NTY. 
 
 135 
 
 and shaking screen mo- 
 tor 75-horsepower, rated 
 capacity, consuming 40- 
 horsepower while in 
 full operation ; bucket 
 drive motor, 75-horse- 
 power ; stacker drive 
 motor, 10-horsepower ; 
 winch motor, 20-horse- 
 power; river pump mo- 
 tor, 30-horsepower ; and 
 one extra pump motor, 
 10-horsepower. 
 
 Up to January 1, 1909, 
 the dredge has handled 
 about 3.500,000 cubic 
 yards of gravel. See 
 illustration No. 107 on 
 page 136. 
 
 OroviUe Dredging, 
 Limited. — This c o m - 
 pany has an operating 
 plant of six dredges and 
 one machine shop. The 
 company is capitalized 
 for $3,500,000, divided 
 into 700.000 shares of 
 $5 each. The officers 
 are as follows: Direct- 
 ors, chairman, Frederick 
 "William Baker, 3 and 
 
 4 Lothbury, London, 
 E. C. ; Francis David 
 Behrend, 3 Little Stan- 
 hope street, London W. ; 
 Sidney Arthur Bird. 3 
 and 4 Lothbury, Lon- 
 don. E. C. ; Henry David 
 Boyle. 8 Old Jewry, 
 London, E. C. ; secre- 
 tary. Henry Richards, 
 
 5 Moorgate street, Lon- 
 don : LTcnt^ral manager. 
 
136 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 137 
 
 W. P. Hammon, Alaska Commercial building, San Francisco, Cali- 
 fornia ; local manager at Oroville, John J. Hamlyn. 
 
 In the Oroville district the holdings of the company comprise an area 
 of about 1,346 acres, located in sections 18 and 19, township 19 north, 
 range 4 east, on the east side of the Feather River, extending as far as 
 one mile inland, and in sections 23, 24, 25, and 26, township 19 north, 
 range 3 east, on the west side of the Feather River, extending as far as 
 two miles inland. With the exception of about 200 acres, none of this 
 land has been under cultivation, and practically all of it was mined 
 previous to dredging. The properties were carefully prospected by 
 means of drills. The gravel averages about 121/2 cents per cubic yard, 
 and in character ranges from a clean, loose, river wash, to a heavy bench 
 graviel, in places partly cemented, and at times carrying considerable 
 clay. The average depth to bedrock is about 30 feet. 
 
 In the Bear River district, the company owns 993 acres, located in the 
 Bear River Basin in Placer and Yuba counties. 
 
 It being the policy of the management of the Oroville Dredging, 
 Limited, to preserve the identity of each of the companies operating 
 under the consolidation, a general description of the operations of these 
 subsidiary companies is given. The following is a general summary of 
 the operations for the twelve months ending July 31, 1907, during 
 which time there were twelve dredges in operation, a greater number 
 than at anv time since the consolidation. 
 
 Total Cost. 
 
 Operating $116,402.56 
 
 Electricity 57,013.33 
 
 Water ! 6,995.00 
 
 Repairs 184,509.61 
 
 General expenses 34,997.06 
 
 Taxes and insurance 15,904.14 
 
 Total expense ! $415,821.70 
 
 Cost per 
 
 Cubic Yard 
 
 in Cents. 
 
 1.46 
 .71 
 .09 
 
 2.44 
 .44 
 .20 
 
 Per Cent of 
 Total Cost. 
 
 5.34 
 
 27.3 
 
 13.4 
 
 1.7 
 
 45.7 
 
 8.2 
 
 3.7 
 
 100. 
 
 Gross output, $895,024.92; gross output per cubic j^ard, 11.23 cents. 
 Net output, $479,203.22 ; net output per cubic yard, 5.89 cents. 
 Companies comprising the Oroville Dredging, Limited : 
 
 Property. 
 
 Dredges 
 put in 
 
 Commis- 
 sion. 
 
 Dredges 
 
 Operat- Acres 
 ing in Owned. 
 1910. 
 
 Boston and California Dredging Co. 
 
 3 
 4 
 3 
 
 1 271 
 
 Boston and Oroville ^Mining Co. 
 
 1 469 
 
 Oroville Gold Dredging and Exploration Co 
 
 3 ! 606 
 
 Oroville District .- * 
 
 10 
 5 
 
 5 1,346 
 
 Bear River Mining Co. . -. 
 
 1 99.3.10 
 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 6 2.339.10 
 
138 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Actual dredging time, 73,856 hours 30 minutes; average dredging 
 time, daily, 17 hours 54 minutes; cubic yards excavated, 7,793,678; 
 average yardage daily, 1,923 cubic yards; acres dredged, 163.28; aver- 
 age depth of ground, 30.3 feet, year ending July 31, 1907. See pages 
 85 to 102 for other working costs of this company. 
 
 The Boston and California Dredging Company began operations in 
 1902. It took over the holdings of the Leggett and Wilcox Company, 
 which had an operating plant consisting of two dredges, known as 
 Leggett No. 1 and No. 2. Part of the holdings, the Wilcox tract, was 
 land owned by the company, the Leggett tract being land leased by the 
 company on a royalty basis. Both of these companies were promoted 
 \>j W. P. Hammon, and operated under his direction, the personnel 
 consisting, mainly, of Boston men. After the consolidation, the dredges 
 were named California No. 1 and No. 2. 
 
 California No 1 dredge was a 5-eubic-foot open-link-bucket elevator 
 dredge constructed by the Risdon Iron Works, and was one of the 
 largest dredges of its kind at the time. After some time in operation 
 it was remodeled by the operating company and equipped with a close- 
 connected Bucyrus bucket-line and 3i/^-cubic-foot buckets. While 
 equipped with this bucket-line, during ten months in 1906 and 1907, 
 this dredge handled 394,156 cubic yards of gravel, at a cost of 6.23 cents 
 per cubic yard. After serving its usefulness with the company, the 
 dredge was sold to L. Gardella. 
 
 California No. 2 dredge was put in commission in December, 1902. 
 It is a 5-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket elevator dredge, equipped 
 with Bucyrus machinery. This was the fourth dredge to be constructed 
 by the Western Engineering and Construction Company on the lines of 
 Indiana No. 1 dredge. It was built to dig 36 feet below water-level. 
 The size of the hull is 96 feet long, 36 feet wide, and 7 feet deep, with 
 a draught of 4 feet 6 inches. The bucket ladder is plate-girder con- 
 struction ; the screens are end-shaking ; the stacker, Robins belt con- 
 veyor, 90 feet long between centers, carrying a 30-inch belt. The 
 gold-saving arrangement consists of wood side-tables, equipped with 
 Hungarian riffles and quicksilver traps. The electric motor equipment 
 installed upon the dredge has a rated capacity of 195-horsepower, dis- 
 tributed as follows : Two 6-inch pumps to supply water to the screen, 
 gold tables, and spray to hopper, direct-connected to a 40-horsepower 
 motor; one 6-inch sand pump, 30-horsepower ; shaking screen and 
 stacker motor, 30-horsepower ; bucket-drive motor, 75-horsepower ; star- 
 board winch, 20-horsepower. All motors are Westinghouse Company, 
 60-cycles, 3-phase, 400-volt. 
 
 California No. 3 dredge was put in commission in October, 1904. It 
 is a 7-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket elevator dredge, constructed by 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 139 
 
 the Clarion Steam Shovel Companj', and designed by the Boston ^lachiue 
 Shop Company and the ]\Iarion Company. 
 
 This dredge has handled over 1,100,000 cubic yards of gravel in 
 twelve months' time, in fairly difficult ground, and has a capacity of 
 120,000 cubic yards per month, while operating in free, loose, gravel. 
 It was in constant operation up to the end of 1909, when it was sold to 
 the Viloro Syndicate, after turning over the property it was working on. 
 It is intended to have the dredge dig its w^ay to the Viloro property, 
 where it will replace the Viloro dredge, which was destroyed by fire. 
 
 The California No. 3 dredge was one of the largest and most efficient 
 dredges in the field at the time of construction, many improvements 
 and new features being brought out, several of which are worthy of 
 mention. The ladder-hoist is provided with an automatic, friction, 
 brake-wheel, which gives easy and uniform control in raising and lower- 
 ing the ladder. A slipping friction is placed inside the pulley of the 
 motor shaft to compensate sudden stalling of power as it is a protection 
 for the motor. The stacker hoist is so arranged to enable the stacker to 
 be raised and lowered by means of a reversible worm-screw, meshing 
 into a gear, and counter-shafted to a cable drum, thus locking it at any 
 given point. ]\Iuch attention was given to the design and .shape of the 
 buckets. They were made of 7-cubie-foot capacity, with a 34-ineh pitch, 
 the hood being made of one piece of steel plate. The bucket-ladder is 
 plate-girder construction, 80 feet long, weighing 60,000 pounds, and 
 carries 68 buckets in line, each weighing 1,800 pounds. The tailing con- 
 veyor is 92 feet 6 inches long, weighs 34,000 pounds, and is equipped 
 with flat rollers and flanged idlers at each end. The conveyor belt is 
 32 inches wide, and in practice has shown great endurance by reason 
 of being carried by flat rollers. The cylinder drums at the lower and 
 upper ends of stacker are 36 inches in diameter. The belt is driven by 
 a motor placed at the outer end of the stacker. The revolving screen 
 is of the C. W. Gardner stepped type, the shoulders of which hold the 
 material sufficiently in suspension to thoroughly wash it. A distribut- 
 ing V-shaped casing is placed underneath the screen with two gates to 
 each section of gold-saving tables and deflecting plates are used at the 
 opening of these gates to evenly distribute the material over the tables. 
 The gold-saving tables have an area of 648 square feet, and a total riffle 
 surface of 894 square feet, divided into nine sections, each 2 feet 8 
 inches wide, placed on each side of the screen. See California No. 3 
 dredge on page 128. 
 
 The Boston and OroviUe Mining Company began operations in 1901. 
 This company was among the first started by W. P. Ilammon. It had 
 at one time, an operating plant of four dredges, but at the present 
 has only one dredge in active operation. 
 
140 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 
 
 1 ' 
 
 77(6 Boston No. 1 dredge 
 began operations in July, 
 1901. It was a 5-cubic-foot 
 open-link-bucket elevator 
 dredge constructed by the 
 Risdon Iron Works. After 
 some years in operation it 
 was remodeled by the Boston 
 Machine Shop Company and 
 equipped with a close-eon- 
 nected-bucket-line and 3- 
 cubic-foot buckets. 
 
 During the twelve months 
 ending July 31, 1907, this 
 dredge handled, with the new 
 bucket-line, 479,473 cubic 
 yards of gravel, at a cost of 
 6.58 cents per cubic yard, 
 while digging to an average 
 depth of 32.3 feet. In 1908 
 the dredge was put out of 
 commission, owing to the 
 gravel becoming too tight for 
 this dredge to economically 
 handle. 
 
 Tlie Boston Xo. 2 dredge 
 was put in commission in 
 July, 1902. It was of the 
 same make and design as 
 No. 1 dredge, and was also 
 remodeled by the operating 
 company, and equipped with 
 a close-connected-bucket-line, 
 and 3-cubic-foot buckets. In 
 1908 this dredge was perma- 
 nently put out of commission. 
 
 The Continental dredge be- 
 gan operations in 1899. This 
 was the first electrically op- 
 erated dredge in California, 
 the first on which variable 
 speed motors were used, as 
 well as the first gold dredge 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 141 
 
 to 1)6 equipped with 
 close-connected buck- 
 ets. It was originally 
 built as a pump suc- 
 tion double-lift eleva- 
 tor dredge equipped 
 with tail scow, tail 
 sluices and open-link 
 buckets. F."W. Grif- 
 fin and Ben Stanly 
 Revett. wlio o w n e d 
 the Continental prop- 
 erty, interested Bos- 
 ton people, who have 
 since been prominent 
 in dredging on the 
 Continental ground 
 and elsewhere in the 
 Oroville District. In 
 1901 the dredge was 
 reconstructed by the 
 original constructors. 
 Griffin and Cameron, 
 and converted into a 
 4- cubic -foot close - 
 connected-bucket ele- 
 vator dredge of the 
 present standard de- 
 sign. Among the prin- 
 cipal changes made 
 was the rearranging 
 of the gold-saving de- 
 vice from straight 
 sluices to riffle tables, 
 and to enable clean 
 washing and even dis- 
 tribution of the ma- 
 terial, a set of shaking 
 screens was installed, 
 together with a dis- 
 tributing pan, placed 
 under the scieens. 
 The distributing pan 
 used upon this dredge 
 was changed and im- 
 
 ■Vfk " 
 
142 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 proved over the one installed on Indiana No. 1. This improved dis- 
 tributor Avas designed by D. P. Cameron, and was provided with a 
 deep collecting trongh in the center of the pan, having a series of 
 openings on each side to feed the gravel directly into each sluice of 
 the gold-saving tables. An arrangement of four distributing troughs 
 was installed on the bottom of the pan on each side of the center line 
 to more evenly distribute the gravel throughout the length of the dis- 
 tributing pan, which deposits the gravel upon the riffle sluices of the 
 gold-saving tables. This improved di.strilnitor, with its center gathering 
 trough and separate side openings to each center gathering trough 
 and separate side openings to each sluice is much the same as those 
 being used to-day on the latest dredges eciuipped wath sluicing screens. 
 This dredge was in almost constant operation for ten years and four 
 months, until permanently shut down in November, 1909, after having 
 worked out the propert}^ 
 
 Boston No. 4 dredge was put in commission in May, 1906. It is a 
 7-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket elevator dredge, constructed by the 
 Boston Machine Shop Company, and equipped with Marion machinery. 
 During the first year in operation it handled an average of 93,000 
 cubic yards of gravel per month, while digging to an average depth of 
 28 feet. It is the only dredge being operated by the company at the 
 present time. 
 
 In the construction of the Boston No. 4 dredge, an improvement was 
 made in the construction of the forward gantry frame. In place of the 
 old "A" frame design, four parallel upright posts, strengthened with 
 braces are securelj' tied to the main framing of the boat, and slope 
 forward at an angle of 5 1-16 inches horizontal to 1 foot vertical. 
 There are 68 close-connected buckets in line, dumping at a rate of 20 
 per minute and driven by a 150-horsepower motor. The upper tumbler 
 is pentagonal, and the lower hexagonal. The tailing stacker is a belt 
 conveyor; the revolving screen is 30 feet long and 6 feet in diameter. 
 The spuds are, as usual, one wood and one steel. The motor equipment 
 installed upon the dredge has a rated capacitj' of 360-horsepower, 
 divided as follows: High pressure pump, 50-horsepower ; low pressure 
 pump, 25-horsepower ; main digging motor and ladder hoist, 150-horse- 
 power ; priming pump, 10-horsepower ; sand pump, 75-horsepower ; 
 winches, 25-horsepower ; screen and stacker drive, 25-horsepower. 
 
 Oroville Dredging and Exploration Company began operations in 
 1902. The personnel of the company consisted of John Hays Hammond, 
 F. "W. Bradley, J. E. Doolittle, and others. The holdings are located 
 on the west side of the Feather River. 
 
 Exploration No. 1 dredge, formerly known as Biggs No. 1, was put in 
 commission in April, 1902. It was a 4-cubic-foot open-link-bucket 
 elevator dredge, constructed by the Risdon Iron "Works, and later recon- 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 143 
 
 / 
 
 structed by the present operating company, and equipped with a elose- 
 conneeted bucket line, and buckets of 3-cubic-foot capacity. 
 
 This dredge is an example of the earlier Risdon boats, and was con- 
 structed with the pitched roof of the housing and the gold-saving tables 
 and trommel located outside the housing. Tlie hull of this dredge is 86 
 feet long, 30 feet wide and 7 
 feet deep. The digging lad- 
 der carries 78 close-connected 
 buckets, each of 3-cubic-foot 
 capacity. The washing screen 
 is 4 feet 6 inches in diameter 
 and 25 feet long. The 12 sec- 
 tions of the gold-saving tables 
 slope from the screen towards 
 each side, and empty into 
 side sluices. The tailing 
 stacker is of the usual Risdon 
 bucket type, and headlines 
 are used in place of spuds. 
 
 Exploration No. 2 dredge, 
 formerly known as Biggs 
 No. 2, began operations in 
 1905. It is 5-cubic-foot elose- 
 connected-bucket elevator 
 dredge, constructed by the 
 Western Engineering Con- 
 struction Company, and 
 equipped with Bucyrus ma- 
 chinery, and was built to dig 
 30 feet below water-level. The 
 hull is 94 feet long, 36 feet 
 wide, 7 feet deep, and draws 
 4 feet 6 inches. The dig- 
 ging ladder is lattice-girder 
 construction and weighs 
 45,775 pounds, including roll- 
 ers and bearings, etc. Tlie 
 screens are end-shaking, 14 
 feet wide and 26 feet long. 
 The stacker is lattice-girder 
 construction, 90 feet between 
 centers, carrying a belt 30 
 inches wide. The gold-saving 
 
 M.m < ^»\ lirM 
 
144 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 area consists of wood side-tables, equipped with Hungarian riffles and 
 quicksilver traps. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed upon the dredge has a rated 
 capacity of 238-horsepower, divided as follows : One 50-horsepower 
 motor, direct-connected to two 7-inch pumps for. the supply of water to 
 screen ; one 30-horsepower motor, connected to a 6-inch sand pump ; 
 shaking screen motor, 20-horsepower ; bucket-drive motor, 100-horse- 
 power ; starboard winch motor, 20-horsepower ; tailing stacker, 15-horse- 
 power; priming pump, 3-horsepower. This dredge is one of the three 
 now being operated by this company. 
 
 No. 111. Showing top soil and part of dredge pond, Oroville, Cal. 
 
 Exploration No. 3 dredge was put in commission October 20, 1906. 
 It is a close-connected-bucket elevator dredge, constructed by the 
 Boston jMachine Shop Company, and equipped with Marion machinery 
 and 7-cubic-foot buckets. During the first ten months in operation, 
 this dredge handled an average of 90,000 cubic yards of gravel per 
 month, while digging to an average depth of 351/2 f^^t in difficult 
 ground. 
 
 Tlie Boston Machine Sliop Company was organized for the purpose 
 of centralizing the purchase of supplies for the different dredges operated 
 under Oroville Dredging, Limited, thereby securing the rebates recruing 
 from the purchase of large lists of dredge parts, and also for the purpose 
 of constructing and repairing the machines without the loss of time 
 incident to the placing of these orders at distant points. 
 
 The Feather River division of the Natomas Consolidated of Califor- 
 nia has an operating plant consisting of two dredges. On January 1, 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 145 
 
 1909, the Natomas Consolidated of California took over the holdings 
 of the Cherokee Gold Dredging Company, having an area of 200 acres, 
 and an operating plant of one dredge ; and the Feather River Explora- 
 tion Company, having an area of about 900 acres and five dredges, some 
 of which were abandoned. 
 
 The total holdings of the company comprise an area of about 1,36-4 
 acres, located in sections 24. 25, and 26, township 19 north, range 3 east, 
 on the west side of the Feather River, extending as far as one mile 
 inland ; and in section 3, township 18 north, range 3 east, and section 24, 
 township 19 north, range 3 east, on the east side of the river, extending 
 
 No. 112. The Cherokee Dredge, July, 1909, California type working on headline. 
 District. Closed down December 31, 1909. 
 
 Oroville 
 
 as far as one and a half miles inland. With the exception of about 80 
 acres, none of this land has been under cultivation, and most of it was 
 mined by hand previous to dredging. On some of this land the first 
 dredging operations in the Oroville district were carried on. The 
 gravel averages from 9 cents to 14 cents per cubic yard, the upper part 
 of the property being the richer, and in character the gravel is a clean 
 river wash, in places overlain by several feet of heavy loam. The 
 average depth to bedrock ranges from 25 to 40 feet. 
 
 Feather Xo. 1 dredge, formerly known as the Cherokee, was originally 
 built for the Cherokee Gold Dredging Company and put in commission 
 in July of 1902. It operated for over seven years and was in good 
 working condition when shut down December 31, 1909. 
 
 The Cherokee is a dose-conneeted-bucket elevator dredge, built to 
 dig 45 feet below the water-line, and equipped with 5-cubic-foot 
 
 10— GD 
 
146 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA, 
 
 buckets. The hull is 93 feet long, 36 feet beam, 7 feet deep, with a 
 draught of 4 feet 6 inches. About 200,000 feet of lumber were used in 
 the construction of the hull. The stacker is a Robins belt conveyor, 90 
 feet long between centers, carrying a 30-inch belt. The ladder is plate- 
 girder construction, and the gold-saving tables are of the wood side- 
 table type, equipped with Hungarian riffles and quicksilver traps. The 
 washing screens are end-shaking. 
 
 This dredge differed from the usual type of Bucyrus dredges in that 
 it worked on a headline, in place of spuds. It was constructed by 
 Griffin and Cameron, and equipped with Bucyrus machinery. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed upon the dredge has a rated 
 capacity of 205-horsepower, and the average power consumed Avhile in 
 full operation is about 203-horsepower. 
 
 No. 113. Feather River No. 2 Dredge. Risdon type. Not in operation. 
 
 The Feather River Exploration Company was the first company to 
 begin dredging operations in the Oroville district. It was originally 
 started by W. P. Hammon and Captain Thomas Couch, and to these 
 enterprising men much credit is due for the rapid development of gold 
 dredging in California since 1897. The holdings of this company were 
 taken over by the Feather River Development Company in January, 
 1906. 
 
 The first dredge to be built by the Feather River Exploration Com- 
 pany was known as Couch No. 1, and later operated as Feather River 
 No. 1 dredge. It was put in commission March 1, 1898, and was an 
 early Risdon machine, constructed on the lines of those iLsed in New 
 Zealand. It was the first successful bucket elevator dredge in Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 The next two dredges to be put in operation by the Feather River 
 Development Company were known as Couch No. 2 and No. 3. and later 
 operated as Feather River No. 2 and No. 3 dredges. They were put in 
 commission on June 8, 1900, and operated successfully until shut down. 
 Like No. 1 dredge they were both designed and constructed by the 
 Risdon Iron Works. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 147 
 
 The fourth dredge to be built ])y the Feather River Development 
 Company Avas known as Couch No. 4. and later operated as Feather 
 River No. 4 dredge, and when the Feather River Exploration Company 
 
 No. 114. Feather No. 4 Dredge, July, 1909, formerly known as the Feather River No. 5. 
 Risdon type. Oroville District. Closed down December 31, 1909. 
 
 was taken over by the Xatomas Consolidated of California, this dredge 
 was known as Feather No. 4. It Avas constructed by the Risdon Iron 
 "Works on the same lines as the other Couch dredges, and was put in 
 
 No. 115. Feather No. 2 Dredge, showing extra gold-saving tables on outside of housing. 
 
 connnission December 1(». 1!)()2. and did good work niilil closed down 
 December 31, 1909. 
 
 The fifth of the Feather River dredges to be put in operation was l)uilt 
 for tlie Feather River E.xploi-ation Company l)y the Risdon Iron Works. 
 and put in commi.ssion in January, 1903. It was wrecked by the tioods 
 
148 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 in 1907, and subsequently dismantled. It operated under the name of 
 Feather River No. 5 dredge. 
 
 Feather No. 2 and No. 3. — The only dredges now being operated in 
 the Oroville district by the Natomas Consolidated of California are the 
 Feather No. 2 and No. 3 dredges, which were put in commission on 
 December 22, 1906, and March 26, 1908, respectively. They are both 
 elose-connected-bucket elevator dredges, constructed by the Yuba Con- 
 struction Company, and equipped with 7i^-cubic-foot buckets and 
 Marion machinery. 
 
 The Natomas Consolidated of California contemplates the building 
 of a 131/o-cubic-foot dredge during the year 1910, in the Oroville dis- 
 trict. This company employs about forty-five men. 
 
 No. 116. Gravel and sand bank in front of dredge. Oroville. 
 
 Pacific Gold Dredging Company. — This company began operations 
 May 1, 1906, and has an operating plant of four dredges. It is a sub- 
 sidiary company to the Yukon Gold Company, the officers being as 
 follows: President, S. R. Guggenheim; general manager, 0. B. Perry; 
 secretary, Chas. K. Lipman, 165 Broadway, New York ; manager, 0. C. 
 Perry, Oroville, California. 
 
 The holdings comprise an area of 750 acres, located in sections 2, 3, 
 and 4, township 18 north, range 3 east, and sections 33 and 34, township 
 19 north, range 3 east, on the east side of the Feather River, extending 
 as far as 11/2 miles inland. With the exception of about 100 acres, none 
 of this land has been under cultivation, and a great deal of it w^as mined 
 by hand previous to dredging. The gravel was well prospected by means 
 of drills, and averages in depth to bedrock about 28 feet, and yields 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 149 
 
 an average of about 9 cents per cubic yard ; in character it is mostly a 
 clean, loose gravel, in places overlain by fine loam and sand to a depth 
 of several feet. 
 
 This company took over the holdings of the American Gold Dredging 
 Company, having an operating plant of two dredges, and an acreage 
 
 No. 117. The Kia Oia DreJ^e in 
 
 jlJ Risdon type. DismantleJ- 
 
 of 275 acres ; and the Kia Ora Gold Dredging Company with an acreage 
 of 153 acres and one abandoned dredge. In the following a general 
 description is given of the dredges being operated by the company : 
 
 Pacific Xo. 1 was put in operation ]\Iay 1. 1906. and when originally 
 built was known as Perrv No. 1 dredge. During the first two vears and 
 
 No. 118. Kia Ora Dredge in 1909. Oroville District. Old Risdon type. 
 
150 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 151 
 
 eight months in operation it turned over 64.75 acres of gravel, averaging 
 341/0 feet in depth. 
 
 It is a close-connected-bucket elevator dredge, constructed by the 
 "Western Engineering and Construction Company, and equipped with 
 Bucyrus machinery. The hull is 95 feet long, 38 feet 6 inches wide, 
 
 5 feet 3 inches deep, and draws 5 feet 9 inches. The digging ladder 
 is lattice-girder construction, and carries 84 buckets of Ti/o-cubic-foot 
 capacity each, dumping 20 per minute. The screens are end-shaking; 
 the stacker is lattice-girder construction, 90 feet long between centers. 
 The gold-saving tables are modified Holmes type. The electric motor 
 equipment installed upon the dredge has a rated capacity of 300-horse- 
 
 'power, distributed as follows: For the supply of Avater to the screen 
 and tables, one" 50-horsepower motor connected to one 10-inch piunp, 
 and one 25-horsepower motor connected to one 8-incli pump ; for the 
 supply of water to spraying hopper, one 15-horsepower motor con- 
 nected to a 4-inch pump ; shaking screen motor, 20-horsepower ; sand 
 pump motor, 50-horsepower; tailing stacker, 20-horsepower motor; 
 winch motor, 20-horsepower; and digging or bucket drive motor, 100- 
 horsepower. 
 
 During the twelve months ending January 1. 1909. the dredge handled 
 an average of 117,205 cubic yards per month, at a cost of 4.44 cents 
 per cubic yard, including dredge depreciation charges, and 3.76 cents 
 per cubic yard, exclusive of dredge depreciation charges. The total 
 nimiber of Avorking hours during the year were 6.817. 
 
 Pacific Xo. 2 dredge began operations in 1902. It is a 4-cubic-foot 
 close-connected-bucket elevator dredge, originally constructed by Griffin 
 
 6 Cameron for the American Gold Dredging Company, and then 
 known as the American No. 1 dredge. 
 
 Pacific Xo. 3 dredge began operations in April, 1904. It was orig- 
 inally constructed for the American Gold Dredging Company, and 
 was known as the American Xo. 2. It is also a close-connected-bucket 
 elevator dredge, equipped with 5-cubic-foot buckets, and constructed 
 by the Western Engineering and Construction Company. It is 
 equipped with Bucyrus machinery, and was built to dig 36 feet below 
 water-level. The hull is 96 feet long, 36 feet wide. 7 feet deep, with a 
 draught of 41/0 feet. The ladder is plate-girder construction and the 
 stacker a Robins' belt conveyor, 90 feet long between centers, carrying 
 a 30-inch belt. The tables are modified Holmes type. The electric 
 motor equipment installed upon the dredge has a rated capacity of 
 208-horsepower, distributed as follows : Main pressure pump, 50-horse- 
 power; primary or hopper pump, 3-horsepower ; sand pump, 30-horse- 
 power; shaking screen motor. 15-horsepower; bucket drive motor, 75- 
 horsepower ; stacker motor, 15-horsepower ; winch motor. 20-horsepower, 
 This dredge is conveniently arranged and well kept. 
 
152 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Pacific No. 4 began operations in January, 1908, and during the first 
 twelve months in operation this dredge handled 132,452 cubic yards of 
 gravel, and turned over 42.0-4 acres, while digging to an average depth 
 of 28 feet 10 inches. The average cost per cubic yard was 5 cents, 
 including dredge depreciation charges, and 3.76 cents exclusive of 
 dredge depreciation charges. The total number of working hours dur- 
 ing the year were 7,161. The gravel was fairly fine, carrying a large 
 proportion of sand. 
 
 The Pacific No. 4 dredge is a 7-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket 
 elevator dredge, constructed by the Western Engineering and Con- 
 
 No. 120. Gold-saving tables on Pacific No. 4 Dredge, Oroville, Cal. 
 
 struction Company, and equipped with Bucyrus machinery. It was 
 built to dig 36 feet below water-line. The hull is 95 feet long, 38 feet 
 6 inches wide, 8 feet 4 inches deep, with a draught of 6 feet. The total 
 amount of lumber in hull is 230,000 feet. The digging ladder is plate- 
 girder, weighs 78,685 pounds complete, and carries 80 buckets of 
 7-cubic-foot capacity, weighing, each, 1,777 pounds, dumping 19 per 
 minute. The screens are end-shaking, with eccentric drive. The upper 
 screen is 7 feet 11 inches wide, 14 feet long, and the lower 8 feet 8 inches 
 wide and 14 feet long. The tailing conveyor is lattice-girder, 90 feet 
 long between centers, carrying a 32-inch belt. The electric motor equip- 
 ment installed upon the dredge has a rated capacity of 300-horsepower,. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 153 
 
 distributed as follows : For the supply of water to the screens and gold- 
 saving tables, one 75-horsepower motor connected to one 8-inch and one 
 10-inch pump. For the supply of water to hopper, one 15-horsepower 
 motor direct-connected to a 4-inch pump ; and one 8-inch sand pump 
 motor, 50-horsepower ; shaking screen motor, 20-horsepower ; bucket 
 drive motor. 100-horsepower ; stacker motor, 20-horsepower; winch 
 motor, 20-horsepower. 
 
 The company employs forty-two men, at an average wage of about 
 $3 per day. including dredgemaster. 
 
 Leggett Gold Dredging Company. — This company l)egan operations 
 
 No. 121. Leggett No. 3 Dredge, S-cubic-foot, Risdon type. 
 Now dismantled. Oroville District. 
 
 in March, 1904, and had an operating plant of one dredge ; it was a 
 close corporation, with James H. Leggett president. 
 
 The holdings comprised an area of about 75 acres located in section 
 18, township 19 north, range 4 east, on the east side of the Feather 
 River, about one half mile inland. The land was part of the Leggett 
 ranch, all planted to orchard previous to dredging. 
 
 The Leggett dredge, known as Leggett No. 3, was put in commission 
 in the spring of 1904, and dismantled in June, 1908, after having worked 
 out the property. The machinery was then taken to "NVyman's Ravine, 
 and installed upon a new hull. It was a 5-cubic-foot open-link-bucket 
 elevator dredge, constructed by the Risdon Iron "Works. 
 
 During the five and one half years this dredge was in operation it 
 handled about 4,500,000 cubic yards of gravel, and turned over 75 
 acres of ground, of an average depth of about 30 feet. The company 
 employed about thirteen men. 
 
154 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The hull of this dredge was 88 feet long, 30 feet wide and 7 feet 
 deep, with a draught of 4 feet. The digging ladder was solid-girder 
 construction, 58 feet long, carrying 35 buckets, each of 5-cubic-foot 
 capacity, dumping 13 per minute. The revolving screen was 21 feet 
 6 inches long and 4 feet 6 inches in diameter. The electric motor 
 eciuipment installed upon the dredge had a rated capacity of 175-liorse- 
 power, distributed as follows: Pressure pump, 50-horsepower ; primary 
 pump. 50-horsepower; revolving screen motor, 10-horsepower ; bucket 
 drive, 75-horsepower ; stacker. 10-horsepower ; and winch 25-horsepower. 
 
 No. 122. Constructing hull for the Leggett Mining Company's Risdon type dredge, at 
 Wyman's Ravine, near Oroville, Butte County. 
 
 The average power consumed while in full operation amounted to about 
 95-horsepower. 
 
 The gold-saving device was arranged differently from that on any 
 other dredge in the field, and is one on which ]\Ir. Leggett holds a 
 patent. The general arrangement consists of a riffle system composed 
 of li/2-ineh angle-irons placed longitudinally with the flow. The spaces 
 between the angle-irons are filled with natural cobbles, as the dredge digs 
 them. They are not paved by hand, as in the ordinary hydraulic sluices, 
 but are allowed free course to lodge themselves where they fall, and for 
 this purpose openings are arranged in the upper end of the screen to 
 allow certain quantities of medium-sized pebbles to fall through for a 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 155 
 
 short period of time innnediately after the elean-ups. The sluice 
 system differs from the side distril)utin<i' riffle tallies generally used, 
 being continuous and somewhat similar to the Holmes system. It is 
 said to facilitate rapid clean-ui)s and avoids tlie gathering of amalgam 
 on the tops of the riffles for the reason that the natural paved rock 
 riffles cause the gold to sink deep among the pebbles. AVhile in operation 
 small quantities of quiclcsilver are sprinkled over the sluices from day 
 to day. 
 
 V^YMAN's ravine DISTRICT. 
 
 The AVyman's Ravine district is located in township 19 nortli. range 
 4 east. a])()ut 4 miles southeast from Oroville. The dredging lands are 
 located along Wyman's Ravine, which empties into Prairie Slough, a 
 tributarv to South Iloncnt Creek, which flows into the Feather River. 
 
 No. 123. Gardella Dredge, a Sg-cubic-foot Risdon boat, digging in 10-foot ground. 
 Wyman's Ravine District. 
 
 There are three companies in the district, the Leggett Gold ^Mining 
 Company, one dredge ; L. & J. Gardella, one dredge ; and the Garden 
 Ranch (iold Dredging Company, with one dredge, now abandoned. 
 
 Tlic Leggett Gold Mining Company began operations in August, 1909. 
 The officers of this company are as follows: President, J. H. Leggett; 
 vice-president, R. S. Kitrick; secretary, M. A. Wells, Oroville, Cali- 
 fornia; treasurer, H. M. Leggett; manager, J. IL Leggett; superin- 
 tendent. A. J. MeShane. The holdings of this company comprise an 
 area of about 520 acres, located north of Palermo, on Wyman's Ravine, 
 in section 5, township 18 north, range 4 east, and sections 32 and 33, 
 township 19 north, range 4 east. Of the total area about 350 acres are 
 estimated as dredgeable. Of this area about one quarter was previously 
 mined by hand and none of it has been under cultivation. The gravel 
 was prospected by means of drills and averages about 10 feet in depth 
 to ])('(li-ock. Tn character the gravel is a fairlv {'Icnu. loose wash, cari-v- 
 
156 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 ing few large boulders and very little clay, and in places is overlain by 
 a sandy loam. The gravel is said to ^deld 15 cents per cubic yard. 
 
 The Leggett dredge was built during the summer of 1909 and was 
 put in commission some time in September of that year. The machinery 
 for this dredge was taken from the Leggett No. 3 dredge, formerly 
 operated at Oroville by the Leggett Gold Dredging Compam^, and 
 mounted on a new and smaller hull, built especiallj^ for the Wyman's 
 Ravine property by the Risdon Iron Works. 
 
 The Gardella property, located in Wyman's Ravine district, is owned 
 
 No. 124. Gardella Dredge, Risdon type. Wyman's Ravine District, Butte County. 
 
 by L. & J. Gardella, father and son partnership ; manager, Laurence 
 Gardella, Oroville, California; dredge superintendent, C. Endow. 
 
 The holdings of the company comprise an area of about -41:0 acres, 
 located in sections 32, 28, 27, township 19 north, range 4 east, on the 
 Fahey and Humphrey property, about five miles southeast of Oroville. 
 The total dredgeable area is estimated at 175 acres, of which about 20 
 acres have been dredged. The gravel was prospected by means of drills, 
 and averages about 10 feet in depth to bedrock, and in character is 
 fairly loose, carrying, in places, large boulders and some streaks of clay, 
 and is overlain by a sandy loam. It is said to average 16 cents per 
 cubic yard. 
 
 The Gardella dredge was put in commission October 12, 1907. It is 
 an open-link-bucket elevator dredge, constructed by the Risdon Iron 
 Works, the general dimensions and equipment of the dredge being as 
 
 follows : jj^ah 
 
 Length 74 feet 
 
 Width 34 feet 
 
 Depth 6 feet 
 
 Draught 4 feet 6 inches 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — ^BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 157 
 
 Mechanical Equipment. 
 
 Capacity of buckets 5 cubic feet 
 
 Number of buckets per minute 14 
 
 Number of buckets in line 28 
 
 Weight of buckets, each 1,100 pounds 
 
 Weight of links 420 pounds 
 
 Length of digging ladder 54 feet 
 
 Weight of digging ladder 30,000 pounds 
 
 Length of revolving screen 24 feet 
 
 Length of bucket stacker 32 feet 
 
 Weight of bucket stacker 14,000 pounds 
 
 The type and arrangement of the gold-saving tables are Risdon return 
 sluices, the actual riffle surface being about 350 square feet. The 
 electric motor equipment as installed upon the dredge has a total rated 
 capacity of 165-horsepower, a rated output of 84-horsepower, and 
 a kilowatt output of 63 kilowatts. The motor equipment is distributed 
 as follows : 
 
 Pressure pump 50 h.p 
 
 Primary pump 5 h.p 
 
 Shaking screen motor 10 h.p 
 
 Bucket drive motor 50 h.p 
 
 Stacker motor 10 h.p 
 
 Winch motor 15 h.p 
 
 Ladder hoist motor 25 h.p 
 
 Rated capacity 165 h.p. 
 
 The concern employs about nine men per month. 
 
 The Garden Fanch Dreejging Companrj has an area of a])out 160 
 acres, located in sections 22 and 23. township 19 north, range 4 east, on 
 
 No. 125. Garden Ranch placer mining dipper dredge. Out of commission. Wyman's Ravine, 
 
 near Oroville. 
 
 the upper end of Wyman's Ravine, and about four miles southeast 
 from Oroville. 
 
 The Garden Ranch dredge was a ]\Iarion placer-mining, dipper 
 machine, and in construction was similar to the one used bv the Oroville 
 
158 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Dredging Compan.y. This machine had a capacity of 30,000 cubic 
 yards per month, and cost, complete, about $25,000. It has been idle 
 for some time, having worked out the property. 
 
 HONCUT CREEK DISTRICT. 
 
 The Eoncut Creek district is located on North Honcut Creek, in 
 township 18 north, range 4 east, and about five miles northeast of 
 Honcut, a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad. There are two 
 dredges operating in the district, one belonging to the Kentucky Ranch 
 
 No. 126. Kentucky Ranch Gold Dredging Company's boat, Risdon type, operating on 
 Honcut Creek, Butte County. 
 
 Gold Dredging Company, a stock company, and the other to Laurence 
 Gardella. 
 
 The Kentucky Banch Gold Dredging Company began operations 
 ]\Iay 1, 1909. with one dredge. The company is incorporated under the 
 laws of Arizona and is capitalized for $300,000. The officers are as 
 follows : President, L. Gardella ; secretary and treasurer, D. C. Howard, 
 Oroville, California ; manager, L. Gardella ; superintendent, D. Rodrick. 
 
 The holdings of this company comprise an area of about 1,000 acres, 
 located in sections 25. 24, and 19, township 18 north, range 4 east, on 
 North Honcut Creek, about 12 miles southeast of Oroville. The dredge- 
 able area is estimated at about 200 acres. The gravel was prospected 
 by means of drills, and is said to yield al)out 17 cents per cubic yard, 
 the average depth to bedrock being about 18 feet ; the bedrock is a schist. 
 
 The Kentucky Ranch dredge is of the open-link-bucket elevator type, 
 constructed by the Risdon Iron Works. The hull of this dredge is 76 
 feet long, 36 feet Avide, 7 feet deep, and draws 4 feet 6 inches. The 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 159 
 
 digging ladder is steel-girder construction, 58 feet long, weighs 36,000 
 pounds, and carries 32 buckets of 5-cubic-foot capacity, weighing, each, 
 1,100 pounds, and dumping at the rate of 15 per minute. The links 
 between the buckets weigh about 420 pounds each. The type and 
 arrangement of the gold-saving tables are double return Risdon sluices, 
 having a riffle surface of about 264 square feet. The revolving screen 
 is 21 feet 6 inches long, and about 6 feet in diameter. The tailing 
 stacker is a Risdon bucket elevator. -1-1 feet long, weighing 20,000 
 pounds. The electric motor equipment as installed upon the dredge 
 has a total rated motor capacity of about 175-horsepower, and a rated 
 
 No. 127. Placer mining plant on Butte Creek, near Centerville. Now abandoned. 
 
 motor (mtput of about TS-horscpower, and a kilowatt output of 57 kilo- 
 watts. The motor equipment is distributed as follows : 
 
 Pressure pump 50 h.p. 
 
 Primary pump 5 h.p. 
 
 Revolving screen motor 10 h.p. 
 
 Bucket drive motor 75 h.p. 
 
 Stacker motor 10 h.p. 
 
 Winch motor 25 h.p. 
 
 The Gardella holdings are located on the Mahle property, almost 
 joining the Kentucky Ranch Gold Dredging Company's holdings on 
 the south. The dredge was put in operation in February, 1910, and is 
 the same dredge which Gardella operated at Oroville. 
 
 BUTTE CREEK DISTRICT. 
 
 Butfc Creek Consnlidaied Drrdffing Conipatn/. — This company began 
 operations in the spring of 1909. and has an operating plant of one 
 dredge. It is organized under the laws of the State of California, and 
 
160 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 is capitalized for $2,500,000. 
 The officers are as follows: 
 President, W. T. Bill, Red- 
 lands, California; vice-presi- 
 dent, Walter L. Krug, Los 
 Angeles ; secretary and 
 treasurer, W. H. Isaacs, 516 
 Fay building, Los Angeles, 
 California ; general man- 
 ager, H. E. Chesebro, Chico, 
 California. 
 
 The holdings of the com- 
 pany comprise • an area of 
 1,450 acres, located in sec- 
 tions 24 and 25, township 22 
 north, range 2 east, and sec- 
 tions 19, 20, 17 and 8, town- 
 ship 22 north, range 3 east, 
 on Butte Creek, near Dia- 
 mondville, and about 10 
 miles northeast of Chico, 
 Butte County, California. 
 Out of the total area about 
 500 acres are considered 
 dredgeable, but in order to 
 acquire this the company 
 was compelled to take over 
 the non-dredgeable land as 
 well. The ground was pros- 
 pected by means of shafts 
 and drills. The gravel lies 
 on a sandstone bedrock, and 
 ranges in depth from 13 to 
 28 feet. The entire deposit 
 is difficult to handle with a 
 dredge, owing to the many 
 boulders and uneven bed- 
 rock. 
 
 Butte Creek Dredge. — 
 The Butte Creek dredge was 
 put in operation May 1, 
 1909, and during the first 
 two months in operation 
 handled about 250,000 cubic 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — BUTTE COUNTY. 
 
 161 
 
 yards of gravel in turning over about 8 acres of ground. It is an 
 open-link-bucket elevator dredge, equipped with tail sluices and tail 
 scow, and constructed and designed by Ed L. Smith of New York, and 
 eciuipped "svith Taylor Iron and Steel Company machinery. The hull 
 is 109 feet long, 40 feet beam, 9 feet deep, with a draught of 4i/2 feet. 
 It is 48 feet 9 inches over all to top of spud casing. The digging ladder 
 is of .steel construction, weighs 40 tons, is 831/0 feet long, and carries 
 39 11-cubic-foot buckets and 39 links. Each bucket and link weigh, 
 together, two tons. The speed of the buckets ranges from 8 to 12 per 
 
 No. 129. 11-cubic-foot buckets, Butte Creek Consolidated Dredging Company's dredge, 
 near Diamondville, Butte County. Showing pipe for greasing lower tumbler on the 
 upper side of ladder. 
 
 minute. The revolving screen is manganese steel con.struction. 12 feet 
 long, 6 feet diameter. This screen separates all the gravel up to 10 
 inches, w^hich is carried out through a sluiceway; rock larger than 10 
 inches and up to 4 feet is disposed of by a strong steel chute over the 
 side of the dredge, similar to those used on the early Bucyrus dredges. 
 Water for sluices is furnished from a 15-inch pump of a capacity of 
 1.000 inches, driven by a 100-horsepower motor. The gold-saving device 
 consists of riffle sets about 4 feet square, 4^s inchas deep, and covered 
 with manganese steel. There are 36 lineal feet of riffles on the main 
 
 11— GD 
 
162 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 boat and 120 feet on the tail sluice and tail scow. The tail scow or 
 sluice boat is equipped with an undercurrent and gold-saving tables of 
 large capacity for the purpose of saving fine gold. The general gold- 
 saving arrangement was installed for the purpose of saving nugget gold, 
 and is said by the manager to be very efficient. 
 
 The spuds are 28 inches by 48 inches, 50 feet long, and consist of 
 one wooden and one steel spud. The steel spud weighs 20 tons, manga- 
 
 No. 130. Fart of main sluice and undercurrent, showing gold-saving tables on tail scow of 
 the Butte Creek Consolidated Dredging Company's dredge. 
 
 nese steel being used in places where the greatest wear comes. The 
 electric motor equipment has a rated capacity of 375-horsepower. dis- 
 tribuied as follows : Bucket-line drive, 150-horsepower ; winch motor, 
 85-horsepower ; sluice pump motor, 100-horsepower ; primary pump 
 motor, 25-horsepower ; screen motor, 15-horsepower. All motors are 
 direct-connected. 
 
 The dredge has a capacity of 100,000 cubic yards per month. The 
 company employs an average of about ten men. 
 
7 -^ M .VN^WS.^^V- 
 
 ♦56''' bf ,iiJ2ia ISVifl 1698 
 
 iqo MI . 
 

 MAP 
 
 River District in Yuba and Plater 
 Counties, California, 
 
 OROVIllE DREDGING. LIMITED, HOLDING CO. 
 
 Total holdings - 
 
 DREDGES DISMANTLED UP TO 
 
 Exploration Co. No. 1 
 
 Exploration Co. No. 2 
 
 Mining Co. No. 1 
 
 River Mining Co. No. 2 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — PLACER COUNTY. 163 
 
 2. PLACER COUNTY. 
 
 There is onl^^ one dredging company operating in Placer Connty. 
 The property of this company is located in Placer and Yuba counties, 
 near the town of Wheatland, along the Bear River, which drains an 
 area of about 287 square miles between the Yuba and American rivers. 
 The headwaters of the Bear River do not reach back to the crest of the 
 range, so that it seldom receives precipitation under form of lasting 
 snow^ It is torrential in character, having no forested areas except in 
 its upper portion. At the head of Bear River ancient gravel deposits 
 are found. 
 
 Bear River Mining Company began operations in 1901, and at the 
 present time has an operating plant consisting of one dredge. The 
 holdings of the company comprise an area of 993.10 acres, located in 
 the Bear River Basin, 5 miles from the town of Wheatland, in sections 
 37 and 30, township 14 north, range 6 east, in Placer County, and in 
 sections 27 and 34, township 14 north, range 5 east, in Yuba County. 
 
 Some of this land had been mined previous to dredging, and none 
 of it was ever under cultivation. The property was originally owned 
 by R. D. Evans, of Boston, and W. P. Hammon, of San Francisco, who 
 organized the Bear River Exploration Company, and later the Bear 
 River Mining Company, which took over the holdings of the first com- 
 pany. 
 
 Bear River Exploration Company. — Active operations began in 1901, 
 when the Bear River Exploration Company constructed two new hulls, 
 and bought the machinery of two 3i/2-cubic-foot Risdon steam dredges 
 operating at Breckenridge, Colorado, and originally constructed for the 
 North American Gold Dredging Company in 1897. This machinery 
 was mounted on the new hulls, and electric power installed ; but both 
 of these dredges proved too light to handle the heavy ground, and were 
 soon abandoned, after doing little work. Shortly after this, the Bear 
 River Mining Company took over the holdings and installed two new 
 Risdon dredges, especially designed to dig this deposit. However, 
 their operations did not prove profitable, even after changing the 
 bucket-line on No. 2 dredge from 5-cubic-foot open-link, to a 3i^- 
 cubic-foot close-connected. Both of these dredges were, therefore, closed 
 down, and work was discontinued until the consolidation with the 
 Oroville Dredging, Limited. 
 
 Bear River No. 2. — The dredge now operating was constructed under 
 the present holding company, and is known as Bear River No. 2 dredge. 
 It is a close-connected-bucket elevator dredge of the Yuba Construc- 
 tion Company make. e(|uippod with 7-cubic-foot buclvcts and heavy 
 machinery. It was commissioned October 1, 1907. and during the first 
 
■i.W^ 
 
 J .,,13 issS Jo qsM .lei .oM 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 . 3|C 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — PLACER COUNTY. 163 
 
 2. PLACER COUNTY. 
 
 There is onl^^ one dredging company operating in Placer -Xounty. 
 The property of this company is located in Placer and Yuba counties, 
 near the town of Wheatland, along the Bear River, which drains an 
 area of about 287 square miles between the Yuba and American rivers. 
 The headwaters of the Bear River do not reach back to the crest of the 
 range, so that it seldom receives precipitation under form of lasting 
 snow. It is torrential in character, having no forested areas except in 
 its upper portion. At the head of Bear River ancient gravel deposits 
 are found. 
 
 Bear Elver Mining Company began operations in 1901. and at the 
 present time has an operating plant consisting of one dredge. The 
 holdings of the company comprise an area of 993.10 acres, located in 
 the Bear River Basin, 5 miles from the town of Wheatland, in sections 
 37 and 30, township 14 north, range 6 east, in Placer County, and in 
 sections 27 and 34, township 14 north, range 5 east, in Yuba County. 
 
 Some of this land had been mined previous to dredging, and none 
 of it was ever under cultivation. The property was originally owned 
 by R. D. Evans, of Boston, and W. P. Hammon, of San Francisco, who 
 organized the Bear River Exploration Company, and later the Bear 
 River Mining Company, which took over the holdings of the first com- 
 pany. 
 
 Bear River Exploration Company. — Active operations began in 1901, 
 when the Bear River Exploration Company constructed two new hulls, 
 and bought the machinery of two 3i2-cubic-foot Risdon steam dredges 
 operating at Breckenridge, Colorado, and originally constructed for the 
 North American Gold Dredging Company in 1897. This machinery 
 was mounted on the new hulls, and electric power installed ; but both 
 of these dredges proved too light to handle the heavy ground, and were 
 soon abandoned, after doing little work. Shortl}" after this, the Bear 
 River Mining Company took over the holdings and installed two new 
 Risdon dredges, especially designed to dig this deposit. However, 
 their operations did not prove profitable, even after changing the 
 bucket-line on No. 2 dredge from 5-cubic-foot open-link, to a 31/.- 
 cubic-foot close-connected. Both of these dredges were, therefore, closed 
 down, and work was discontinued until the consolidation with the 
 Oroville Dredging, Limited. 
 
 Bear Fiver No. 2. — The dredge now operating was constructed under 
 the present holding company, and is known as Bear River No. 2 dredge. 
 It is a close-eonnected-bucket elevator dredge of the Yuba Construc- 
 tion Company make, equipped with 7-cubic-f()ot buckets and lieavy 
 machinery. It was commissioned October 1, 1907. and during the first 
 
164 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 ten months iu operation handled 645,095 cubic yards of gravel, and 
 turned over 12.05 acres of ground, at an average cost of 5.41 cents per 
 cubic yard, while digging to an average depth of 33.2 feet. 
 
 The property was well prospected by means of drills, many lines of 
 holes being put down at frequent and regular intervals across the 
 channel. The average depth to bedrock is about 40 feet. The gravel 
 averages about 7 cents per cubic yard. It is, in places, very heavy and 
 compact, carrying considerable clay and mud. The bedrock is much 
 the same as that in the Oroville district. 
 
 The company employs an average of fourteen men. 
 
 3. YUBA COUNTY. 
 
 Yuba County, comprising an area of 625 square miles, or 400,000 
 acres, with a population of about 13,500 inhabitants, lies in the northern 
 half of the State, and is bounded on the east and south by Sierra and 
 Nevada counties, on the west by Sutter, and on the north by Butte 
 County. Marysville, the county seat, has a population of about 7.000 
 people, and is located at the junction of the Yuba and Feather rivers, a 
 distance of about 123 miles northeast of San Francisco. It is well 
 supplied with transportation facilities, being on the main line of the 
 Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, and Northern Electric railroads, and 
 it is also well represented by manufacturing establishments, one of the 
 principal of these being the Yuba Construction Company. In the 
 mountainous part of the county mining, lumbering, and stock raising 
 are carried on, while in the valley and foothill portion gold dredging, 
 farming, and fruit raising are the principal industries, the largest hop 
 fields in the West being located at Wheatland. The Yuba River, which 
 passes through the central part of the county, affords an ample supply 
 of water for irrigation projects and power plants. 
 
 In 1908 Yuba County had 450 miles of public roads, 44.22 miles of 
 steam railroad, 13.05 miles of electric railroad, one electric power plant, 
 65 miles of telegraph lines, 2,500 miles of telephone lines, 100 miles of 
 irrigation ditches, and 6,000 acres of land under irrigation. 
 
 The following table shows the principal production of Yuba County 
 from 1900 to 1908 : 
 
 Substances. 
 
 1900. 
 
 1901. 
 
 1902. 
 
 1903. 
 
 1904. 
 
 Brick 
 
 Clay 
 
 Gold 
 
 Macadam 
 
 Mineral water 
 
 Silver 
 
 $281^366 
 '4;625 
 
 $18a908 
 ""§46 
 
 $155;630 
 2 
 
 $125"830 
 ""11 
 
 $3,000 
 
 750 
 
 139,528 
 
 Unapportioned 
 
 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 $284,631 
 
 $189,754 
 
 $155,632 
 
 $125,871 
 
 $143,278 
 


DREDGING DISTRICTS — YUBA COUNTY. 
 
 165 
 
 Substances. 
 
 190.5. 
 
 1906 
 
 1907. 
 
 1908. jorRnd Total. 
 
 i 
 
 Brick 
 
 Clav 
 
 ""m 
 
 324,135 
 
 "loo 
 
 369 
 
 
 
 '.'.'.'.'.'. , $1,766,770 
 
 "$805 ' '""720 
 6.187 
 
 $10,000 
 
 Gold 
 
 Macadam 
 
 Mineral water 
 
 2,034,486 
 5.750 
 
 '9;997 
 
 
 Silver 
 
 Unapportioned . 
 
 S5"6'5"004 
 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 $325,384 
 
 $800 $1,773,677 
 
 $2,060,233 $5,624,.304 
 
 Since the commencement of gold dredging operations in 1904, at 
 Hammonton and Marigold, on the Yuba River, the gold output of the 
 county has steadily increased until Yuba is now one of the most impor- 
 tant gold producing counties in the State. 
 
 Gold production from dredging operations in Yuba County from 
 August, 1901. to December 31. 1908 : 
 
 Amount. Increase. No. Dredges. 
 
 1904 
 
 $74,263 
 
 188.967 
 
 1.205.165 
 
 1,688,032 
 
 1,969,079 
 
 $74,263 
 114,704 
 1,016,098 j 
 482,867 
 281.047 
 
 2 
 
 1905 - 
 
 8 
 
 1906 
 
 10 
 
 1907 
 
 12 
 
 1908 .- -- - - - - 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 In 1901 there was one company operating two dredges during the 
 months of August to December, in 1905 there were eight dredges in 
 operation during part of the year, and in 1906 there were two dredging 
 companies operating part of the j'ear, the Marysville Dredging Com- 
 pany with 2 and the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields with 8 dredges. 
 During 1907, 12 dredges operated practically the entire year, and 
 during 1908 there were 14 dredges in operation part of the year. 
 
 In 1909 the Marysville Dredging Company constructed and put in 
 operation one dredge and dismantled another, so that there were the 
 same number of dredges in active operation as in 1908. 
 
 The following table shows the companies, their holdings, and the 
 number of dredges in the field in 1910 : 
 
 Company. 
 
 Dredg- 
 ing 
 Ground, 
 Acres. 
 
 Work- Dredges 
 Vorii Disman- 
 ^"S- i tied. I 
 
 Total. 
 
 Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields 3.000 
 
 Marysville Dredging Company.. 600 
 
 12 
 8 
 
 Totals 
 
 3.600 
 
 Dredging in the Yuba River district began in 1904 when W. P. 
 Hammon of San Francisco and the late R. D. Evans of Boston, Mass., 
 
164 
 
 ten iiK 
 turned 
 cubic 2 
 
 The 
 holes 
 chann( 
 averag 
 conipa 
 the sai 
 
 The 
 
 Tub 
 acres, 
 half o: 
 Nevad 
 Count; 
 people 
 distan 
 suppli 
 South( 
 it is aj 
 princi 
 mount 
 are ca 
 farmii 
 fields 
 passes 
 of wai 
 
 In : 
 steam 
 65 mi] 
 irrigai 
 
 The 
 from 
 
 ■'■'•V..,, 
 
 
 tt^" 
 
 >'y 
 
 'W 
 
 M.^ 
 
 Brick 
 
 Clay - 
 
 Gold - 
 
 Macadi 
 
 Minera 
 
 Silver 
 
 Unappi 
 
 Tol 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — YUBA COUNTY. 
 
 165 
 
 Substances. 
 
 1905. 
 
 1906 I 1907. 
 
 1908. Grand Total. 
 
 Brick 
 
 Clav 
 
 '"$80 
 324,135 
 
 '"800 
 369 
 
 "S.V. ^ $1,766,770 
 
 "$805| '"720 
 6,187 
 
 1 
 $10,000 
 
 Gold 
 
 Macadam 
 
 Mineral water - -- 
 
 2,0'34.486 
 5.750 
 
 "9';997 
 
 
 Silver 
 
 Unapportioned 
 
 $5'65,004 
 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 $325,384 
 
 $800 $1,773,677 
 
 $2,060,233 
 
 $5,624,304 
 
 Since the commencement of gold dredging operations in 1904, at 
 Hammonton and Marigold, on the Yuba River, the gold output of the 
 county has steadily increased until Yuba is now one of the most impor- 
 tant gold producing counties in the State. 
 
 Gold production from dredging operations in Yuba County from 
 August, 1904. to December 31. 1908 : 
 
 Year. 
 
 Amount. 
 
 Increase. No. Dredges. 
 
 1904 
 
 $74,263 
 
 188.967 
 
 1.205.165 
 
 1.688,032 
 
 1.969,079 
 
 $74,263 
 114.704 
 1,016,098 
 482.867 
 281,047 
 
 2 
 
 1905 - 
 
 8 
 
 1906 
 
 10 
 
 1907 
 
 12 
 
 1908 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 In 1904 there was one company operating two dredges during the 
 months of August to December, in 1905 there were eight dredge.s in 
 operation during part of the year, and in 1906 there were two dredging 
 companies operating part of the year, the Marysville Dredging Com- 
 pany with 2 and the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields with 8 dredges. 
 During 1907, 12 dredges operated practically the entire year, and 
 during 1908 there were 14 dredges in operation part of the 3'ear. 
 
 In 1909 the Marysville Dredging Company constructed and put in 
 operation one dredge and dismantled another, so that there were the 
 same number of dredges in active operation as in 1908. 
 
 The following table shows the companies, their holdings, and the 
 number of dredges in the field in 1910 : 
 
 Company. 
 
 ing Work- ni?mfn 
 
 Ground., ing. , ^S"" 
 Acres. "®°- 
 
 Total. 
 
 Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields 3.000 
 
 Marysville Dredging Company 600 
 
 ... 
 
 12 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 15 
 
 Totals ; 3.600 
 
 Dredging in the Yuba River district began in 1904 when W. P. 
 Hammon of San Francisco and the late R. D. Evans of Boston. Mass., 
 
166 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA, 
 
 ■''^r 
 
 commenced operations in August of that 
 year with two California type dredges, 
 the Yuba No. 1 and No. 2. 
 
 Previous to the building of these 
 dredges INIessrs. Hammon and Evans 
 spent about two years in examining and 
 acquiring the ground located in and 
 adjacent to the Yuba Basin. During 
 this time about 300 test holes were sunk 
 with drills, to depths of from 60 to 70 
 feet and nearly $100,000 was expended 
 in the work. The ground prospected 
 extended over an area nearl}^ five miles 
 long with an average "width of about one 
 mile. The widest part of the property 
 is located about four miles from where 
 the Yuba River leaves a narrow canyon 
 in breaking from the foothills of the 
 Sierra Nevada, and spreads over a wide 
 flat area about two miles across, known 
 as the Yuba Basin. 
 
 The depth of the ground is due to the 
 extensive hydraulic mining operations 
 which for years were carried on along 
 the headwaters and tributary streams of 
 Yuba River. It is estimated that aside 
 from the natural sedimentation due to 
 erosion, that nearly half a billion cubic 
 yards of hydraulic tailings have been 
 carried down yearly by the flood waters 
 and deposited in the river valley. The 
 hydraulic tailings in the Yuba Basin 
 range in depth from 10 feet to 40 feet 
 and overlie the old gold-bearing river 
 gravel. These tailings carry some gold, 
 Init not enough to pay for working. 
 
 The old river gravel underlying the 
 hydraulic tailings rests on a volcanic ash 
 bedrock, similar in character to that of 
 the Oroville district. In some places 
 drill holes showed gravel and some gold 
 below this bedrock, 90 feet and 110 feet 
 from the surface, but usually the vol- 
 canic ash lies on the true bedrock. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — YUBA COUNTY. 
 
 167 
 
 The gold sometimes 
 forms several pay-streaks 
 in the old river gravel 
 but is seldom found to 
 extend to the volcanic ash 
 bedrock. The ground 
 yields from 10 cents to 30 
 cents per cubic yard from 
 top to bottom. In dredg- 
 ing part of the bedrock, 
 which is soft and sticky 
 like the false bedrock in 
 other districts, is usually 
 dug. The natural water 
 level ranges from several 
 feet above to about four 
 feet l)elow the surface of 
 the ground. 
 
 The Yuba No. 1 and 
 No. 2 dredges which were 
 installed for W. P. Ilam- 
 mon and R. D. Evans 
 were designed and con- 
 structed by the Bucyrus 
 and Western Engineering 
 and Construction com- 
 panies. They were the 
 first dredges of their kind 
 to be built to dig 60 feet 
 below the water-line, and 
 many new features and 
 improvements were 
 brought out in the con- 
 struction of the hulls and 
 mechanical equipment. 
 
 In 1905 the Yuba Con- 
 solidated Gold Fields was 
 organized to take over the 
 holdings acquired by 
 W. P. Ilammon and R. 1). 
 Evans. This company- 
 was incorporated under 
 the laws of the State of 
 Maine, with a capitaliza- 
 
168 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA, 
 
 tion of $12,500,000. The officers are: President, Geo. L, Huntress; 
 secretary and treasurer, K. E. Paine, 50 Congress street, Boston, Mass. ; 
 managing director, W. P. Hammon ; general manager, Newton Cleave- 
 land, Marysville, Cal. ; superintendent Geo. J. Carr, Hammonton, Cal. 
 The holdings of the companj^ comprise an area of 3,000 acres. See map. 
 
 All of the 12 dredges operated by the companj^ are of the California 
 type. The Yuba No. 1 and No. 2 dredges have a bucket capacity of 
 6 cubic feet, and are equipped with shaking screens, while all the others 
 are equipped with 7i/^-cubic-foot buckets and revolving screens. The 
 tailing stackers on the Yuba dredges are unusually long, owing to the 
 depth of the ground being dredged. 
 
 Yuba No. 3 and No. 4 dredges, which were designed by the Boston 
 Llachine Shop Company and the Bucyrus Company, w^ere installed early 
 in 1905 and Yuba No. 5 and No. 6 late in 1905. These dredges were 
 constructed by the Yuba Gold Fields, most of the orders for the excavat- 
 ing machinery being placed with the Bucyrus Company. The bucket 
 lines of No. 5 and No. 6 were furnished by the Taylor Iron and Steel 
 Company. Yuba No. 7 and No. 8 dredges were commissioned in 1906, 
 and were equipped originally with Marion machinery. Yuba No. 9 and 
 No. 10 were commissioned in 1907 and Yuba No. 11 and No. 12 in 
 1908. Yuba No. 13, a 13i/2-foot dredge, is under construction. These 
 dredges were designed and constructed by the Yuba Construction Com- 
 pany. The following is a general description of one of the latest dredges : 
 
 Tuha No. 11 Dredge. — Digging depth below w-ater line, 65 feet. 
 
 Size of Hull. — Length over all, 130 feet ; width on w^ater line, 46 feet ; 
 width of housing, 56 feet; depth, 9% feet; draught, 6I/2 to 7 feet. 
 Total lumber in hull, about 375,000 board feet. 
 
 Mechanical Equipment. — Length of digging ladder, 118 feet ; capac- 
 ity of buckets, each TY2 feet; weight of buckets, each 2,000 pounds; 
 buckets dumping per minute, 18 ; total buckets in line, 96 ; length of 
 tailing stacker, 132 feet; width of stacker belt, 32 inches; revolving 
 screen, width 6 feet, length, 36 feet ; spuds, 24 by 36 inches by 55 feet ; 
 total weight of machinery, 875,000 pounds; total weight of dredge, 
 2,000,000 pounds. The spuds are constructed of %-inch side and web 
 plates and yg-i^^ch cover plates and angle iron joints ; upper and lower 
 tumblers are hexagonal. The digging ladder is truss girder design. 
 
 Yuba No. 11 dredge has a rated motor capacity of 405 horsepower 
 and an average motor output of 315 horsepower. Transformer capacity 
 375 kilowatts and the transformer output 262 kilowatts. The electric 
 current is brought over the primary line to dredge at 4,000 volts and 
 stepped down to 440 volts for all motors. The motor equipment aboard 
 the dredge is distributed as follows : 
 
 Bucket drive motor, 200-horsepower ; G. E. ; 400 volt; 600 revolutions 
 per minute : average output. 137 kilowatts ; 148-horsepower. Winch 
 motor, 25-horsepower ; G. E. ; V. S.; 440 volt; 600 revolutions per 
 
170 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 minute : average output, 13 kilowatts ; 17.4-horsepower ; while hoisting 
 steel spud, 15.8 kilowatts; 21-horsepower. Revolving screen, 25-horse- 
 power ; G. E. ; C. S. ; 440 volt ; 600 revolutions per minute ; average out- 
 put, 16 kilowatts ; 24-horsepower. Tailing stacker, 35-horsepower ; 
 G. E. ; C. S. ; 440 volt ; 600 revolutions per minute : average output, 16 
 kilowatts ; 24-horsepower. 
 
 Pump motors: Ten-inch high pressure pump, 75-horsepower ; G. E.; 
 C. S. ; 440 volt; 720 revolutions per minute: average output, 55 kilo- 
 watts ; 73.5-horsepower. 
 
 Ten-inch low pressure pump, 35-horsepower ; G. E. ; C. S. ; 440 volt ; 
 
 600 revolutions per minute: av- 
 erage output. 8 kilowatts; 10.7- 
 horsepower. 
 
 Four-inch primary pumps, 10- 
 horsepower; G. E. ; C. S. ; 440 
 volt ; 1,200 revolutions per min- 
 ute : average output, 5.2 kilo- 
 watts ; 7-horsepower. 
 
 The electric transmission line 
 from the Bay Counties Power 
 Company meter pole is of No. 4 
 copper wire 450 feet long and 
 the shore cable to dredge is 3 
 conductor No. 4 copper 600 feet 
 long. 
 
 The dredges on the Yuba 
 River are cooperating in their 
 work with the Debris Commis- 
 sion in building retaining dams 
 to control and confine the flow of 
 the Yuba River in the vicinity 
 of Da Guerre Point. This work is being done for the United States and 
 the State of California. 
 
 Hammonton, named after W. B. Hammon, is a settlement established 
 by the company on the south side of the Yuba River nearly opposite 
 Da Guerre Point on the north side. It has over 700 inhabitants and 
 many handsome small buildings occupied by the dredging population, 
 and some of the company's offices and repair shops are located here. 
 A well appointed schoolhouse, a general store, etc., water towers for 
 furnishing water for domestic purposes and fire protection, good gravel 
 metaled streets, plenty of shade trees and a regular mail service, etc., 
 all go to make this an attractive little town. 
 
 The Marysville Dredging Company began operations in 1905 under 
 the direction of R. E. Cranston. Sacramento. Cal. The officers of the 
 company are: Directors. P. Lothrop, president; Q. A. Shaw, vice- 
 
 Mkj^^^^y^^^^^v v^^'*- 
 
 1 
 
 
 \ 
 
 HHb^^ 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 
 136. Idler for taking up slack in 
 line used by Yuba Gold Fields. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — YUBA COUNTY. 
 
 171 
 
172 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 president ; Alexander Agassiz ; T. L. Livermore ; H. L. Higginsou ; R. L. 
 Agassiz, treasurer, 14 Ashburton Place, Boston, Mass. ; A. D. Snod- 
 grass, cashier ; A. B. Strode, superintendent, Marigold, Cal. ; Bukeley 
 Wells, general manager, Marysville, Cal. 
 
 The holdings of the company adjoin those of the Yuba Consolidated 
 Gold Fields on the west and comprise an area of about 1,200 acres 
 located in section 36, township 16 north, range 4 east, and sections 1 
 and 2, township 15 north, range 4 east along the Yuba River, about 6 
 miles northeast of Marysville. Of the total acreage about 600 acres 
 are dredging ground, averaging in depth about 60 feet. The gravel and 
 bedrock is the same in character as that of the Yuba Consolidated Gold 
 
 No. 138. Yuba Construction Company, Marysville, Cal. 
 
 1. Machine shops, reinforced concrete, 100 by 250. 2. Forge shop, steel frame, 100 by 100: 
 structural shop, 100 by 150, equipped with all modern tools, specially selected for dredge 
 construction. 3. Powerhouse. 4. Storehouses. 
 
 Fields. This company is also cooperating with the Debris Commission 
 in their work. 
 
 In 1906 the company installed two California type dredges of 714- 
 cubic-foot capacity, the Marigold No. 1 and No. 2. These dredges were 
 designed by the engineers of the Yuba Construction Companj^, and a 
 large portion of the machinery came from the INIarion Steam Shovel 
 Company. 
 
 In 1909 the company dismantled the Marigold No. 2 dredge and in 
 August of that year installed a new California type dredge, the ]\Iari- 
 gold No. 3. This dredge was designed and constructed by the company's 
 engineer, L. Ettrup, the machinery orders being given to different 
 manufacturers, principally the Union Iron Works. 
 
 On the property of the Marysville Dredging Company a small settle- 
 ment, known as Marigold, was established by the company. It com- 
 prises many buildings, occupied by the dredging population, and 
 company offices and repair shops. 
 
 As a direct outgrowth of the interests of the gold dredging industry. 
 there has been established at INIarysville, Cal., in the center of the gold 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS YUBA COUNTY. 
 
 173 
 
174 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 dredging fields, a large machine, structural and forge shop, known as 
 the "Yuba Construction Company." 
 
 This company was incorporated in 1905, with a capital stock of 
 $200,000, and has the following officers: W. P. Hammon, president; 
 Newton Cleaveland, vice-president and general manager; A. E. Boynton, 
 secretary, Alaska Commercial building, San Francisco; E. P. Jones, 
 superintendent, Marysville. Cal. 
 
 Since this shop was organized the investment has been increased from 
 $200,000 to about $500,000. The shop is especially equipped to take 
 care of gold dredging work, and is rapidly becoming one of the largest 
 on the coast. The tools and machinery are of the heaviest construction. 
 
 mmimBmim 
 
 No. 140. Yuba Construction Company, Marysville, Cal. Shipping yard, connection with 
 Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, and Northern Electric Railways. 
 
 This company has designed and built nineteen of the most successful 
 dredges operating in California, and at the present time is building 
 dredges, not only in California, but in Alaska and several of the West- 
 ern states. 
 
 The accompanying illustrations will give the reader some idea of the 
 extent of the shops, and these are situated on the main lines of the 
 Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, and the Northern Electric railroads. 
 
 4. SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 Sacramento County, comprising an area of 987.66 square miles or 
 632,108 acres, is one of the largest counties in the Sacramento Valley. 
 It was organized by the first legislature, and holds within its bound- 
 aries Sacramento City, the capital of California and the county seat 
 of Sacramento County, situated on the east bank of the Sacramento 
 River, and 90 miles by rail from San Francisco. In 1909 Sacramento 
 City had 55,000 inhabitants out of a total population of 70,000 for the 
 entire county. The total assessed valuation of all property amounted 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTV. 
 
 175 
 
176 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 to $57,679,076. The total number of acres under cultivation amonn+cd 
 to about 370,000 acres, leaving 262,108 acres not under cu ..tion. 
 There are no mountains in Sacramento County, the ground rising 
 gradually from an altitude of 30 feet to the low rolling f' ji-iills of 
 the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which, at the extreme eastern part of 
 the county, attain an altitude of about 580 feet above sea level. 
 
 In 1908 the production of gold from the various mines in Sacramento 
 County amounted to $1,166,055. Of this $409 came from hydraulic 
 mines, $52,365 from drift mines, $3,925 from surface placers, and 
 $1,109,196 from dredging operations. 
 
 No. 142. American River from Fair Oaks bridge, Sacramento County. 
 
 The following table shows the number of dredges and dredging; com- 
 panies operating in Sacramento County, as well as the number of 
 dredges put in operation or dismantled during 1908 : 
 
 Company. 
 
 Working. 
 
 Put in Dis- 
 
 Commis- ■ mantled 
 sion Dur- During 
 ing Year. ■ Year. 
 
 Ashburton Mining Co 
 
 Folsom Development Co 
 
 El Dorado Gold Dredging Co. 
 Natomas Development Co 
 
 Totals 
 
 The total known dredgeable area in Sacramento County in 1908, 
 including that which has been dredged, comprised 6,052.66 acres. The 
 following table gives a comparison of the area and character of the 
 dredgeable and other lands in Sacramento County in 1909 : 
 
 Character of Lands. 
 
 Under cultivation 
 
 Not cultivated 
 
 Totals 
 
 other 
 Lands, 
 Acres. 
 
 Dredging 
 Lands, 
 Acres. 
 
 370,000 
 262,108 
 
 2,365 
 3,687.66 
 
 632.108 6,052.66 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 177 
 
 f-t^ 
 
 .1> ^s\^A 
 
 •v.., .^v?.^\*-. 
 
 \\ 
 
 A-^X 'itj^V»\i>\<^ 
 
 C 
 
 •^Vl^t*^'^^■ 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 177 
 
 All dredge mining in Sacramento County is carried on along the 
 American River in what is known as the American River or Folsom 
 district. This district includes in its boundaries a part of the town of 
 Folsom, and extends 9 miles from Folsom to Cornell, a place on the 
 Sacramento and Placerville Railroad, 11 miles by rail from Sacramento 
 City. 
 
 The total area of the district comprises 12,522.58 acres, of which 
 about 6.052.66 acres have so far been proven dredgeable. All of this 
 land, with the exception of 1,326 acres on the Sacramento, Sailor, and 
 Mississippi bars, is located on the south side of the American River, 
 extending in places 2i/2 miles inland. All of the land in the district, 
 with the exception of -431 acres, is owned by the Natomas Consolidated 
 of California, the larger of the two companies now operating in the 
 field. 
 
 The production of gold from dredging operations in the American 
 River district from 1899 to December 31, 1908, amounted to $3,920,231, 
 as shown by the following table : 
 
 Year. 
 
 Gross 
 Value. 
 
 Increase. 
 
 Decrease 
 
 Year. 
 
 Gross 
 Value. 
 
 Increase. 
 
 Decrease. 
 
 1899 
 
 1900 
 
 "$17,200 
 
 47.619 
 
 15.5,194 
 
 102,097 
 
 ""$30,'4Y9" 
 107,575 
 
 '$53'097 
 
 1904 
 
 1905 
 
 1906 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 $348,990 
 569,124 
 921..300 
 649,511 
 
 1,109,196 
 
 $246,893 1 
 
 220,134 
 
 1901 - 
 
 352,176 
 
 1902 
 
 1903 
 
 1 $271,789 
 
 459,685 
 
 
 
 
 
 The decrease in 1903, as compared with 1902, was partly due to two 
 dredges being put out of commi.ssion — the Ashburton No. 1, which was 
 destroyed by fire while operating on Sailor Bar on ]May 25 ; and Pacific 
 No. 1, which was closed down during the year while operating on Missis- 
 sippi Bar. 
 
 The decrease in yield in 1907, as compared with 1906, was partly due 
 to three dredges going out of commission and to severe storms and floods 
 in 1907 which damaged and delayed operations of others. 
 
 The increase in yield in 1908 was mainly due to four new dredges 
 being put in commission during that year. They were the Natoma 
 No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and Folsom No. 6, all large modern boats. 
 
 Table Showing Numerical Strength of Gold Dredges In Sacramento County at the 
 
 End of the Year 1909. 
 
 Company. 
 
 Working. 
 
 Idle. 
 
 Con- 
 structing. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Natoinas Con.solidated of California 
 
 Ashburton Mining Company.. 
 
 7 1 
 1 
 
 1 9 
 1 
 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 8 1 
 
 1 in 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12— GD 
 
176 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 -*■.„ 
 
 \\ 
 
 I 
 
 ' ^>*^ l>. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 A-^ 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTV. 
 
 177 
 
 All dredge mining in Sacramento County is carried on along the 
 American River in Avhat is known as the American River or Folsom 
 district. This district includes in its boundaries a part of the town of 
 Folsom, and extends 9 miles from Folsom to Cornell, a place on the 
 Sacramento and Placerville Railroad. 11 miles by rail from Sacramento 
 City. 
 
 The total area of the district comprises 12,522.58 acres, of which 
 about 6.052.66 acres have so far been proven dredgeable. All of this 
 land, with the exception of 1,326 acres on the Sacramento, Sailor, and 
 Mississippi bars, is located on the south side of the American River, 
 extending in places 210 miles inland. All of the land in the district, 
 with the exception of 431 acres, is owned by the Natomas Consolidated 
 of California, the larger of the two companies now operating in the 
 field. 
 
 The production of gold from dredging operations in the American 
 River district from 1899 to December 31, 1908, amounted to $3,920,231, 
 as shown bv the following table : 
 
 ^'^«''- V^aTul. Increase. 
 
 Decrease 
 
 Year. 
 
 Gross 
 Value. 
 
 Increase. , Decrease. 
 
 1899 
 
 $17,200 
 
 47,619 
 
 155,194 
 
 102,097 
 
 "iio.Tig" 
 
 107,575 
 
 ""'-'-'.I 
 
 1904 
 
 $348,990 
 569,124 
 921.300 
 649,511 
 
 1,109,196 
 
 $246,893 
 
 1900 
 
 1905 
 
 220.134 
 
 1901 . 
 
 1906 .„ .. 
 
 352,176 
 
 1902 
 
 1907 
 
 ... $271,789 
 
 1903 
 
 $53,097! 1908 
 
 459,685 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The decrease in 1903. as compared with 1902. was partly due to two 
 dredges being put out of commission — the Ashburton Xo. 1, which was 
 destroyed by fire while operating on Sailor Bar on ]\Iay 25 ; and Pacific 
 No. 1. which Avas closed down during the year while operating on Missis- 
 sippi Bar. 
 
 The decrease in yield in 1907, as compared with 1906, was partly due 
 to three dredges going out of commission and to severe storms and floods 
 in 1907 which damaged and delayed operations of others. 
 
 The increase in yield in 1908 was mainly due to four new dredges 
 being put in commission during that year. They were the Natoma 
 No. 1. No. 2. No. 3, and Folsom No. 6. all large modern boats. 
 
 Table Showing Numerical Strength of Gold Dredges In Sacramento County at the 
 
 End of the Year 1909. 
 
 Company. Working. 
 
 Idle. 
 
 Con- 
 structing. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Natomas Consolidated of California 
 
 Ashburton Mining Company 
 
 7 1 
 1 
 
 1 9 
 1 
 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 8 1 
 
 1 in 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12— GD 
 
178 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 AMERICAN RIVER DISTRICT EROM 1899 TO 1909. 
 
 Colorado Pacific Gold Dredging Companij. — Dredging in the Ameri- 
 can River district began in the spring of 1899, when the Colorado Pacific 
 Gold Dredging Company, promoted by R. G. Hanford, and consisting 
 principally of Colorado mining men, commenced operations in April of 
 that year with one dredge on the company's holdings on the north side 
 of the river, on what is known as the Mississippi Bar. 
 
 Pacific No. 1 was an open-link-bucket elevator dredge, built by the 
 Risdon Iron "Works, for a capacity of 35,000 cubic yards per month, 
 and equipped with Si/o-cubic-foot buckets. It was the only steam 
 driven dredge in the district, and Avas kept in operation for about four 
 years until dismantled in 1903. See page 180. 
 
 Pacific No. 2. — In 1902, a second dredge, known as Pacific No. 2. was 
 put in operation on the property. This dredge was of the same make as 
 No. 1, but had 5-cubic-foot buckets, and was electrically driven, and had 
 a rated capacity of 60,000 cubic yards per month. It was dismantled 
 in 1906 after about four years of service. 
 
 AsJihurton ^lining Company. — The second company to commence 
 dredging operations in the district was the Ashburton Mining Company, 
 also promoted bj- R. G. Hanford. Under the direction of R. E. Cranston 
 this company began operations March 1, 1900, with one dredge, on the 
 north side of the river, on what is known as Sailor Bar. • See page 6. 
 
 Aslihurton No. 1. — This dredge was of the double-lift-open-link-bucket 
 elevator type, constructed by the Bucyrus Company, and ecjuipped with 
 tail scow and tail sluices TV^-c'i-^bic-foot buckets. It worked about 
 four years until destroyed by fire JMay 25, 1903, when it was recon- 
 structed and operated until dismantled in 1906, after working out the 
 property. See page 179. 
 
 Ashburton No. 2. — In 1908 the company coDstructed a dredge of the 
 singie-lift-close-connected-bucket type and installed it on the company's 
 holdings on the south side of the river. This boat, known as Ashburton 
 No. 2, is still in operation, and will probably complete the turning over 
 of the company's holdings of 205 acres. 
 
 The gravel on this property ranges in depth from 12 to 48 feet, the 
 average being about 27 feet. In places there are many boulders 
 and a great deal of clay, but the pay streak is usually free from either. 
 
 Syndicate Dredging Company. — The third company to begin opera- 
 tions in the district was the Syndicate Dredging Company, which in 
 1901 put the Syndicate dredge in commission. This dredge, constructed 
 by the Risdon Iron Works, was of the open-link-bucket elevator type, 
 electrically driven, and equipped wi'h 5-cublic-foot buckets. It oper- 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 179 
 
 a t e d at Natoma, 
 near the middle of 
 the district, where 
 the Natoiiui No. 1 is 
 now Avorking until 
 closed down in the 
 spring of 1906. 
 R. G. Hanford was 
 the cliief stock- 
 holder in this com- 
 pany. See p. 182. 
 
 Folsom Develop- 
 ment Company. — 
 The fourth com- 
 pany to begin 
 operations in the 
 district w a s the 
 Folsom Develop- 
 ment Company, 
 which in 1904 
 started Avork with 
 two dredges, the 
 Folsom Xo. 1 and 
 No. 2. Like the 
 preceding c o m - 
 panics, i t w a s 
 launched l)y R. G. 
 Hanford, the per- 
 sonnel consisting 
 mainly of the Ar- 
 mours and other 
 Chicago people. 
 The company con- 
 structed and put 
 in commission a to- 
 tal of six dredges, 
 some of which were 
 the largest of their 
 kind at tha time of 
 construction, a n d 
 also built a large 
 machine shop and 
 erected the first 
 successful r e k - 
 
 o E 
 
 ^ an 
 
180 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 crushing plant to 
 crush the dredge 
 tailings. It was 
 the most successful 
 and progressive 
 company in the 
 district, and was 
 absorbed b y t h e 
 Natomas Consoli- 
 dated at the end 
 of 1908. 
 
 Fohom No. 1 
 was put in com- 
 mission February 
 20, 1904, in the 
 vicinity of Rebel 
 Hill, w here it 
 turned over 45 
 acres of ground of 
 an average depth 
 of 15 feet and 
 handled 2,995,000 
 cubic yards of 
 gravel, until dis- 
 mantled August 
 20, 1908, after 
 four years and six 
 and a half months 
 in operation. 
 
 Fohom Xo. 2 
 was put in com- 
 mission March 16, 
 1904. This dredge 
 worked on the up- 
 per end of the dis- 
 trict, from Dredge 
 to Nigger Bar, 
 where digging to 
 an average depth 
 of 17 feet, it 
 turned over 150 
 acres and handled 
 5,350,000 cubic 
 yards of gravel. It 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 181 
 
 was wrecked by the floods of January 14, 1909, after which part of the 
 machinery was installed on a dredji'e in Colorado. 
 
 Both of these dredges were of the close-connected-l)ucket elevator 
 type, with 5i/.-cul)ic-foot Ijuckets, and were constructed by the Western 
 Engineering and Construction Company, and equipped with Bucyrus 
 machinery. See pages 183 and 184. 
 
 These boats, as well as those of the Colorado Pacific Company, were 
 shut down owing to their small capacity and to great improvements in 
 dredge construction. 
 
 Folsom No. 3 was put in commission January 1, 1905, and during the 
 first four years in operation turned over about Sli/o acres and handled 
 
 m^t ■ '«; jp 
 
 4 
 
 No. 146. Road cutting near Folsom, showing layer of volcanic ash and gravel. See page 188. 
 
 3,600,000 cubic yards of gravel, while digging to an average depth 
 of about 30 feet. It is of the close-connected-bucket type, and was 
 originally equipped with 80 7-cubic-foot buckets, which were later 
 changed to 8i/2-cubic-foot. At the time of construction this was the 
 largest gold dredge known, and marked the first step toward the large 
 dredge of to-day. ]Most of the machinery was designed and a groat 
 deal of it constructed by the Folsom Development Company. \\\\o built 
 the hull and installed the machinery themselves. 
 
 This dredge was put in commission on Willow Hill, wliere it operated 
 intermittently-, and not altogether satisfactorily, for a little over two 
 years, when it was turned over to the Bucyrus and Western Engineer- 
 
182 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 ing and Construction companies for reconstruction. It closed down 
 in May and was recommissioned July 28, 1908, after practically all the 
 machinery had been replaced and new parts installed. Notably among 
 the changes were the new winches that were installed in place of 
 
 the old ones, which had given a great deal of trouble and cause for 
 delays. A 13-foot section was added to the digging ladder, which 
 increased the digging depth about 10 feet, and the number of buckets 
 from 80 to 87. The old bucket-line was discarded and replaced by 87 
 new 81/^-cubic-foot buckets. The shaking screens and drive were taken 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY 
 
 183 
 
 out and a new revolving screen 36 feet long by 7 feet diameter, and 
 new screen drive and screen casing added. A 5-incli two-step hopper 
 
 No. 148. Arrangement to prevent thefts from principal part of gold-saving tables. 
 
 Folsom District. 
 
 pump, with piping to furnish five sprays in the hopper, and two 8-inch 
 two-step monitor pumps, with motors and piping, as well as a new 
 save-all in the well-hole, were also installed. 
 
 No. 149. Folsom No. 2 Dredge in operation. Early Bucyrus design. Dismantled. 
 
 See page 180. 
 
184 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The increased running time and general efficiency of Folsom No. 3 
 dredge after reconstruction brought the yardage up from 70,000 cubic 
 yards to 180,000 cubic 3'ards per month. This dredge is in good work- 
 ing condition after five years in operation up to January 1, 1910. 
 
 
 
 '"^^'"^T^'^^PP^^H^Hj^^^^^^^H 
 
 1^ 
 
 ■i 
 
 c. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " '"m ^ -^g^m^l 
 
 
 No. 150. Wreck of Folsom No. 2 Dredge. See pages 180 and 183. 
 
 The electric motor equipment of the No. 3 dredge is complete and 
 
 mechanically in good condition. It has a rated capacity of 490-horse- 
 
 power, distributed as follows : 
 
 Bucket drive motor 150 h.p 
 
 14-ineh pump motor 100 h.p 
 
 7- and 8-inch pump motors 50 h.p 
 
 Monitor pump motors, two 50 h.p 100 h.p 
 
 Screen motor 30 h.p 
 
 Winch motor 30 h.p 
 
 5-inch step hopper pump motor 30 h.p 
 
 Rated capacity 490 h.p. Folsom Xo. 3 dredge. 
 
 v.s. 
 
 345 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 2000 volts 
 
 c.s. 
 
 580 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 2000 volts 
 
 c.s. 
 
 850 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 2000 volts 
 
 c.s. 
 
 850 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 2000 volts 
 
 c.s. 
 
 850 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 400 volts 
 
 v.s. 
 
 850 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 400 volts 
 
 c.s. 
 
 850 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 400 volts 
 
 No. 151. 
 
 Folsom No. 3 Dredge, showing 8i-cubic-foot close-connected buckets and ladder 
 construction. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS SACRAMENTO COUNTV. 
 
 185 
 
 The average power consumed while in full operation is 401.5 horse- 
 power, or 299.4 kilowatt. The monitor pumps are not in use. 
 
 The close relation of the individual parts to the efficiency of the whole 
 is clearly shown in the reconstruction of this dredge. 
 
 FoJsom Xo. i l)egan operations November 15. 1905. This dredge is 
 of the close-connected-bucket elevator type, and equipped with 68 
 
 No. 152. Splicing additional section in digging ladder of Folsom No. 3 Dredge to increase 
 digging depth. See page 182. 
 
 13-cubic-foot buckets. It is working near the west end of the district 
 on low beach land, and up to January 1, 1909, or during a little over 
 three years, has turned over 209 acres and handled 6.500,000 cubic 
 yards of gravel, while digging to an average depth of 20 feet. 
 
 Folsom No. 4 was the first gold dredge of its size ever constructed, as 
 well as the first dredge to be equipped with double-bank gold-saving- 
 tables. The general idea of the construction originated with R. G. 
 Hanford, then general manager of the Folsom Development Company, 
 who, contrary to the advice of experienced dredge men and dredge 
 constructors, carried out his ideas for the construction of this dredge. 
 
]86 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 No. 153. Folsom No. 4 Dredge, showing bow gantry and bucket-line, 13-cubic-foot buckets. 
 
 No. 154. Winch House, Folsom No. 4 Dredge. Folsom District. 
 
DKi::)tilX(i DISTKICTS — SACRAMENTO CUL'XTY, 
 
 187 
 
 As the washing surface of a dredge is limited to the size of the hull, 
 it became a serious factor how to wash the large amount of material 
 due to the increased capacity of the buckets. This difficulty was over- 
 come bj' the arrangement of the double-bank tables, which were worked 
 out by Hauford's dredge superintendent, S. A. Martindale, and 
 installed on the dredge. Aside from many important changes the screen- 
 ing area was increased by the addition of large shaking screens, and all 
 parts of the dredge strengthened and made heavier in proportion to the 
 increased capacity of the l)uckets. The dredge was partly designed 
 and constructed by the company at the Folsom machine shops, Buey- 
 
 No. 155. Folsom No. 5 Dredge, showing double tail sluices, California type. 
 
 rus machinery being in.stalled. It has handled about 250,000 cubic 
 yards per month, at a cost of about 3 cents per cubic yard, and is in 
 good working condition to-day after over four years in operation. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed upon Folsom No. 4 dredge has 
 a rated capacity of -llS-horsepower, distributed as follows: 
 
 Bucket drive motor 200 h.p 
 
 16-inch Worthington pump motor 100 h.p 
 
 Winch motor 30 h.p 
 
 Shaker motor 30 h.p 
 
 Stacker motor -10 h.p 
 
 0-inch primary pump motor 1.5 h.p 
 
 Rated capacity 415 h.p. 
 
 The average power consumed while in full operation is 260.2 horse- 
 power, or 195 kilowatts. 
 
 Folsom No. 5 was put in operation December 10, 1905. Tliis dredge 
 is of the elose-connected-bucket elevator type, equipped with 73.9-cubic- 
 foot buckets, monitors, and double-bank tables. It is working on Rebel 
 Hill, digging in partly cemented gravel to an average depth of about 
 60 feet, and up to January 1, 1909, or a little over three years, has 
 turned over 39 acres and handled 3,350,000 cubic yards of gravel. 
 
 . 580 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 v.s. 
 
 2000 volts 
 
 . 580 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 C.R. 
 
 2000 volts 
 
 . 850 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 V.S. 
 
 100 volts 
 
 850 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 C.S. 
 
 400 volts 
 
 . 850 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 V.S. 
 
 400 volts 
 
 . 1120 r.p.m. 
 
 W.H. 
 
 C.S. 
 
 400 volts 
 
188 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The gravel in the Rebel Hill section is deeper and more compact 
 than any other in the district. It ranges in depth from 50 to 75 feet, is 
 partly cemented for the first 6 or 8 feet, and compact for the next 25 
 or 30 feet, but the lower portion is loose and does not present mnch 
 difficulty in dredging. 
 
 To dredge this deposit without constant blasting was long considered 
 economically impossible, even at a depth of 30 feet, and to construct 
 a dredge with 9-cubic-foot buckets to dig to a depth of 70 feet in a 
 deposit of this kind, with all the excessive weight of machinery that 
 would follow such a design, was thought impracticable. The problems 
 
 No. 156. Folsom No. 5 Dredge, showing lower tumbler and bucket line, also monitor on bow 
 
 of dredge. Folsom District. 
 
 presented were overcome by R. G. Hanford. who decided to use moni- 
 tors to break down the first 20 or 30 feet of gravel, thus leaving only 
 the looser gravel to be dug. The Western Engineering and Construc- 
 tion Company constructed the dredge and installed Bucyi^us machinery. 
 Folsom No. 5 was the first gold dredge to be designed with monitor 
 equipment. It has two monitors with three-inch nozzles placed on the 
 bow, one on each side of the well-hole, and supplied with water from a 
 high-head centrifugal pump driven by two 50-horsepower motors. 
 Owing to the w^ater-level of the pit being sometimes 20 feet below the 
 surface of the ground, and the first six or eight feet of top gravel 
 cemented, it was found difficult to dredge this ground without injury 
 to the dredge and machinery, especially the ladder, as careless han- 
 dling results in large blocks of cemented gravel falling upon the ladder 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY, 
 
 189 
 
 and bucket-line. While the monitors proved successful in under- 
 mining and breaking down the cemented gravel above the water-line 
 and the digging capacity of the boat was sufficient to take care of the 
 material, it soon became apparent that the washing facilities were inade- 
 quate. The Western Engineering and Construction Company under- 
 took to reconstruct the dredge in part and made several important 
 changes. 
 
 In reconstructing the shaking screens were removed and new revolv- 
 ing screens and drives installed, one upper liank of tables and one new 
 
 p 
 
 J 
 
 Mw\ ^^1 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 ^^BtHP^""^ ^.xi^^^l 
 
 Wmk 
 
 ll 
 
 ■5 J^^ 
 
 IS^^^^^^^I 
 
 i t ^St 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 W 
 
 Pi 
 
 ^^^^^^^K'" 
 
 Ilk '*'■ 11^^^ 
 
 m 
 
 Ki^. 
 
 
 ^^^HMb^^ ' 
 
 Jjl^t^^m 
 
 No. 157. Steel casting spud guide to protect stern on Folsom No. 5 Dredge. 
 
 longitudinal sluice on each side of the boat were added, and a new 
 device put in the save-all in the well-hole. Repairs were made to ladder, 
 main drive, sheaves, spuds, and hull. etc. The 150-horsepower digging 
 motor was replaced by a 200-horsepower motor, and, as on Folsom No. 3, 
 a heavy steel casting was placed on the stern of this dredge for tlie 
 purpose of taking up the wear and tear caused l)y the steel spud ru1)hing 
 against the wooden hull. 
 
 The general equipment oi" the dredge to-day is as follows: Seventy- 
 three 9-cubic-foot buckets, weighing 2.853 pounds each, and dunq)ing 
 18 per minute; plate-girder ladder, weighing 132,980 pounds; doul)le- 
 
190 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 l)auk gold-saving' tables, upper set wood and lower steel construction; 
 revolving screen 7 feet diameter by 36 feet long; steel lattice stacker 
 frame, 138 feet long, weighing 39,280 pounds; conveyor belt 40 inches 
 wide, 285 feet long. 
 
 The hull is 110 feet long. 44 feet 7 inches wide, and 10 feet deep, and 
 was especially designed to stand the heaviest digging strains. The 
 contract digging depth is 35 feet below water-line. 
 
 ' U^fl 
 
 w^ 
 
 
 
 '^^L 
 
 ^^^^HH a^^a 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 ^s^ 
 
 
 W/g 
 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 \iC^^ 
 
 
 ^1 ' ^^i^f^S^- 
 
 % 
 
 
 
 
 
 wS' 
 
 
 
 
 ■— ■^^^-■' j^£^^B^^'^mf^^i^\J^Ri^^ ' 
 
 
 '-^IH 
 
 ^^^^ ^^^HH 
 
 
 ^HKM!^^^^^^^ 
 
 
 
 ^^fe^^^^l 
 
 
 ^^^H - ^^t^^ -■ ' "->• -y^^Sa^^ 
 
 
 gK 
 
 ^^^^1 
 
 li^HH 
 
 ^f^**-***^- 
 
 
 
 ■ilii||H 
 
 
 ^^^B 
 
 No. 158. Showing upper and lower tail sluices and long tailing conveyor, Folsom No. 5 
 
 Dredge. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed on Folsom No. 5 has a rated 
 capacity of 540 horsepower, distributed as follows : 
 
 Bucket drive motor 200 h.p. V.S. W.H. 580 r.p.m. 2000 volts 
 
 14-ineli pump motor 100 h.p. C.S. W.H. 580 r.p.m. 2000 volts 
 
 :\Ionitor motor,*, two 50 h.p KiO h.p. C.S. W.H. 850 r.p.m. 2000 volts 
 
 Winch motor 30 h.p. Y.S. W\H. 8.50 r.p.m. 400 volts 
 
 Screen motor 30 h.p. C.S. W.H. 850 r.p.m. 400 volts 
 
 Stacker motor 30 h.p. C.S. W.H. 850 r.p.m. 400 volts 
 
 Two-step hopper pump motor 30 h.p. C.S. G.E. 900 r.p.m. 440 volts 
 
 4-inch priming pump motor 20 h.p. C.S. W.H. 1100 r.p.m. 400 volts 
 
 Rated capacity 540 h.p. 
 
 The average power consmned while in full operation is 484.8 horse- 
 power, or 363.8 kilowatts. The 4-inch priming pump is seldom used. 
 
 After the double-bank tables were worked out on the dredge and the 
 long upper tail sluices installed, it was found that the large sand pumps 
 were not necessary to take care of the tailing, and they are. therefore, 
 not in commission. 
 
 Folsom No. 6. — The sixth and last dredge to be put in operation by 
 the Folsom Development Company was Folsom No. 6. This dredge 
 began operations ]\rarch 8. 1908, on Sulkey Flat, near Kebel Hill, where 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS SACRAMENTO COUNTY, 
 
 191 
 
 it is still digginii', in partly cemented gravel, to an average depth of 
 60 feet, and against a l)ank 20 feet high above the water-line. During 
 the year ending December 81. 1909. it turned over 18.9 acres and 
 handled 1.565.598 eul)ie yards of gravel at a cost of 5.8 cents per cubic 
 yard. 
 
 This dredge was especially equipped to dig tight and partly cemented 
 gravel, and no exi)ense was spared to make it as effective as possible. 
 The hull was designed to withstand the heaviest digging strains and has 
 proven one of the staunchest of its kind. 
 
 *^ 
 
 ^^- ■ *^*'" - -*-■ 
 
 No. 159. Folsom No. 6 Dredge digging 75 feet, showing long tailing conveyor and heavy ladder 
 construction. Bucyrus and Western Engineering and Construction Company, builders. Cali- 
 fornia type. 
 
 A general description of the hull and equipment of this dredge is as 
 follows: Digging depth below Avater-level. at -45 degrees 48 feet. 
 
 Hnll. 
 
 Longth 120 feet 
 
 Width on water-lino 46 foct 6 inches 
 
 Depth ■ 10 feet 3 inches 
 
 Draught 6 feet 10 inches 
 
 Mech n n ici I JC<j n iji in ent. 
 
 Capacity of buckets 9 cubic feet 
 
 Nuni))er of i)Uckots in line 86 
 
 Weight of ))uckets 262,816 pounds 
 
 Weight of buckets, each 3,056 pounds 
 
 Weight of upper tunil)h'r 20,0il0 pounds. 
 
 Weight of lower tunil)ler Ifi.dOii liounds 
 
 Weight of ladder and fittings 144,(i(!(i iiounds 
 
 Weight of revolving screen 46,410 i>ounds 
 
 Dimensions of revolving screen 7 feet diameter, 36 feet long 
 
 Length of stacker -• 142 feet centers 
 
 Stacker belt 38 inches wide. 293 feet long 
 
 Weiglit of steel spud 76.000 i)ounds 
 
 Dimensions of steel spud 34 by 54 inches by 75 feet long 
 
 Dimensions of wooden spud 34 by 54 inches by 78 feet long 
 
 The wooden spud is one of the largest single sticks of timber ever 
 handled on the Pacific coast. The digging ladder is of the plate-girder 
 type, and the tailing stacker lattice-girder construction equipped with 
 Robins belt conveyor. See pages 55 and 60. 
 
 In addition to the machinery weight the following is a list of some of 
 
 the material used in construction of tlie dredge: 
 
 Iron and steoL. 30.000 pounds 
 
 Truss rods and plates 30,0()U jtounds 
 
 Pil>ing and valves 24.000 i)ounds 
 
 Nuts, bolts, and nails 3:?,000 jiounds 
 
192 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The weight of machiuerj^ on the dredge is 1,253,700 pounds, and the 
 total weight of lumber in hull is 1,141,535 pounds, making the total 
 weight of the dredge 2,395,235 pounds. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed upon the dredge has a rated 
 capacity of 790-horsepower, distributed as follows : 
 
 Main digging, or bucket drive motor 200 h.p 
 
 Main pump, 12-inch higli-pressure motor 100 h.p 
 
 Secondary pump, 12-inch low-pressure motor 50 h.p 
 
 12-inch Monitor pump motors, two 150 h.p 300 h.p 
 
 Eevolving screen motor 30 h.p 
 
 Winch motor 80 h.p 
 
 Stacker motor 50 h.p 
 
 5-inch two-step hopper pump motor 30 h.p 
 
 Rated capacity 790 h.p. 
 
 V.S. 
 
 C.S. 
 
 c.s. 
 
 C.S. 
 V.S. 
 
 V.S. 
 V.S. 
 
 c.s. 
 
 600 r.p.m. 
 580 r.p.m. 
 580 r.p.m. 
 580 r.p.m. 
 850 r.p.m. 
 850 r.p.m. 
 850 r.p.m. 
 850 r.p.m. 
 
 The average power consumed while in full operation is 572-horse- 
 power, or 428.3 kilowatts. All motors 50-horsepower and over are 
 
 No. 160. Steel spud, 34 inches by 54 inches by 75 feet long. Folsom No. 6 Dredge. 
 
 Westinghouse 2,000-volt, and all motors under 50-horsepower are West- 
 inghouse 400-volt. 
 
 A more detailed description of the principal pumps is as follows: 
 ]\Iain or high pressure pump, one 12-ineh 60-foot head centrifugal, 
 direct-connected to one 100-horsepower motor; secondary or low pres- 
 sure pump, one 12-inch 30-foot head centrifugal, direct-connected to 
 50-horsepower motor. Pump for monitors, 150-foot head centrifugal, 
 direct-connected, and driven by two 150-horsepower motors. 
 
 The two monitors are operated either singly or together. Care and 
 judgment must be exercised in washing down the bank, for should too 
 much gravel be loosened at one time, the "cave" might fall too far 
 l)eliind the bow of the dredge for the buckets to pick up the gravel, or 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 193 
 
 else it might be necessary to handle too great a quantity of material at 
 one setting, and thus ground the dredge at the stern. 
 
 The double-bank tables, which are of steel construction, afford ample 
 room for gold-saving purposes and do away with sand troubles and the 
 need of sand pumps. The tail sluices are 4 feet wide. See pages 73 
 and 74. 
 
 No. 161. Framing large wood spud for Folsom No. 6 Dredge, size 34 by 54 inches, 
 75 feet long, weighing 35,000 pounds. 
 
 The three-eye type buckets have not proven satisfactory. They cause 
 great wear on the upper-tumbler faces, and are, therefore, a source of 
 more or less annoyance and delay; the main cause for delay in the 
 operation of this dredge, however, comes from the bow-swing lines,. 
 
 No. 162. Placing point on lar^c wood bpud. Fulsoni No. 6 Dreos"-- 
 
 which at tlie outset were % of an iiK-li in diameter, but owing to tlie liard 
 usage and short life were replaced by lij^-inch lines, which, though 
 cumbersome to shift, are giving fair satisfaction. The side-line trouble 
 is increased on account of tlio liigli liaiik which is always around the 
 
 13— GD 
 
194 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 dredge. The shore-sheave hangs over the side of the banlv on a pendant, 
 but it is not practicable to get a sheave hirge enough for the line because 
 of the np-and-down lead to the line which chafes on the tiang-e as well 
 
 as on the rim of 
 the sheave. The 
 weight of such 
 a sheave would 
 increase the dif- 
 ficulty of shift- 
 ing the lines. 
 
 Recently t h e 
 complete line of 
 three-eye buck- 
 ets was replaced by a new line of buckets made with single-eye in rear 
 and two forward e^'es. similar in design to the bucket used on Folsom 
 Xo. 5 dredge. See illustration No. 156, page 188. 
 
 No. 163. Two-step hydraulic monitor pumps, direct-connected to 
 Westinghojse motors. Folsom No. 6 Dredge. 
 
 No. 164. Hydraulic jets breaking down bank in front of Folsom No. 6 Dredge. 
 
 The construction of Folsom No. 6 followed the successful operations 
 of Folsom No. 5. which led R. G. Hanford to contract for the building 
 of a still larger and heavier dredge to work the partly cemented gravel 
 deposit of Rebel Hill. The plans for Folsom No. 6 were worked out by 
 the Western Engineering and Construction Company, who. constructed 
 the dredge and installed Bucyrus machinery. 
 
 The development of Folsom No. 5 and No. 6 introduced many new 
 factors in dredge construction, and marked a distinct forward step in 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 195 
 
 gold dredging, in so much as they demonstrated that ground wliicli a 
 few years ago was considered impossible to dredge, and could not then 
 have been dredged economically, can now be worked at a profit. The 
 success of these dredges materially increased the boundaries of the dis- 
 trict, as up to that time dredging had been confined to the lower bench 
 lands where the gravel is comparatively loose, and free from clay. 
 
 To give credit for the success of a numl)er of things with one man 
 is often difficult and not always just towards others who assisted in the 
 perfecting of the details which are necessary for the success of the 
 whole. However, in this instance, as the moving spirit of the whole, 
 the credit for the success of gold dredging and the improvements in 
 dredge construction in the American River district up to 1909 must be 
 
 No. 165. Digging ladder before assembly. Folsom No. 6 DretlL;e. 
 
 given to R. G. Ilanford, who since 1S99 has promoted and managed the 
 affairs of all l)ut one dredging company in the district. 
 
 El Durado Gold Dredging Coniptuiij. — The fifth company to start 
 operations in the district was the El Dorado Gold Dredging Company, 
 the personnel of which consisted of San Francisco men. with E. II. 
 Benjamin secretary. This company began operations April 25. 190."). 
 with the El Dorado dredge, a Risdon Imilt boat of the open-link-l)ucket 
 elevator type, quipped with T-cubic-foot buckets. The company's hold- 
 ings consisted of 554 acres on the south side of the xVmerican River, at 
 the west end of the district. The dredge worked intermittently on this 
 property until some time in 1908. In the spring of 1909, it was taken 
 over by the Natomas Consolidated of California, who operated the 
 dredge until ]\Iay 31st of that year, when it was again shut down and 
 remained idle i)racti('all.\- the rest of the ycjir. This dredge is now 
 permanently out of commission. 
 
 Sahniui Development ConipeDiij. — Tiie sixth company to start opera- 
 tions in the Folsom district was the Natoma Development Company, 
 which took over the holdings of the Syndicate Dredging Company, the 
 Coloi-ado Pacific Gold Dredging Company, and the Xatomas Vineyard 
 Compan\'. 
 
196 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 During 1908 this comi:)any commissioned three dredges, Natoma No. 1, 
 No. 2 and No. 3, all close-connected-bucket elevator dredges, designed and 
 constructed by the Yuba Construction Company, who ordered much of 
 the excavating machinery for these dredges from the Bucj'rus Company. 
 
 Xatoma Xo. 1 dredge, the largest gold dredge operating in California 
 at the present time, was put in commission May 10, 1908, on the Syndi- 
 cate property in the pit of the old Syndicate dredge. It required 
 420,000 feet of lumber in the construction of the hull, which is 112 feet 
 long, 50 feet wide on water line, 11 feet 6 inches deep, with a draught 
 of 8 feet 6 inches. The hull is strengthened by two lateral and two 
 fore and aft trusses running the full length of the boat. The digging 
 
 No. 167. Natoma No. 1 Dredge, showing 13j-cubic-foot buckets and spuds. California type. 
 
 depth is 35 feet below water line. The digging ladder is plate girder 
 type, 104 feet long, and carries sixty-one 13i/2-cubic-foot buckets weigh- 
 ing each 3,450 pounds and dumping 20 per minute. The tumblers are 
 hexagonal. The upper shaking screen is 10 feet 10 inches wide by 22 
 feet long, and the lower 11 feet 8 inches wide by 22 feet long. The 
 gold-saving tables are double bank, constructed of wood and equipped 
 with wood riffles of the Hungarian type, the total riffle area being 5,500 
 square feet. The tailing stacker is 104 feet long and carries a 42-inch 
 belt. Each of the two steel spuds is 36 inches by 52 inches by 55 feet 
 long and weigh each 68,000 pounds. 
 
 Electric Motor Equipment Natoma No. 1 Dredge. 
 
 Rated Capacity. Type. Avei-age Output. 
 
 Main drive motor 300 h. p. 
 
 Wincli motor 35 h. p. 
 
 Shaker motor 75 h. p. 
 
 Stacker motor 35 h. p. 
 
 14-inch high-pressure pump motor 150 h. p. 
 
 10-inch low-pressure pump motor 35 h. p. 
 
 5-inch priming pump motor 15 h. p. 
 
 Totals 645 h. p. 
 
 All motors are General Electric Company 550-volt 
 
 v.s. 
 
 514 r.p.m. 
 
 150 k.w. 
 
 200 h.p 
 
 v.s. 
 
 eoor.p.m. 
 
 21.4 k.w. 
 
 28.5 h. p. 
 
 o.s. 
 
 720 r.p.m. 
 
 30 k.w. 
 
 40 h.p 
 
 (;.s. 
 
 eoor.p.m. 
 
 18.6 k.w. 
 
 25 h.p. 
 
 (^s. 
 
 600 r.p.m. 
 
 73.2 k.w. 
 
 98 h.p. 
 
 (^S. 
 
 000 r.p.m. 
 
 20.2 k.w. 
 
 35 h.p. 
 
 o.s. 
 
 1200 r.p.m. 
 
 14 k.w. 
 
 18.7 h.p. 
 
 
 
 333.4 k.w. 
 
 445.2 h.p. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 197 
 
 The hull of Natoma No. 1 dredge was built to accommodate extra 
 large shaking screens and double-bank gold-saving tables, which were 
 installed to insure a clean washing and distribution of the great amount 
 of material handled by the large buckets. As the gravel is clean and 
 carries but a small amount of sand, it washes easily and runs freel}' over 
 the riffles. 
 
 During the first year in operation, in the months of May, June, and 
 July, respectively, this 
 dredge handled an 
 average of 8,029, 8,200, 
 and 8.350 cubic yards 
 of gravel per day of 
 twenty-four hours, at 
 a cost of 214 cents per 
 cubic yard. The power 
 used averaged ;]9,200 
 kilowatt hours per 
 week, or about 3-5 of a 
 cent per cubic yard. 
 
 During the first eight 
 months i n operation 
 this dredge turned 
 over 60.02 acres of 
 ground and handled 
 1,830,000 cubic yards. 
 during 235 operating 
 days, at a cost of 2.3 
 cents per cubic yard, 
 while digging to an 
 average depth of 1!' 
 feet. During the 
 twelve months ending 
 December 31, 1909, the 
 dredge handled 3,048.- 
 254 cubic yards of 
 gravel, or an average 
 of 8.397 cubic yards 
 per day, at a cost of 2.41 cents per cubic yard, while digging to an 
 average depth of 19.07 feet. 
 
 Natoma No. 2 dredge began operations April 22, 1908. It is working 
 on the north side of the river on ^vhat is known as Sacramento Bar. 
 It is a (•lose-{'onne<'ted-bucket elevator dredge, e(iuippod with 8-cubic- 
 foot buckets. 
 
 No. 168. 
 
 Belt conveyor for stacking dredge tailing. 
 No. 2 Dredge. 
 
 Natomas 
 
198 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 During' the first ei<ilit months in operation this dredge turned over 
 16.38 acres, handling 626,800 cubic yards of gravel during 130 operating 
 days, at a cost of 2.4 cents per cubic yard, while digging to an average 
 depth of 2-1 feet in fairly loose gravel. During 12 months in 1909 the 
 dredge operated 6,849.05 hours, handling 1,962,448 cubic yards, an 
 average of 5,406 cubic yards of gravel per day, at a ccst of 3.1 cents per 
 cubic yard while digging at an average depth of 23.44 feet. 
 
 Fatoma No 3 dredge was commissioned in July, 1908, and is working 
 on the north side of the river on what is known as Mississippi Bar. It 
 is a elose-connected-bueket elevator dredge, equipped with 61 8-cubic- 
 foot buckets, dumping at the rate of 20 per minute. 
 
 Up to January 1, 1909, or during the first six months in operation, 
 this dredge turned over 81/0 acres of ground and handled 583,900 cubic 
 yards of gravel, during 171 operating days, at a cost of 3.9 cents per 
 cubic yard, while digging to an average depth of 42.5 feet in compact 
 gravel. 
 
 Summary of Dredges Operating in the Folsom District up to January 1, 1909. 
 
 Company. 
 
 Dredge. 
 
 Construc- 
 tion of 
 Dredge. 
 
 Date 
 
 Began 
 
 Operation. 
 
 Date 
 Stopped 
 Opera- 
 tion. 
 
 
 5 
 o 
 
 to 33 
 fD ^- 
 
 C 
 
 Cubic 
 
 Yards 
 
 Dredged. 
 
 > 
 a 
 
 >i 
 
 tf 
 
 03 
 
 a 
 
 UQ 
 
 a 
 
 Colorado Pac. 
 GoldDrdg.Co. 
 
 Ashburton Min- 
 ing Co 
 
 Pacific No. 1.. 
 Pacific No. 2.. 
 
 Ashburton 
 
 No 1. 
 Ashburton 
 
 No. 2 
 
 Syndicate 
 
 Folsom No. 1. 
 Folsom No. 2 
 Folsom No. 3. 
 Folsom No. 4 
 Folsom No. 5 
 Folsom No. 6 
 
 El Dorado... 
 
 Natoma No. 1 
 Natoma No 2 
 Natoma No. S 
 
 Risdont 
 O.C. .. 
 Risdon 
 O.C 
 
 Bucyrus, 
 D. L.C.C. 
 Company 
 C. C. 
 
 Risdon 
 O.C 
 
 Bucyrus, 
 W.E., C.C. 
 Bucvrus, 
 W.E.,C.C. 
 Company, 
 C.C. . . 
 Company, 
 Bucyrus 
 Bucyrus, 
 W.E., C C. 
 Bucvrus, 
 W.E., C.C 
 
 Risdon, 
 O.C 
 
 Yuba C. C 
 
 C.C 
 
 YubaC. C 
 C.C. .- 
 Yuba C.C 
 C.C 
 
 April 1899 
 1902 
 
 Mar. 1,1900 
 May, 1908 
 
 1901 
 
 Feb. 20,'04 
 Mar. 16,'04 
 Jan. 1,'05 
 Nov. 15,'05 
 Dec. 10,'05 
 Mar. 8,'08 
 
 April 25, '05 
 
 May 10, '08 
 Aug. 22, '08 
 July 2, '08 
 
 1903 
 1906 
 
 1906 
 
 yr. mo. 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 .5i 
 
 4 64 
 3 9i 
 4 
 
 3 U 
 
 3 i 
 
 9A 
 
 3 8 
 
 'i 
 ■1* 
 6 
 
 3i 
 5 
 
 ''h 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 5i 
 5J 
 U 
 13 
 9 
 9 
 
 7 
 
 13i 
 
 8 
 8 
 
 960,000* 
 2,100,000* 
 
 6,000,000* 
 450,000* 
 
 3,000,000* 
 
 2,995,000 
 5,350,000 
 3,000,000 
 6,500,000 
 3,350,000 
 1,200,000 
 
 1,260,000* 
 
 1,8.50,000 
 626,300 
 583,900 
 
 25* 
 54* 
 
 155* 
 
 8* 
 
 Syndicate 
 
 Dredging Co. , 
 
 Folsom Devel- 
 opment Co. ... 
 
 1906 
 
 Aug.20,'08 
 Jan. 14, '09 
 
 103* 
 
 54 
 
 150 
 8H- 
 
 _ 
 
 
 209 
 
 
 
 39 
 
 
 
 16.6 
 
 El Dorado Gold 
 Dredging Co. 
 
 
 40* 
 
 Natoma Devel- 
 opment Co. .- 
 
 
 60 02 
 
 
 
 16.38 
 
 
 
 8.5' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 tC. C, Close connected; O. C, Open connected. 
 * Estimated ; accurate data not obtainable. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 199 
 
 Summary of Dredge Operations from 1899 to 1909. 
 
 Number of dredge:^ 15 
 
 Acres dredged 1018.56 
 
 Yardage liandled 37,125,200 
 
 Gross yield : f3,920,231 
 
 The foregoing gives six companies which were organized to operate 
 in the distinct and were reduced to four at the end of 1908, owing to 
 consolidations. Fifteen dredges were put in commission and 6 dis- 
 mantled, leaving in active operation at the end of 1908. 
 
 No. 169. Natoma No. 3 Dredge, showing construction of housing 
 Company, builders. California type. 
 
 Yuba Con; 
 
 THE AMERICAN RIVER DISTRICT IN 1909 AND DURING THE FIRST 
 HALE or 1910. 
 
 On January 1, 1909, the Natomas Consolidated of California took 
 over the holdings and equipment of three companies operating in the 
 district. These were: The Folsom Development Company, tive dredges, 
 one machine shop, and one rock-crushing plant ; the Natoma Develop- 
 ment Company, three dredges and repair shops, and the El Dorado 
 Crold Dredging Company with one dredge. The Natomas Consolidated 
 also absorbed the holdings of the Natoma Vineyard Company. This 
 reduced the number of companies operating to two. the Ashburton 
 Alining Company remaining the same as in 1908. 
 
 The following table shows the dredging area belonging ^o the respect- 
 ive companies and the number of dredges operating in the Held at the 
 beginning' of 1909 : 
 
 Company. 
 
 Dredging 
 Land.s, 
 Acres. 
 
 Dredges. 
 
 Working. 
 
 Natomas Consolidated of California. 
 Ashburton Mining Co 
 
 5.621.66 
 205 
 
 Total. 
 
 Totals ...I 5.826.66 
 
 10 
 
200 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 During the year 1909 the above seven dredges of the Natomas Con- 
 solidated of California turned over 321.48 acres and handled 13,975,185 
 cubic yards of gravel at a cost of 3.6 cents per cubic yard, while digging 
 to an average depth of 27 feet in ground ranging from 19 to 70 feet 
 deep. 
 
 During the same period the four dredges of the Feather River divi- 
 sion of the Natomas Consolidated of California turned over 79.7 acres 
 and handled 3,555,552 cubic yards of gravel, during 26,597 operating 
 hours, at an average cost of 4.9 cents per cubic yard, in ground ranging 
 from 25 to 54 feet deep. 
 
 Table Showing Dredges Operating in the American River District in 1910. 
 
 Name of Company. 
 
 Total Dredges. 
 
 Name of Dredges. 
 
 Working. 
 
 Idle. 
 
 Constructing. 
 
 Natomas Consolidated 
 
 Natoma No. 1 
 
 Natoma No. 2__- 
 
 Natoma No. H 
 
 Folsom No. 4 
 
 Folsom No. 5 --- 
 Folsom No. 6--- 
 Folsom No. 3--- 
 Natomas No. 8 
 
 Natomas No. 1 
 
 
 
 
 Natomas No. 2.. 
 
 
 
 
 Natomas No. 3 
 
 
 
 
 Natomas No. 4 
 
 
 
 
 Natomas No. .5.- 
 
 
 
 
 Natomas No. (i 
 
 
 
 
 Natomas No. 7-- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Natomas No. 8 
 
 
 El Dorado 
 
 El Dorado 
 
 
 Ashburton Mining Co. 
 
 Ashburton 
 
 AshburtonNo. 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Totals - 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Natomas Consolidated of California. — The Natomas Consolidated of 
 California is one of the two largest gold dredging companies in the 
 State, and as a combined dredging and reclamation company is the 
 largest of its kind in California. It is a California corporation, with a 
 
 No. 171. Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2. Southern Pacific tracks in foreground. 
 
 capitalization of $25,000,000 divided into 250,000 shares of stock, par 
 value of $100 each, and an authorized bond issue of 25,000 bonds, par 
 value of $1,000 each. The personnel of the company is composed of 
 San Francisco men, as follows : President, Eugene de Sabla ; first \ace- 
 president, W. P. Hammon ; second vice-president, Louis Sloss; third 
 vice-president, F. W. Griffin; secretary and treasurer, A. E. Boynton; 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 
 
 201 
 
 general manager, NeAvlon Cleaveland. The offices of the company are in 
 the Alaska Commercial building, San Francisco, with division mana- 
 gers' offices at Sacramento, Natoma, and Oroville. 
 
 The company controls about 6,529.66 acres of proven dredging land, 
 and operates twelve dredges. Of this 908 acres and four dredges are 
 located at Oroville, Butte County, and 5,621.66 acres and eight dredges 
 in Sacramento County. The principal holdings of the company lie in 
 Sacramento County, where, aside from dredging interests, the company 
 
 No. 172. Interior of machine shop at Dredge, now Natoma. 
 
 operates two rock-crushing plants and controls some 8.383 acres of horti- 
 cultural land in the American River district, a part of which belongs, 
 hoAvever, to a subsidiary company, called the Natoma Vineyard Com- 
 pany. Elsewhere in the countj^ the company has acquired some 70.000 
 acres of land which it is reclaiming and making habital)le for settle- 
 ment. The capital invested in dredging property amounts to over 
 $5,000,000. During 1909 the dredging interests were divided into three 
 divisions: the Feather River division, comprising four dredges at Oro- 
 ville ; the Natoma division, comprising the holdings taken over from the 
 Natoma Development Company; and the Folsom division, comprising 
 the holdings taken over from the FoLsom Development Company. In 
 1910 the dredging interests were put under two divisions : the Natomas 
 and Feather River divisions, comprising, respectively, the properties 
 along the American River and those near Oroville. The names of all 
 the dredges in the FoLsom district were changed to Natomas (see pre- 
 
202 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 ceding- table), and two of the Feather River dredges were closed down, 
 so that during the year 3910 the company has been operating two 
 dredges in the Oroville district (see page 144) and seven in the Folsom 
 district, a total of 9 dredges. 
 
 During the year ending December 31, 1909, the dredges of all divi- 
 sions, which were the 3 Natoma, 4 Folsom, and 4 Feather River dredges, 
 including a few mouths ' experimental work with two obsolete machines, 
 turned over 412.77 acres and handled 17,582,736 cubic yards at a cost 
 
 No. 173. Blacksmith shop at dredge near Folsom. Repairing large buckets and tumblers. 
 
 of 3.9 cents a cubic yard, the total operating time being 73,767 hours, 
 and the average depth 26.4 feet in ground ranging from 18 to 70 feet 
 deep. The liueket capacity of the dredges ranged from 5 to 131/2 cubic 
 feet. 
 
 Since the advent of the Natomas Consolidated of California in the 
 American River district, dredging operations have received a new 
 impetus in that field ; the yardage handled in 1909, under the new man- 
 agement exceeds that of 1908. During the 12 months ending December 
 31, 1909, the three dredges of the Natoma division turned over 176.14 
 acres and handled 6,615,071 cubic yards of gravel at a cost of 3.02 
 cents per cubic yard, while operating during a total of 20,704 hours, or 
 an average of 19.1 hours per day, and digging to an average depth of 
 23.3 feet in ground ranging from 19 to 51 feet deep. During the same 
 year the 4 dredges of the Folsom division turned over 155.34 acres and 
 handled 7,360,114 cubic yards of gravel at a cost of 4.2 cents per cubic 
 yard, operating a total of 26,055 hours, or an average of 18.1 hours per 
 day, and digging to an average depth of 29.4 feet in ground ranging 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SACRAMENTO COUNTY. 203 
 
 from 18 to 70 feet deep. Tliis reeord for tlie first year must be con- 
 sidered exceptional in view of the fact that during the tirst half of 
 the year a great deal of time was lost in putting the various boats in 
 working trim, as well as teaching the men in the various departments 
 to keep a more exhaustive form of records than previously- used. 
 
 Many improvements were made by the company during the year. 
 The shops and offices at Dredge, a station now called Xatoma. were 
 enlarged and the offices of the Xatoma division moved to this place. 
 
 During the year 1909 the company constructed and put in operation 
 one large rock-crushing plant, at a cost of about $225,000, and towards 
 the end of the year construction of a large dredge was begun. This 
 dredge will be known as Xatoma Xo. 8. It is designed by the engineers 
 of the Yuba Construction Company, and is being constructed by the 
 construction department of the Xatomas Consolidated of California. 
 The dredge will be of the close-connected-bucket elevator tj'pe, equipped 
 with 131/2-cubic-foot buckets, and will have a digging depth of 55 feet 
 below the water-line. 
 
 The machine shop at Xatoma is conveniently located, well equipped 
 and large enough to economically'^ handle and repair all but the heaviest 
 parts of a dredge. A broad gauge spur track from the main railroad 
 line runs through the yards making it possible to unload machine parts 
 and supplies directly into either the shops or warehouses. 
 
 During the year 1909 the company employed the following average 
 number of men per month in its dredging operations in the Folsom 
 district : 
 
 Folsom Division Dredges. 
 General, including office force, dredge superintendent, divi.«ion 
 
 nianager 20 men 
 
 Floating crew 20 men 
 
 Chinese and Japs 16 men 
 
 Crew on four dredges 44 men 
 
 Machine shop 30 men 
 
 Total 130 men 
 
 Total pay roll per month §12,500 
 
 Nntoma Division Dredges. 
 General, including office force, dredge superintendent, division 
 
 manager 6 men 
 
 Crew on three dredges .30 men 
 
 Floating crew 15 men 
 
 Total 51 men 
 
 Average total pay roll per month 6,000 
 
 Grand total 181 men $18,500 
 
 The working time of a dredge is twenty-four hours, divided into three 
 eiglit-hour shifts. Each dredge is operated by nine men. one dredge- 
 master, and one shoreman, making a total of eleven men with now and 
 then additional men on day shift as special work may recpiire. The 
 prevailing wages are: For winchmen, 45 cents per hour, or $3.60 i)er 
 shift; for oilers, 35 cents per hour, or $2.80 per shift; for shoi-emen, 
 25 cents to 34 cents i)er hour, or $2 to $2.72 per sliift. 
 
204 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Aside from the regular crew there is the clean-up man and his assist- 
 ants. The company employs one clean-up man for each division, who 
 has charge of the clean-up crew, and under his direction the gold on 
 the tables of each dredge is removed at regular intervals, usually once 
 a -week. He also has charge of the retorting of the amalgam and the 
 melting of the gold, and because of this last duty is often known as the 
 company's gold man. 
 
 Aside from actual dredging operations the company employ's a large 
 number of men in connection with its other interests in the district, 
 which are divided into departments as follows: Orchard and vineyard 
 department, water department, rock-crushing department, and shops 
 and construction department. The employees in these various depart- 
 ments number 145, divided as follows : 
 
 Orchard and Vineyard Department. 
 
 Foreman and division superintendent 5 men 
 
 White labor 20 men 
 
 Chinese and Japs 38 men 
 
 Total 63 men 
 
 ^yater Dejjartment. 
 Total 11 men 
 
 Monthly pay roll, orchard and vineyard department 
 
 Monthly pay roll, water department 
 
 L'ock-Crushing Depa rtment. 
 
 Rock-crushing plant No. 1 33 men 
 
 Rock-crushing plant No. 2 38 men 
 
 Total pay roll per month 
 
 $3,182 
 636 
 
 $0,500 
 
 A summary of the monthly average pay roll and number of men 
 employed by the company in the various departments is as follows : 
 
 Department 
 
 Average 
 Number 
 Men Em- 
 ployed. 
 
 Average 
 Monthlv 
 Pav Roll. 
 
 Dredging 
 
 Rock-crushing plants 
 Water 
 
 Orchard and vineyard 
 
 Totals 
 
 181 
 71 
 11 
 63 
 
 326 
 
 $18,500 
 
 5,500 
 
 636 
 
 3,182 
 
 $27,818 
 
 The company maintains cottages and boarding houses for their 
 employees. They are located in the following places : Folsom division, 
 25 four-room cottages, size about 24 by 32 feet, and 8 five-room cottages ; 
 Natoma division, at Natoma, 5 four-room cottages 24 by 30 feet, and one 
 boarding house 96 by 32 feet; at Sacramento Bar. 1 boarding house 
 34 by 120 feet ; and at Mississippi Bar, 3 cottages 22 by 30 feet, and 1 
 boarding house 30 by 90 feet, making a total of 41 cottages and 3 
 boarding houses. The cottages are rented to employees at an average 
 rental of $15 per month. 
 

 
 <^, 
 
 
 Ih.!, 
 
 
 ^k 
 
 «v 
 
 / \V 
 
 C5/ 
 
 /"-^ 
 
 -^/'^ 
 
 
 •o/it 
 
 ** /^ 
 
 ^/^ 
 
 v^ 
 
 ^/ y 
 
 -^ v; 
 
 MAP OF CALAVERAS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, SHOWING LOCATION OF DREDGING LAND. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS CALAVERAS COUNTY. 
 
 205 
 
 5. CALAVERAS COUNTY. 
 
 Calaveras County, comprising an area of 1,000 square miles, or 63,360 
 acres, with a population of about 12,500 inhabitants, is the central of 
 the Mother Lode counties, extending from the foothills of the Sierra 
 Nevada ^Mountains into the great San Joaquin Valley. San Andreas 
 is the county seat, but the principal to\\Ti is Angels Camp, with a 
 population of 3.000. 
 
 The ]\Iokelumne River separates the county on the north from Amador 
 and the Stanislaus River on the south from Tuolumne. On the west it 
 is bounded by San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and on the north- 
 east by Alpine. The Southern Pacific railroad has three branch lines 
 
 No. 174. Isabel Dredge, September 14, 1909, Jenny Lind, Calaveras County, Cal. Note steel 
 
 bow gantry. 
 
 running to Valley Springs, Angels Camp, and Milton, respectively. In 
 1908 the county had 412 miles of public roads, 800 miles of irrigating 
 ditches, one electric power plant, and about 120 miles of electric power 
 lines. 
 
 The principal industries of the county are mining, lumbering, and 
 stock raising. The famous Calaveras Grove of big trees is a great 
 feature of the forest region of the country. ]\Iining in Calaveras is not 
 confined to gold mining alone, for it was in this county that copper 
 mining first began in California, and before the great deposits of 
 Shasta County were developed" Calaveras was the leading copper pro- 
 ducing county of the State. 
 
 Calaveras County has been famous for its surface placer.s. especially 
 during the days of the "long-torn" and "rocker." The gold now pro- 
 duced comes mo.stly from deep quartz and gravel mines. Gold dredging 
 has only been carried on since 1904. and so far only in two localities. 
 At the present time, 1910, there are three dredging companies in active 
 operation— The Mokelumne Mining Company, Calaveras Gold Dredging 
 
2f 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — CALAVERAS COUNTY. 
 
 205 
 
 5. CALAVERAS COUNTY. 
 
 Calaveras County, comprising an area of 1,U00 sciuare miles, or 63,360 
 acres, with a population of about 12,500 inhabitants, is the central of 
 the Mother Lode counties, extending from the foothills of the Sierra 
 Nevada ^Mountains into the great San Joaquin Valley. San Andreas 
 is the county seat, but the principal towTi is Angels Camp, with a 
 population of 3,000. 
 
 The ]Mokelumne River separates the county on the north from Amador 
 and tlie Stanislaus River on the south from Tuolumne. On the west it 
 is bounded by San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and on the north- 
 east by Alpine. The Southern Pacific railroad has three branch lines 
 
 No. 174. Isabel Dredge, September 14, 1909, Jenny Lind, Calaveras County, Cal. Note steel 
 
 bow gantry. 
 
 running to Valley Springs, Angels Camp, and Milton, respectively. In 
 1908 the county had 412 miles of public roads, 800 miles of irrigating 
 ditches, one electric power plant, and about 120 miles of electric power 
 lines. 
 
 The principal industries of the county are mining, lumbering, and 
 stock raising. The famous Calaveras Grove of big trees is a great 
 feature of the forest region of the country. JNIining in Calaveras is not 
 confined to gold raining alone, for it Avas in this county that copper 
 mining first began in California, and before the great deposits of 
 Shasta County were developed" Calaveras was the leading copper pro- 
 ducing county of the State. 
 
 Calaveras County has been famous for its surface placer.s. especially 
 during the days of the "long-tom" and "rocker." The gold now pro- 
 duced comes mostly from deep quartz and gravel mines. Gold dredging 
 has only been carried on since 1904. and so far only in two localities. 
 At the present time, 1910, there are three dredging companies in active 
 operation — The Mokolumne Mining Company, Calaveras Gold Dredging 
 
206 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Company, and Isabc4 Dredging Company. The Butte Dredging Com- 
 pany of Oroville is this year removing the Butte dredge to property 
 adjoining that of the Isabel Dredging Company on the south side of the 
 Calaveras River. For Butte Dredging Company see pages 119 and 120. 
 Table Showing Mineral Produetion of Calaveras County from 1900 to 1908. 
 
 Substances 
 
 Chrome 
 
 Clay 
 
 Copper 
 
 Gems 
 
 Gold 
 
 Lime 
 
 Limestone 
 
 Mineral paint -_ 
 
 Platinum 
 
 Pyrites 
 
 Quartz crystals 
 
 Silver 
 
 Unapportioned - 
 
 Totals 
 
 $150,585 
 1,649426 
 
 'asoo 
 
 'a583 
 18.000 
 80,762 
 
 $1,905,856 
 
 $268,000 $251,062 
 2,024^685 , 2,072^939 
 
 500 
 
 17,500 
 44,687 
 
 r78 
 
 46,234 
 
 ,355,372 $2,371,013 
 
 1903. 
 
 19C4 
 
 $297^263 
 
 $375 
 
 100 
 
 414,399 
 
 1.90ii25 
 
 1,789484 
 5,500 
 
 "Tooo 
 
 '".385 
 
 68/280 
 
 6'5^6ii 
 
 
 $2,270,668 $2,275,554 
 
 Substances. 
 
 190.5. 
 
 1906. 
 
 Granil Total. 
 
 Chrome 
 
 Clay 
 
 Copper 
 
 Gems 
 
 Gold 
 
 Lime 
 
 Limestone 
 
 I\Iineral paint -. 
 
 Platinum 
 
 Pyrites 
 
 Quartz crystals 
 
 Silver 
 
 Unapportioned . 
 
 Totals 
 
 $300 
 
 300 
 
 572,022 
 
 10,000 
 
 1.736,816 
 
 $280 
 
 50 
 
 956,315 
 
 l,64i234 
 
 $840 
 
 250 
 
 609.203 
 
 1,097^974 
 
 "$250 
 55.5.704 
 
 1,378^.511 
 
 
 15"430 
 1,900 
 
 7,635 
 ""250 
 
 16^955 
 
 3M46 ' ...11 
 2.50 : 
 
 
 
 Y4"099 
 
 laooo 
 
 .54.420 
 
 lo'ooo .1 
 
 62,727 
 
 $50,075 
 
 $2,415,627 
 
 $2,682,863 
 
 $1,789,642 
 
 $2,038,888 
 
 $20,155,.558 
 
 Tlie Mokelumne 2Iini)iy Companu was incorporated under the laws 
 of Delaware in 1901. The president and general manager of the com- 
 pany is David Pepper, Jr., Philadelphia. Pa., and the resident manager 
 is William C. Calley, Wallace, Calaveras County, Cal. 
 
 The holdings of the company comprise an area of about 250 acres of 
 dredging land located along the Mokelumne River in Calaveras, San 
 Joaquin, and Amador counties at the junction of these three counties, 
 about three miles from the town of Wallace. 
 
 The original operations of the company consisted of digging the 
 g-ravel with a 90-ton Vulcan steam shovel, which dumped into a hopper. 
 The gravel w^as then elevated by Robins belt conveyors to a stationary 
 tower and dumped into a stationary sluice. This mode of operation 
 did not prove successful, and in 1904 a bucket elevator dredge was 
 built l)y the company on the ground. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS CALAVERAS COUNTY. 207 
 
 The machinery for this dredge was made by Geo. V. Cresson & Co. of 
 Phihidelphia. and the ecjuipment consisted in a general way of direct 
 current motors driven by a coal and oil burning steam plant on shore. 
 This plant and dredge was operated at irregular intervals until July. 
 1908. when the dredge was reconstructed and power brought in from 
 the American River Electric Power Company's transmission line. 
 
 The dredge at present operating is a 5-cubie-foot close-connected 
 elevator dredge carrying 74 buckets, and equipped with an independent 
 Eisdon ladder hoist and a Risdon 6-drum headline winch. The tailing 
 stacker is a Robins belt conveyor carrying a 30-inch belt. The gold 
 saving tables are of the doul)le deck tyi>e and cover an area of one 
 thousand square feet, the side sluices having an area of about 300 square 
 feet. The pumps for supplying water for w^ashing the gravel consist of 
 one 7-inch and one 8-ineh Krog centrifugal and one 3-inch high pres- 
 sure pump. 
 
 The electric motor equipment installed upon the dredge consists of 
 General Electric Company 60-cycle. 3-phase. 440-volt motors, distrib- 
 uted as follows : ]\[ain digging motor lOO-horsepower V.S. ; ladder 
 hoist, 25-horsepower Y.S. ; main hoist, 25-horsepower V.S. ; pumps 75- 
 horsepower C.S. : high pressure pump. 5-horsepower : shaking screen 
 and stacker motors, each, 20-liorsepower C.S. 
 
 The normal digging capacity of the dredge is from 140 to 175 cubic 
 yards per hour. The company contemplates building a new dredge in 
 1911. The company employs about twelve men. 
 
 The Calaveras Gold Dredging Company began operations in 1904. 
 The president and manager of this company is S. A. ^Moss, 807 Alaska 
 Commercial Building. San Francisco. Cal. The holdings of this com- 
 pany comprise an area of about 350 acres located in township 3 north, 
 range 10 east, along the Calaveras River near Jenny Lind. The ground 
 averages in depth about 33 feet. The gravel is coarse and in UK^st places 
 overlain by hydraulic tailing. 
 
 The dredire was constructed in December. 1903. by the Western 
 Engineering and Construction Cimipany and e(|uipped with l^ucvrus 
 machinery. The hull of the dredge is 105 feet long. 36 feet wide. 7 feet 
 deep and draws 4 feet six inches. The digging ladder is plate girder 
 construction carrying 5-cubic-foot close-connected buckets. The tailing 
 stacker is a Robins belt conveyor 90 feet long, carrying a 32-inch belt 
 187 feet long. 
 
 The electric motor equipment as installed upon the dredge has a 
 
 rated capacity of 208-horsepower distributed as follows : 
 
 Propsnrc pumps, two 7-inoh contrifngnl .50 h. p. S-iO r. 11.111. C.S. 
 
 Priiiiiiry iiuiiip. f)ii(' 2-iiicli centrifugal 3 li.p. 1700r.p.iii. C.S. 
 
 SiiiKl puiui.. (.lie (Viiicli (•('iitrifiitr;il ;. 30 h.i). 8.50 r.p.iii. C.S. 
 
 Shaking screen and statkcr motor ..80 h. p. 850 r p m CS 
 
 Bucket flrive motor 75 h. p. 600 r.i>.m. V.S. 
 
 Winch motor 20 h. p. 1200 r.p.m. V.S. 
 
208 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 All motors are Westinghouse, 3-phase, 60-cycle, 400-volt. The com- 
 pany employs about twelve men. 
 
 The Isabel Dredging Company began operations in 1908. Until 
 recently the personnel of the company consisted of Colorado mining 
 men, with W. P. Bownbrights of Colorado Springs, president; H. J. 
 Reiling, vice-president ; A. Pollock, secretary and treasurer, San Fran- 
 cisco, Cal. ; Fred J. Estep, resident manager, Jenny Lind. 
 
 It is understood that the company has lately been sold to California 
 mining men, but nothing definite can be given as repeated requests for 
 information have been refused. 
 
 The holdings of the company comprise an area of about 100 acres, 
 located along the Calaveras River at Jenny Lind and adjoining the 
 holdings of the Calaveras Gold Dredging Company. The ground 
 averages in depth about 35 feet. The gravel is coarse and is overlain 
 by a heavy clay in places several feet in depth and by a sandy loam. 
 The overburden of clay and loam exceeds in places 10 feet in depth, and 
 is said to have caused a great deal of difficulty in dredging. 
 
 The dredge on this property was originally built for the National 
 Dredging Company, a Wyoming corporation, and later taken over by 
 the Isabel Gold Dredging Company of Colorado Springs, Colo. The 
 dredge was put in commission April 2, 1908, the hull being constructed 
 by the Western Engineering and Construction Company and Bucyrus 
 machinery installed by the National Dredging Company. 
 
 There are 215,000 feet of lumber in the hull, which is 100 feet long by 
 39 feet wide by 7 feet 8 inches deep with a draught of 5 feet. The 
 dredge was built to dig 36 feet below the water line. The digging 
 ladder is lattice girder construction and carries 5-cubic-foot close-con- 
 nected buckets. The tailing stacker is a Robins belt conveyor 90 feet 
 long between centers carrying a 30-inch belt. 
 
 When first built the dredge was equipped with a combination revolv- 
 ing and shaking screen; the revolving screen having perforations of 
 large square holes about 3 inches by 5 inches. The gravel under 5 inches 
 and sand would pass through the revolving screen and fall on to the 
 shaking screens, which were placed directly below the revolving screen. 
 The coarse material on the upper and lower screens passed out to the 
 tailing conveyor and the very fine material, going through the lower 
 screen, would pass over the gold-saving tables. The bow gantry of the 
 dredge is entirely of steel construction. 
 
 In 1909 the dredge was reconstructed and the double screen arrange- 
 ment discarded and many changes made, and it is thought that the 
 difficulties encountered in handling and washing the clay and gravel 
 will be effectively overcome. 
 
 The company employs about fourteen men. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — STANISLAUS COUNTY. 
 
 209 
 
 6. STANISLAUS COUNTY. 
 
 Stanislaus County is situated at the head of the San Joaquin Valley, 
 100 miles southeast of San Francisco. From the ridge of the Coast 
 Ransre. joininsr Santa Clara, it extends east to Tuolumne and Calaveras 
 comities, and is bounded on the north by San Joaquin and on the south 
 by ]\lei'ced. The county has an area of 1,486 square miles or 965,900 
 acres. The population is given as 20,242. Modesto is the principal city, 
 ■with a population of 4,800. 
 
 The San Joaquin River runs north across the center of Stanislaus 
 
 No. 175. La Grange Dredge, Stanislaus County. 
 
 County, and has the Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers, which flow west 
 from the Sierras, as tributaries. Water for irrigation on the east side 
 of the San Joaquin River is supplied from the Tuolumne and Stanis- 
 laus rivers, the water being diverted by large dams. The Southern 
 Pacific and Santa Fe main lines pass through Stanislaus, and two 
 branch lines of the Southern Pacific skirt the foothills. An electric 
 railway to Stockton, and one across the county from Oakdale to New- 
 man, is projected. 
 
 Quartz mining has been carried on to some extent in the county, at 
 La Grange; in the Sierra foothills, both quartz and dredge mining is 
 being carried on. 
 
 The following table shows the mineral production of Stanislaus 
 County, from 1900 to 1908 : 
 
 Substances. 
 
 19110. 
 
 1001 
 
 1!HV2 
 
 l!t03. 
 
 I'.W. 
 
 Brick 
 
 Cojipor ... ... 
 
 $21^212 
 193 
 
 $T2"494 
 
 15,700 
 
 375 
 
 $"ia676 
 *"350 
 
 $"l5"080 
 
 52.869 
 
 2.400 
 
 "'256 
 
 "$931 
 
 50.000 
 
 1.600 
 
 20 
 
 Gold* 
 
 Mineral paint 
 
 Platinum 
 
 Rubblo 
 
 Silver* 
 
 ""265* 
 
 Unapjiortioned 
 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 $21,405 
 
 $29,169 
 
 $19,026 
 
 $70,605 
 
 $52,816 
 
 
 14 — GO 
 
210 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Substances, 
 
 1905. 
 
 1906. 
 
 1907. 
 
 1908 
 
 Grand Total 
 
 Brick - - 
 
 $5aooo 
 
 2,125 
 "'245 
 
 R720 
 
 $a364 
 1,720 
 
 ""28 
 
 $7,000 
 
 "2'000 
 "7'4'000 
 
 
 Co)ippr - 
 
 
 Gold* 
 
 
 Mineral paint 
 
 
 Platinuin _ ... 
 
 
 Rubble _- . . 
 
 
 Silver* . ._ . . . 
 
 
 Unapportioncd -. . 
 
 $82,317 
 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 $52,365 
 
 $1,720 
 
 $5,112 
 
 $83,000 
 
 $417,535 
 
 
 
 * U. S. Geological Survey reports gold and silver for Merced and Stanislaus coun- 
 ties together. 
 
 The La Grange Gold Dredging Company is the only dredging com- 
 pany operating in Stanislaus County. 
 
 This company began operations in 1908 and has one dredge at work. 
 
 The president of the 
 
 company is Jesse W. 
 Lilienthal, San Fran- 
 cisco, Cal. ; E. A. 
 Wiltsee, New York, is 
 general manager, and 
 Archie Scott is resi- 
 dent manager at La 
 Grange, Cal. 
 
 The holdings of the 
 company comprise an 
 area of about 200 acres 
 of dredging ground, lo- 
 cated along the Stanis- 
 laus River about four 
 miles below the town 
 of La Grange. The 
 ground is said to aver- 
 age in depth aliout 35 
 feet. The gravel is 
 medium coarse, and is 
 overlain by a clay soil 
 ranging in depth from 
 8 to 10 feet. The l^ed- 
 rock is soft, like at 
 Oroville, and is easily 
 dug by the dredge. 
 
 The ground w a s 
 prospected b y means 
 
 No. 176. La Grange Dredge, June 6, 1909. Note the cast steel ^^ drills and is Said tO 
 bow gantry cap. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — MERCED COUNTY. 211 
 
 carry more gold than the average gravel at Oroville. The surface con- 
 tour of the ground is flat and free from timber growth. 
 
 The dredge was designed by Geo. L. Holmes, San Francisco, most of 
 the machinery being furnished by Meese & Gottfried Company, San 
 Francisco, and AUis-Chalmers Company. In construction the dredge 
 is similar to other standard California dredges. It operates against 
 spuds and is equipped with 7-cubic-foot close-connected buckets, shaking 
 screens. Holmes gold-saving tables and belt tailing conveyor, etc. 
 
 An independent motor is used for driving the bucket line and another 
 motor for operating the ladder hoist. In the construction of the bow 
 gantry the dredge differs from the usual type of dredges. 
 
 The company employs al^out fourteen men. 
 
 7. MERCED COUNTY. 
 
 There is only one gold dredging company in Merced County, the 
 Yosemite Mining and Dredging Company, which began operations late 
 in 1907. and has an operating plant of one dredge on the ^Merced River, 
 near the town of Snelling. The general manager of this company is 
 James W. Xeill, Los Angeles, California, and the resident manager at 
 Snelling is James H. White. 
 
 The holdings of this company comprise an area of alwut 400 acres, 
 located along the Merced River, and consisting of river bottom and low 
 land, periodically submerged and therefore not cultivated. The gravel 
 is a clean wash, carrying practically no clay, and no boulders larger 
 than can be handled by a modern dredge. It averages in depth to bed- 
 rock about 20 feet, and in places is overlain by a sandy loam several 
 feet in depth. The gravel is quite loose and the water-level close to the 
 surface. Attempts to reach Ijedrock by sinking shafts were unsuccess- 
 ful, and the property was prospected by means of a Keystone drill. 
 
 According to the general manager's report the actual average of 27 
 test holes sunk over an area of 178 acres was 191/4 cents per cubic yard, 
 and the average from 50 holes and pits combined was 16.4 cents per 
 cubic yard. On a tract of 113 acres 20 shafts were sunk to water-level 
 and 26.7 cubic yards of gravel washed, which yielded 14.4 cents per 
 cubic yard. On this same tract 16 drill holes gave an average of 23.4 
 cents per cubic yard contained in the gravel below water-level. Pits 
 along the river bank are said to have yielded as high as 40 cents per 
 cubic yai'd. The general manager estinuites the. cubical contents of 
 tliis hind to be 24.200 cubic yards per acre, the average value of the 
 gravel 161/:; cents per cubic yard, and the cost of dredging at 6'o cents 
 per cubic yard. The gold is said to be relatively coarse, clean, and 
 easilv saved. 
 
212 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The Yosemite dredge was constructed from the Indiana No. 1 dredge, 
 which Avas wrecked in the floods of 1907, while operating at Oroville. 
 The hnll of the dredge was constructed by the Yosemite IMining and 
 Dredging Company, who also installed the machinery. See pages 115 
 to 117 for Indiana dredge. 
 
 No. 177. Yosemite Dredge, Merced County, California. 
 
 The electric power for operating the dredge of the Yosemite Dredging 
 and ^Mining Company is supplied l)y a power plant owned by the com- 
 pany and located near the Yosemite Yalley Railroad at a point about 
 a mile and a half from the dredge. The house containing the generating 
 machinery is a 30-foot by 60-foot building, made of corrugated iron 
 nailed to a wooden frame of simple and inexpensive, though strong, 
 
 No. 178. Gold-saving tables of Yosemite Dredge, Merced County, California. 
 
m^ 
 
 af^ 
 
 ,X 
 
S I S JC I Y 
 
 SCALE : »/s6l.=1MILE 
 
 iO MILES 
 
 MAP OF SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, SHOWING LOCATION OF DREDGING LAND 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS SHASTA COUNTY. 213 
 
 design. The power is geuerated by a 120-kilowatt. 2.200-volt, 3-phase, 
 60-eyele generator, driven by a 180-horsepower two cylinder gas engine, 
 made by the Western Gas Engine Company. The engine is operated 
 by No. 2 distillate, which is stored in a tank sunk in the ground outside 
 the power house and near a spur from the railroad, so that a car load 
 of distillate can be discharged into it through a short portable pipe. 
 The distillate is pumped from the storage tank to a small tank inside 
 the house and is then pumped to the engine. The amount of power 
 required, measured at the power house, when the dredge is running, is 
 about 140 horsepower. About 9.000 gallons of distillate are used each 
 month. The engine consumes about one tenth of a gallon of distillate 
 per horsepower-hour. The power is generated at 2,200 volts and is 
 conducted to the dredge by No. 4 copper wire, and is there reduced by 
 transformers on board to 400 volts, all of the motors being made for 
 that voltage. 
 
 The power plant has given excellent satisfaction, few delays have been 
 occasioned by it, and the cost of power is probably not over 1% cents 
 per kilowatt-hour. 
 
 8. SHASTA COUNTY. 
 
 Shasta County, comprising an area of 4.050 square miles, or 2.590.000 
 acres, with a population of 25,000 inhabitants, is located at the head of 
 the Sacramento Valley, and is one of the largest counties in the northern 
 part of the State. It is bounded ou the north hy Siskiyou County, on 
 the east by Lassen, on the south by Tehama, and on the west by Trinity. 
 
 Redding, the county seat, with a population of about 5,500, is located 
 near the Sacramento River, on the nuiin line of the Southern Pacific 
 railroad, a distance of about 260 miles from San Francisco. The Sierra 
 Nevada and Coast Range mountains, rising to an altitude of more than 
 5,000 feet, cover a large part of the county on all sides except the south ; 
 ou the east are several prominent mountains, the principal one of which 
 is Lassen. Avith an elevation of 10,577 feet. A large area of the county 
 is heavily timliered with yellow and sugar pine and fir. 377. 12() acivs 
 being in the Forest Reserve. 
 
 The most important of the many Ix'auliful rivers of Shasta County 
 are the Sacramento, ;McCh)ud, Fall, and Pitt, which, with their tribu- 
 taries, alford valuable power resources as the How of water is constant 
 and the fall rapid. 
 
 Li 1909 Shasta County had 1,015 miles of ])ublic roads, 133 miles of 
 steam I'ail roads, thi'ee electric powei" plants, 251 miles of electric ]>ower 
 line. 190 miles of irrigating ditches, and 35,000 acres of land under 
 irrigation. Among the principal industries of the county, aside from 
 mining, are lumbering, horticultui-e. and stock raising. 
 
21i 
 
 r 
 
 Th 
 Dr 
 to 
 
 ^1 
 
 ]i 
 
 an 
 pa 
 a 1 
 
 lllc 
 
 na 
 
 I 
 
 A 
 
 A 
 
 /\ 
 
 3JIMr=.roe\er : 3JA02 
 
 e3jir>! or 
 
 TT 
 
 ^. <■ 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SHASTA COUNTY. 213 
 
 design. The power is generated by a 120-kilowatt, 2,200-volt, 3-phase, 
 60-eyele generator, driven by a 180-horsepower two cylinder gas engine, 
 made by the Western Gas Engine Company. The engine is operated 
 by No. 2 distillate, which is stored in a tank sunk in the ground outside 
 the power house and near a spur from the railroad, so that a car load 
 of distillate can be discharged into it through a short portable pipe. 
 The distillate is pumped from the storage tank to a small tank inside 
 the house and is then pumped to the engine. The amount of power 
 required, measured at the power house, when the dredge is running, is 
 about 140 horsepower. About 9,000 gallons of distillate are used each 
 mouth. The engine consumes about one tenth of a gallon of distillate 
 per horsepower-hour. The power is generated at 2,200 volts and is 
 conducted to the dredge by No. 4 copper wire, and is there reduced by 
 transformers on board to 400 volts, all of the motors being made for 
 that voltage. 
 
 The power plant has given excellent satisfaction, few delays have been 
 occasioned by it, and the cost of power is probably not over 1% cents 
 per kilowatt-hour. 
 
 8. SHASTA COUNTY. 
 
 Shasta County, comprising an area of 4,050 square miles, or 2,590,000 
 acr&s. with a population of 25,000 inhabitants, is located at the head of 
 the Sacramento Valley, and is one of the largest counties in the northern 
 part of the State. It is bounded on the north by Siskiyou County, on 
 the east by Lassen, on the south by Tehama, and on the west by Trinity. 
 
 Redding, the county seat, with a population of about 5,500, is located 
 near the Sacramento River, on the main line of the Southern Pacific 
 railroad, a distance of about 260 miles from San Francisco. The Sierra 
 Nevada and Coast Range mountains, rising to an altitude of more than 
 5,000 feet, cover a large part of the county on all sides except the south ; 
 on the east are several prominent mountains, the principal one of which 
 is Lassen, with an elevation of 10,577 feet. A large area of the county 
 is heavily timbered with yellow and sugar pine and fir. 377,126 acres 
 being in the F'orest Reserve. 
 
 The most important of the many beautiful rivers of Shasta County 
 are the Sacramento, McCloud, Fall, and Pitt, which, with their tribu- 
 taries, afford valuable power resources as the flow of water is constant 
 and tlie fall rapid. 
 
 In 1909 Shasta County had 1.015 miles of public roads, 133 miles of 
 steam railroads, three electric power plants, 251 miles of electric power 
 line, 190 miles of irrigating ditches, and 35,000 acres of land under 
 irrigation. Among the principal industries of the county, aside from 
 mining, are lumbering, horticulture, and stock raising. 
 
2U 
 
 GOLD DREDGING .N CVLIFORNIA. 
 
 No. 179. View of Sacramento River below Redding. Shasta County. 
 
 From a mining standpoint Shasta is the most important copper pro- 
 ducing county in the State. The following table shows the mineral 
 production of Shasta from 1900 to 1908 : 
 
 Substances. 
 
 1900. 
 
 1901. 
 
 1902. 
 
 1903. 
 
 1904. 
 
 Brick - . 
 
 $12,000 
 
 1,400 
 
 4,166,735 
 
 733,467 
 
 Y7"850 
 1,150 
 
 "ijsl 
 
 .$12,000 
 
 1.950 
 
 4,881,048 
 
 927,975 
 2.000 
 
 12^960 
 
 "7"644 
 89L994 
 
 .$12.2.50 
 
 4,275 
 
 2,496,731 
 
 878.706 
 
 12".500 
 3,600 
 
 "7"64.5 
 7,005 
 
 306,887 
 
 $17.-500 
 
 2,2.50 
 
 2,171,497 
 
 771,242 
 
 lasoo 
 
 5.400 
 
 1..500 
 
 12.000 
 
 5..500 
 
 203.991 
 
 $1.5.000 
 
 Chrome 
 
 Copper 
 
 Gold 
 
 Granite 
 
 1.470 
 3,439,974 
 1,031,429 
 
 Iron Ore 
 
 Lime . - 
 
 10,500 
 
 Limestone 
 
 Macadam 
 
 Mineral water . . , 
 
 
 Pyrites 
 
 
 Silver 
 
 Unapportioned 
 
 .399.660 
 
 Totals 
 
 $5,574,026 
 
 $6,737,571 
 
 $3,730,049 
 
 $3,201,680 
 
 $4,898,033 
 
 SubsiHiiees. 
 
 1905. 
 
 1906. 
 
 1907. 
 
 1908 
 
 Grainl Total. 
 
 Brick 
 
 Chrome -., 
 
 Copper 
 
 Gold 
 
 Granite 
 
 Iron Ore 
 
 $14,000 
 
 300 
 
 1,688.614 
 
 684,952 
 
 '8^oo5 
 
 3,600 
 
 12"000 
 
 167".548 
 
 $22,000 
 
 1,200 
 
 4,a38,121 
 
 819,144 
 
 "8"040 
 32,960 
 
 89"89.5 
 434.483 
 
 $33,000 
 
 5,200 
 
 5,568,873 
 
 791,997 
 
 "loo 
 
 31,900 
 30,761 
 
 5,500 
 197,364 
 370,211 
 
 $12,C00 
 
 5.600 
 
 4,642,976 
 
 l,131,a32 
 
 "9I0O 
 80,000 
 25.C00 
 20.000 
 539. .553 
 517,596 
 
 
 Lime . . __ . 
 
 
 Limestone _ . 
 
 
 Macadam 
 
 Mineral water _ . 
 
 
 
 Pyrites . 
 
 
 Silver 
 
 
 Unapportioned . . 
 
 ^1.120 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 .$2,579,014 
 
 $5,745,843 
 
 $7,084,706 
 
 $6,983,657 
 
 $46,575,699 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SHASTA COUNTY. 
 
 215 
 
 No. 180. Dredging ground on Clear Creek, near Horsetown. Shasta County. 
 
 Tliere is ouly one dredging company in Shasta County, operating a 
 bne-ivet elevator dredge at the present time, although there are said to 
 be several thousand acres of dredging land in this county. 
 
 No. 181. Old type dredge, showing tail sluices and tail scow, Shasta Company's dredge 
 before reconstruction. Clear Creek, Shasta County. 
 
 The ground along Clear Creek, on which dredging is being done, 
 ranges in dei)th from 20 feet to 40 feet and in character the gravel is a 
 fairly fine loose river wash, carrying few large boulders and not much 
 
 No. 182. Old type double-lift dredge being reconstructed to a single-lift. Shasta Company's 
 dredge during reconstruction. Clear Creek, Shasta County. 
 
216 GOLD DREDGING IX CALIFORXIA. 
 
 clay. The contour of the ground is fairly even and not much covered 
 by timber growth. The bedrock is mostly soft and in character much 
 the same as that at Oroville. The gold is generally fairly coarse and 
 is worth about $19 per ounce. The gravel is said to yield from 6 cents 
 to 25 cents per cubic yard. 
 
 The Shasta Dredging Company began operations in 1906 with one 
 bucket elevator dredge. The personnel of this company consists mainly 
 of Pennsylvania men. President, E. T. Kruse ; resident manager, 
 T. G. Janney, Bedding, Cal. 
 
 The holdings of the company comprise an area of about 700 acres of 
 dredging land, located along Clear Creek near Horseto^^^l, about nine 
 miles southwest of Redding. 
 
 The first dredge installed by the company was of the old double-lift 
 type, equipped with long tail sluices and tail scow, and a large pump 
 for elevating the gravel. After being partly destroyed by fire, this 
 dredge was reconstructed in 1908 by the Western Engineering an:l 
 Construction Company. The tail scow and sluice were removed and 
 replaced by wood gold-saving tables, shaking screens, and a 30-ineh 
 Robins belt conveyor for .stacking tailing. At the same time a 10-foot 
 section Avas added to the digging ladder, increasing the digging depth 
 of the dredge to 28 feet. The upper tumbler and middle gantry were 
 moved forward and the main drive reset. The location of the pilot 
 house was changed and the winch levers were moved from a position 
 directly over the bucket line to a more favorable location on the forward 
 starboard side of the dredge. 
 
 Shortly after the reconstructed dredge was put in commission, June 
 ]5. 1908. it was almost destroyed by fire on August 7, 1908, through 
 what was believed to be a defect in the transformers. It was rebuilt 
 by the Yuba Construction Company and put again in operation in 
 July. 1909. 
 
 This dredge, which is now working, was built according to the latest 
 practice used in dredge construction in California. It is equipped with 
 5-cubic-foot close-connected buckets, belt tailing stacker, and spuds. 
 The gold-saving tables are of the single bank type, and extend outside 
 the housing on both sides of the dredge. 
 
 Elsewhere in Shasta County prospecting for dredging land is being 
 carried on and a large tract of land has been proved. Over 5.000 acres 
 of land along Clear Creek and the Sacramento River have been bonded 
 by one company, and is now being prospected. 
 
 Prospecting is carried on principally by shaft sinking : a new method 
 of timber lagging is being used. Some of the property was prospected 
 by drills a number of years ago. and it was reported that fair values 
 were obtained. The cost of dredging at that time was higher than at 
 present, and it is anticipated that with present methods a large portion 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS SHASTA COUNTY. 
 
 217 
 
 No. 183. Remodeled double-lift dredge with tail scow and tail sluices to singie-Uft close- 
 connected bucket dredge with tailing stacker. Shasta dredge, 1908. 
 
 No. 184. Shasta dredge in course of construction, near Horsetown, Clear Creek, 1909. 
 
 No. 185. Hull of placer mining machine, Clear Creek, Shasta County. 
 
218 GOLD DREDGING IN Cx\X,IFORNIA. 
 
 of the property will prove profitable. Conditions for economical work- 
 ing are very favorable, and should the results of prospecting prove of 
 sufficient value to warrant the installation of the largest types of 
 dredges, one of the largest dredging fields in the State will be opened 
 ^long Clear Creek and the Sacramento River. 
 
 William Desilhorst has, for many years, successfully operated a steam 
 scoop along Clear Creek; while the capacity of the scoop is small, the 
 results obtained prove that the gravel of this section carries considerable 
 gold. The reported cost of dredging with the Desilhorst scoop is from 
 20 to 25 cents per cubic yard. 
 
 Along the" Sacramento River, in the vicinity of Redding, a number 
 of suction dredges equipped with centrifugal pumps for lifting the 
 gravel have been in operation. These machines have so far not been 
 a success in extracting gold from the gravel in payable quantities. 
 
 Pneumatic caisson dredges have also been operated on the river, but 
 owing to the limited capacity of these machines, and to the depth of the 
 ground necessary to be removed before reaching bedrock, it is a ques- 
 tion as to their profitable operation. 
 
 9. SISKIYOU COUNTY. 
 
 Siskiyou County, comprising an area of 6,078 square miles, or 
 3,870,720 acres, with a population of about 20,000 inhabitants, is the 
 largest county in the northern half of the State, and the fifth largest 
 in California. It is bounded on the north by the State of Oregon for 
 a distance of 80 miles, and on the east, south, and west by Modoc, Shasta, 
 Trinity, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties, respectively. Yreka, the 
 county seat, has a population of about 2.000 people, and is located at an 
 altitude of 2,620 feet on a branch line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, 
 a distance of seven miles from Montague, a station on the main line 
 about 380 miles north of San Francisco. 
 
 No. 186. Outcrop of bedrock near dredging ground at Scott River, Siskiyou County, Cali- 
 fornia. Town of Callahan in distance. 
 
T 
 
 () 
 
 *^^ al 
 
 T 
 
 -iT^:3jro'^^ 
 
 \A^^ \ 
 
 V 
 
s 1 S Kl VOL .VATL!FqREST_ 
 
 cT S T ATE 
 
 R E Ci ON 
 
 _«*-£rr ^ifCj 
 
 SC/IL£: 7 -fSwc/i^JMile 
 
 MAP OF SISKIYOU COUNTY. CALIFORNIA, SHOWING LOCATION OF DREDGING LAND. 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SISKIYOU COUNTY. 
 
 219 
 
 Owing to the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range mountains coming 
 together in Siskiyou County over two thirds of the area is covered by 
 mountains and forests, giving Siskiyou the most picturesque expanse 
 of mountains, eanvons. and forests, together with a multitude of streams 
 
 msm^^'m.,^ 
 
 No. 187. Hauling dredge machinery in the mountains. Revolving screen for Scott River 
 
 Dredging Company. 
 
 whicli run southward to the Sacramento and northerly and westerly to 
 the Klamath River, the principal mountain ranges are the Klamath, 
 Scott, and Salmon, ranging in altitude from 2.000 to 1-1,500 feet. 
 
 No. 188. Framing timbers for a placer dredge in the mountains. Siskiyou County. California. 
 
 Tlie agricultural interests are chiefly confined to the valley lands, 
 which comprise about 1.500 square miles, located in the western, central. 
 and eastern parts of the county, in Scott, Shasta, and Little Shasta, 
 
218 
 
 of 
 ing 
 suf 
 dre 
 
 <i]o' 
 
 — 17- 
 
 fO YCyI'dix, 
 
 
 /„ 
 
 ii»'^^"Ci 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS^SISKIYOU COUXTY, 
 
 219 
 
 Owing to the Sierra Nevada and Coast Range mountains (Mjining 
 together in Siskiyou County over two thirds of the area is covered by 
 mountains and forests, giving Siskiyou the most picturesfjue expanse 
 of mountains, eanvons. and forests, together with a multitude of streams 
 
 •♦*<5^j^^>--. t-.»^' 
 
 No. 187. Hauling dredge machinery in the mountains. Revolving screen for Scott River 
 
 Dredging Company. 
 
 which run southward to the Sacramento and northerly and westerly to 
 the Klamath River, the principal mountain ranges are the Klamath, 
 Scott, and Salmon, ranging: in altitude from 2,000 to 14,500 feet. 
 
 No. 188. Framing timbers for a placer dredge in the mountains. Siskiyou County. California. 
 
 The agricultural interests are chiefly confined to the valley lands, 
 which comprise about 1.500 square miles, located in the w(>stern, central, 
 and eastern parts of the county, in Scott, Shasta, and Little Shasta, 
 
220 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN C.UjIFORNIA. 
 
 MeCloiid, and Butte valleys, respectively. The principal river is the 
 Klamath, which, with its tributaries, drains nearly the entire county, 
 and furnishes abundant water for irrigation, power plants, etc., and not 
 being navigable, furnishes a natural dumping place for placer mines. 
 The principal industries of Siskiyou County are lumbering, mining, 
 stock raising, and farming. The county has 1.100 miles of public roads, 
 204.16 miles of railroad, 155 miles of electric power lines, and eight 
 electric power plants. 300 miles of irrigating ditches, which at present 
 supply water to 33,000 acres. The total assessed valuation of property 
 in 1909 amounted to $18,412,339. 
 
 The mining section, which contributes a large share to the prosperity 
 and progress of the county, is located in the west half. The following 
 table shows the mineral production of Siskiyou County from 1900 to 
 1908 : 
 
 
 1900. 
 
 1901. 
 
 1932. 
 
 1903. 
 
 1904. 
 
 Copper 
 
 Gold 
 
 Lead 
 
 Lime 
 
 Limestone 
 
 $95t397 
 '4'5'^000 
 'l'3'^986 
 
 $^'6';043 
 f7'5'^000 
 
 "6,m 
 
 $23 
 906,989 
 
 l'8'7'^500 
 
 '"233 
 
 $6'l'3'576 
 
 '50,000 
 
 22 
 
 $89'2"685 
 
 Mineral water -_ - 
 
 50,000 
 
 Platinum . . _- _ 
 
 21 
 
 Rubble -. 
 
 Sandstone .- 
 
 
 Silver 
 
 1.2.30 
 
 Unapportioned - - 
 
 
 
 
 Totals 
 
 $1,010,383 
 
 $1,067,451 
 
 $1,094,745 
 
 $663,598 
 
 $943,936 
 
 
 
 
 - 1905. 
 
 1906. 
 
 1907. 
 
 1908. 
 
 
 Copper 
 
 $8'o'3"^535 
 
 ""93 
 
 "L250 
 2,499 
 
 '$'1^500 
 
 $39 
 
 398,017 
 
 140 
 
 1,000 
 
 300 
 
 36,250 
 
 "3'9'o5o 
 
 12,897 
 
 3,037 
 
 $5'0~4a56 
 
 183 
 
 1,680 
 
 'saooo 
 
 "L485 
 6.125 
 
 
 Gold 
 
 
 Lead 
 
 
 Lime _ - - _ ._ 
 
 
 Limestone . - . . - - 
 
 
 Mineral water 
 
 
 Platinum . _ 
 
 
 Rubble 
 
 
 Sandstone 
 
 
 Silver - 
 
 
 Unapportioned - - 
 
 $1,202,732 
 
 
 
 Totals - - . _ - . 
 
 $806,877 
 
 $1,500 
 
 $490,680 
 
 $593,629 
 
 $7,875,531 
 
 
 
 Along the Klamath Eiver and its important tributaries are large 
 gravel deposits. Hydraulic mining has been most profitable, and 
 formerly the gold from the gravel mines of Siskiyou County exceeded 
 in value the annual output of all other gravel mines in California, but 
 the gold yield from that source is now exceeded by a number of other 
 counties. River-bed mining, by the use of wing-dams, has been carried 
 en more extensively than in any other county, and lately gold dredging 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SISKIYOU COUNTY. 
 
 221 
 
 has met with success. In 1910 there were two gold dredging i-ompanies 
 operating elevator dredges in Siskiyou County, the Siskiyou Dredging 
 Company and the Scott River Dredging Company. 
 
 Scott Biver Dredging Company. — The Scott River Dredging Com- 
 pany began operations in August, 1908, and has an operating phmt of 
 one dredge. The company is incorporated under the laws of the State 
 of ]\Iaine. the officers being as follows : President, Thomas C. Bishop ; 
 vice-president. E. E. Brownell ; secretary and treasurer, F. S. ]\Iayhew; 
 
 No. 189. Scott River Dredge^ Siskiyou County, California. 
 
 307 Chmie building. San Francisco; managers, Brayton and ^layhew ; 
 superintendent at dredge, R. C. Specht. 
 
 The holdings of this company comprise an area of about 200 acres, 
 located in parts of sections 7, 17, 20, and 21, township 40 north, range 
 8 we.st. lying along Scott River at the town of Callahan. The property 
 Avas i)rospected by means of drills averaging about one test hole per 
 acre. The gravel averages in depth about 30 feet, and in character is 
 a coarse wash, carrying little sand and no clay. The bedrock is irreg- 
 ular and consists of a decomposed schist, causing some difficulty in 
 dredging. 
 
 Scott Kiver Dredge.— The Scott River dredge was put in commission 
 August 5, 1908, and was the first large close-con nected-bucket elevator 
 dredge to be built in Siskiyou County. During the first twelve months 
 in operation it turned over 7.5 acres of ground and handled 354.961 
 cu1)ic yards of gravel, while digging to an average depth of 30 feet. 
 
 This dredge was built to dig 30 feet below the water-line, and is 
 equipped with a double i)late-girder ladder, 85 feet 5 inches long, carry- 
 ing 72 7lo-eul)ic-foot buckets, eacli weighing 2,300 pounds, aiul driven 
 by a 125-li(ii-s('p(i\v('i' moloi- at a sixhmI of IS jxt iiiinuli'. Tlic hull is 
 
222 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 110 feet long and 35 feet wide, and differs in construction from other 
 dredge hulls in California in that it is 9 feet deep at the bow and 5 feet 
 at the stern. The gold-saving tables are of the Holmes system, having 
 a lineal area of about 110 feet and a riffle surface of 960 square feet. 
 The revolving screen is of the Risdon type, and is 33 feet 6 inches long 
 with a diameter of 6 feet, having a total screen area of about 360 square 
 feet. The tailing stacker is Link-Belt Company make, 90 feet long 
 between centers, carrying a 32-inch belt 200 feet long. The equipment 
 
 No. 190. Scott Kiver Dredge in course of construction. Siskiyou County, California. 
 
 of this dredge consists principally of Link-Belt Company machinery, 
 some parts being Risdon make. The hull was constructed by the West- 
 ern Engineering and Construction Company, who also installed the 
 machinery. The dredge has a rated capacity of about 100 cubic yards 
 per hour. 
 
 The electric motor equipment as installed upon the dredge has a 
 rated capacity of 345-horsepower, distributed as follows : 10-inoh pres- 
 sure pump motor for the supply of water to screen and gold-saving 
 tables, 85-horsepower, C.S., 720 revolutions per minute; revolving 
 screen motor, 30-horsepower, C.S., 900 revolutions per minute ; nuiin 
 digging or bucket drive motor, 125-horsepower, V.S.. 600 revolutions 
 per minute ; stacker motor, 30-horsepower, C.S., 900 revolutions per 
 minute. Starboard winch motor, 30-horsepower, V.S., 900 revolutions 
 per minute ; ladder hoist motor, 45-horsepower, V.S., Sl-t revolutions 
 
DREDGING DISTRICTS — SISKIYOU COUNTY. 
 
 223 
 
 per minute. All the motors are General Electric Company 3-pha.se, 
 60-cycle, 2,080-volt. The Scott River dredge was closed down during- 
 the summer of 1910. 
 
 Siskiyou Dredging Company. — The Siskiyou Dredging Company 
 began operations February 16, 1910, with one large close-eonneeted- 
 bucket elevator dredge. This company was organized under the laws 
 of the State of Maine, and is capitalized for $200,000. The directors 
 and officers are: Geo. J. Carr, president; J. J.' Hamlyn, vice-president; 
 J. C. Osgood, secretary and treasurer, Oroville, California ; H. G. Peake 
 and A. Starr Keeler. 
 
 The holdings of this company comprise an area of about 255 acres, 
 located at a point 5 miles north of Fort Jones, extending for a distance 
 
 No. 191. Hauling dredge machinery in the mountains. Section of digging ladder for 
 
 Scott River Dredge. 
 
 of about 2 I/O miles along ]\lc Adams Creek in sections 12 and 1, town- 
 ship 44 north, range 9 west, and in sections 6 and 31, townships 44 and 
 45 north, range 8 Avest. The property was prospected by means of drills 
 and shafts, and of the total area 165 acres are considered proved dredg- 
 ing ground. The gravel lies on a decomposed slate bedrock, and 
 averages in depth about 40 feet, and in character is a medium coarse, 
 clean wash, carrying no clay. The value is estimated at aliont 15i/o 
 cents per cubic yard. 
 
 Siskii/Dii Dredge. — The Siskiyou di-edge is a 5i o-cubic-foot close- 
 connected-])ucket elevator dredge, constructed by the Yuba Construc- 
 tion Company, and equipped with Bucyrus machinery, and in every 
 respect is an up-to-date machine. The company employs about fifteen 
 men. 
 
224 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 VI. RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 1. ROCK-CRUSHING PLANTS fOR DREDGE TAILINGS. 
 
 The utilizing of gravel tailings from dredge operations for economic 
 purposes, tlierebj^ removing the rock piles and making it possible to 
 replant orchards and otherwise reclaim the land, is a comparatively 
 new industry and was first successfully carried out by the Folsom Rock 
 Company, a subsidiary to the Folsom Development Company. 
 
 An experimental plant was built upon the recommendation of R. G. 
 Hanford, the vice-president and general manager of the company, 
 following his investigations in the latter part of 1905 and in 1906. 
 These investigations, continued in the East during 1906, demonstrated 
 that the Farrell criLsher, manufactured by Earl C. Bacon, Havemeyer 
 building. New York, was the most suitable for the work, crushers of 
 this make being seen successfully handling large boulders on Long 
 Island. 
 
 It was found necessary to size the gravel before crushing, each grade 
 of material being sent to different crushers, and the smallest size to 
 corrugated rolls, and it was also determined that storage bins of large 
 capacity, from which the rock could be automatically loaded into cars, 
 were an absolute necessity for economic operation. 
 
 It Avas soon seen that the $50,000 or $60,000 first proposed for this 
 experiment would not be enough to erect a'complete plant of sufficient 
 size to be a commercial succass, but it was not thought advisable to go 
 to greater expense until the successful crushing of the boulders had 
 been fully demonstrated; the first plant, was, therefore, incomplete in 
 design, many changes being made as experiments were carried on, and 
 before success was fully assured the investment had increased to approx- 
 imately $150,000. 
 
 BocT< Crushing Plant No. 1 having a rated capacity of 1,000 tons of 
 crushed rock per day, was erected and operated at Dredge, California, 
 in 1907. A detailed description of the plant is as follows: The rock in 
 the tailing piles to be crushed is excavated by a 45-ton steam shovel and 
 deposited into dump cars, which are hauled to the incline at the crush- 
 ing plant by means of a 10 by 14 dinky engine. An electric 30-horse- 
 power hoist located at the head of the incline hauls the diunp ears by 
 means of a steel cable to an elevation of 30 feet above the ground, 
 vrhere the gravel is discharged on to an inclined grizzly feeding into a 
 42 by 26 Farrell crusher. The sand and small gravel passing through 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 225 
 
 the grizzly is collected in a bin under the grizzly, and carried to the 
 waste pile by means of a 20-inch belt conveyor 200 feet long. 
 
 The crushed rock from the 42 by 26 crusher is fed into a 24:-inch 
 bucket conveyor and elevated to a height of 60 feet above the ground, 
 and discharged into a sizing screen 48 inches diameter by 24 feet long 
 placed above the timber storage bins 60 feet long by 20 feet deep bj- 
 30 feet wide and located over the railroad tracks to feed the rock directly 
 to the cars. The rejections from the screens are fed to a 36-inch by 
 10-inch Farrell crusher which discharges the recrushed rock into the 
 24-inch bucket elevator for redistril)ution by the sorting screens. 
 
 The gratifying success met with in crushing these hard round 
 boulders, together Avith the great demand for the product, demonstrated 
 
 No. 192. General view of Folsom Rock-Crushing Plant No. 1. Began operations August, 1907. 
 
 SO fully the advisability of increasing the storage capacity and revising 
 the method of carrying the gravel from the dump cars to the crushers 
 that it Avas decided to increase the capacity of the original plant, and 
 to make the following additions and changes. 
 
 The electric hoist, the incline dump car track, and the tlat grizzly 
 were discarded and replaced as follows : A main receiving hopper was- 
 in.stalled on level ground, directly under the narrow gauge tracks 
 supporting the dump cars. The mouth of the hopper is 20 feet square 
 and covered with timber grizzly bars, lined with i/o-inch thick steel, 
 spaced 8 inches apart. The outlet from the bottom of the hopper is 
 controlled by a swinging door, and discharges directly upon a 36-inch 
 Robins belt conveyor, erected at an angle of 16 degrees, raising the 
 gravel to a vertical height of 32 feet al)ove the ground and discharging 
 into a 60-inch diameter by 16-foot long revolving screen, perforated with 
 4i/i.'-inch holes, having a dust jacket 84 inches diameter by 12 feet long, 
 perforated with 3-inch holes, the gravel being separated into three 
 sizes. The boulders over 41/. inches are fed to the 42 by 26 crusher; 
 the boulders 411. aiul over 3 inches are fed to a 36-inch l)y lO-inch 
 
 15 — GD 
 
226 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Farrell crusher, (liseharging its product on to a belt-conveyor, which 
 empties its load "for distribution in the storage bins" into the 2-1-inch 
 bucket elevator, common to all crushers. The 3-inch gravel and under 
 is conveyed by an 18-inch belt-convej^or to a 42-inch diameter by 10- 
 foot long screen, and separated into two sizes of gravel and fine 
 material. This gravel is fed into two sets of 30-inch by 20-inch cor- 
 rugated rolls, which discharge their product upon an 18-inch belt- 
 conveyor, common to both, and carries same to a 21-inch bucket elevator, 
 discharging its load into a l:8-inch by 21:-foot sizing screen, located over 
 the storage bins. 
 
 
 No. 193. Folsom Rock Crushing Plant No. 1. 
 
 The storage capacity was increased by installing two 12-inch hori- 
 zontal Robins conveyors by 120 feet long directly under the bottom of 
 the existing overhead timber storage bins to receive the extra material 
 for storage, which is conveyed to a 20-inch horizontal Eobins belt 
 conveyor 200 feet long, erected 35 feet above the ground and running 
 parallel with the railroad loading tracks. This 20-inch conveyor is 
 provided with an automatic tripper which deposits the sized rock into 
 six separate piles. Below each storage pile is a 6-foot wide by 6-foot 
 high by 60-foot long tunnel constructed of heavy timber. Each tunnel 
 is provided with three loading gates to feed the rock to be vshipped on 
 to a 20-inch conveyor which rises out of the ground at an angle of 18 
 degrees to a vertical height of 15 feet and discharges the rock into an 
 inclined chute feeding into the railroad cars on the third track. 
 
 There are three separate spur railroad tracks, two passing directly 
 under the overhead storage bins and the third runs parallel with the 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 227 
 
 storage piles. The cars on all three tracks can be loaded at the same 
 time. 
 
 The above additions to the original plant reduced the operating cost 
 and increased the output of the plant, thereby increasing the shipping 
 capacity to 1,500 tons per day. 
 
 The total equipment of No. 1 rock-crushing plant consists of : 
 
 No. 1 main sorting screen, 60 inches diameter l)y 16 feet long. 
 
 No. 2 sorting screen, 42 inches diameter by 10 feet. 
 
 No. 3 and No. 4 sizing screens, 48 inches diameter by 24 feet long. 
 
 1 Farrell 42-inch by 26-inch jaw crusher. 
 
 2 FcU'rell 36-inch by 10-inch jaw crushers. 
 
 1 Farrell 36-inch by 6-inch jaw crusher. 
 
 2 30-inch by 20-Jnch corrugated rolls. 
 2 24-inch bucket elevators. 
 
 14 Robins Conveying Belt Company's conveyors having a total length of 
 
 1,500 feet. 
 9 440-volt motors, ranging from 5 to 200 horsepower, respectively. 
 4 2000-volt motors, 50 horsepower. 
 2 20UU-volt motors, 75 horsepower. * 
 
 2 2oOU-volt motors, 100 horsepower. 
 1 2000-volt motor, 150 horsepower. 
 
 The total motors, when operating at full load, require 485 kilowatts. 
 
 The operations of Plant No. 1 demonstrated that the crushed product 
 from the dredge tailings made the best material for road metal, as-phalt 
 macadam, macadam roads, and all kinds of concrete work. It was also 
 shown to bind well with crude asphaltic oil. The suitability of the 
 dredge tailings for the above purposes is due to the great proportion of 
 basaltic rock in the gravel. 
 
 The following is a report of a laboratory test of the crushed product 
 from Plant No. 1 made by Smith-Emery & Co., inspecting and testing 
 engineers, at San Francisco, California : 
 
 Concrete Bock Test. 
 
 Character of rock Basalt 
 
 Si)ecific gravity 2.94 
 
 Hardness 5. 
 
 Toughness Very tough 
 
 Clay and dirt .-. None 
 
 Edges Sharp with well-defined faces 
 
 Flaws and seams None 
 
 Absorption .01 
 
 Voids 50 percent 
 
 Screen Test. 
 Weight per cubic yard 2.592 pounds 
 
 nattier Test. 
 
 Charge: Dry rock 100 pounds 
 
 Speed: 28 revolutions iier minute 5,040 revolutions 
 
 Weight of rock in rattler at end of 5,040 revolu- 
 tions 90 pounds 
 
 Loss by abrasion 10 per cent 
 
 Dtist and Fines from lint tier. 
 
 Retained on 4-mesh 2 percent 
 
 Retained on 10-mesh 0.5 percent 
 
 Dust 7.5 jjcrccnt 
 
 Rock-('nisJii)iff riant Xo. ^5.— It was only a few months after the 
 advent of the Natomas Consolidated of California in tlie field that 
 
228 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 work on rock-crushiiig plant No. 2 was commenced. This plant, which 
 is located near Fair Oaks, or about 15 miles from Sacramento City, was 
 completed and put in operation in July, 1909. It was designed to suit 
 the peculiar conditions attendant upon crushing boulders, and is the 
 result of the experience gained in the operation of No. 1 plant. The 
 chief points sought were storage for large quantities of crushed material 
 and low cost of production, possible only with continuous running. 
 
 The design and details of this plan were worked out by the Western 
 Engineering and Construction Company, which also erected the plant. 
 The plant has a rated capacity of 1,500 tons of crushed rock per day of 
 ten hours ; the general arrangement is shown in the various cuts accom- 
 panying the following description. 
 
 The rock in the tailing piles to be crushed is excavated by a 40-ton 
 
 No. 194. General view of Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2. 
 
 Bucyrus oil-burning steam shovel, mounted on 60-pouud rail, standard 
 gauge, portable track, running parallel with the tailing pile. The rock 
 from the shovel is deposited in a train of Koppel cars, each of i-cubic- 
 yard capacity, mounted on -lO-pound narrow gauge portable track, laid 
 in a loop to enable loaded and empty cars to pass each other without 
 necessitating switching when returning to shovel. The cars are handled 
 by means of a 10- by 14-inch oil-burning dinky engine. 
 
 The receiving hopper is directly under the narrow gauge track carry- 
 ing the 4-yard dump cars. The mouth bf the hopper is 20 feet square, 
 covered with 6- by 8-inch timber grizzly bars, spaced 8 inches apart, 
 and shod with i/o- by 6-inch steel wearing bars. The sides of the hopper 
 are built of 4- by 12-inch plank, lined on the inside with %-inch steel 
 plate. The outlet from the bottom of the hopper to the main No. 1 
 conveyor is controlled by a swinging door built of steel and operated 
 by a chain attachment wrapped around a small hand-wheel drum, placed 
 in conveyor pit to regulate the flow of gravel to No. 1 conveyor belt. 
 
 The entire content of the receiving hopper is discharged upon a 36- 
 inch Robins conveyor, 166-foot centers, speed 125 feet per minute. The 
 timber frame work carrying the conveyor is erected at an angle of 
 16 degrees to enable the conveyor to discharge its load into the main 
 screen "A," which separates the gravel into 214-inch and less, 3-. 4i,4-, 
 
/CO //fi Afere/^ 
 
 a 
 
 
 =RI- 
 
 
 Ml 
 
 1 
 
 >^«^aV^"^>^«o^ 
 
 »,o'» (^VV'KA'i 
 
 
 
 .s^Mtd a]UO 1 
 
No. 195. General plan of Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2 at Fair Oaks bridge. 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 229 
 
 No. 196. Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2, dinkey engine hauling dredge tailing to receiving hopper. 
 
 No. 197. Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2 in course of construction. Shuwint; main conveyor. 
 
 No. 198. Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2, showing receiving hopper and main conveyor under cover. 
 
22. 
 
 wo 
 
 is '. 
 coi 
 th( 
 res 
 ehi 
 aii( 
 
 r 
 
 Ed 
 Th 
 
 ten 
 pai 
 
 
 R- 
 
 I 
 
 BlK 
 
 gau 
 
 fro] 
 
 yar 
 
 in r 
 
 neci 
 
 by; 
 
 T: 
 
 ing- 
 
 and 
 are 
 plat 
 con^ 
 by f 
 in c 
 T 
 inch 
 timl 
 16 c 
 screi 
 
 
 c? tB t joVi ta*n i9rI<u-iD semotfiM lo nslq Uisnsf 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 229 
 
 No. 196. Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2, dinkey engine hauling dredge tailing to receiving hopper. 
 
 No. 197. Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2 in course of construction. Shuwin^, main conveyor. 
 
 No. 198. Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2, showing receiving hopper and main conveyor under cover. 
 
230 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 and 8-inch sizes. Tlie 3- and 4i/.-inch gravel is discharged into two 
 36- by 10-inch crushers and the 8-inch gravel into one 42- by 36-inch 
 crusher. The %-inch and sand are separated from the 214-inch gravel 
 by screen " B " and discharged into two 40- by 20-inch corrugated rolls. 
 
 No. 199. Rolls for crushing dredge tailing used on Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2. 
 
 The product from the corrugated rolls is carried to screen "D" and 
 separated into two sizes, %- and li/^-inch. The reject from screen 
 "D" is fed into one 40- by 15-inch smooth roll and crushed to %-inch 
 and dust. These three products are carried to the storage piles by 
 20-inch conveyors. The product from the crushers is delivered into 
 screens "E" and "F" and separated into %-inch and dust; %-, l^o-, 
 
 No. 201. Conveyors for handling crushed rock. Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2. 
 
 and 214-inch are carried to the storage piles by 20-inch conveyors. 
 The reject from screens "E" and "F" is recrushed by a 36- by 10-iuch 
 crusher and returned to screen "E" for redistribution. 
 
 In order not to have the whole plant closed down in the event of an 
 accident to the rolls, conveyors Nos. 14, 15, 16, or screens "B," "C," 
 and "D," a removable bottom, operated by rack and pinion, is installed 
 in the receiving hopper at the head of No. 5 and No. 7 conveyors, 
 together with an auxiliary chute, discharging to No. 9 conveyor. 
 Thereby the 214 -inch gravel from screen "A" is diverted from screen 
 
« S"ii.« >sb»ifa lol S .oH 3n*Hi «rie«-,:> ..aK.J«W uj. 
 
No. 200. Section through Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2 for dredge tailing. ^ 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 231 
 
 "B" and delivered into the waste pile nntil necessary repairs have 
 been made and the entire plant is ready for operations again. There 
 are seven separate storage piles for crashed rock, each 100 feet long 
 by 40 feet wide and 40 feet high. The size and class of material is as 
 follows : 3/g-inch to dust, %-, lYo-, and 2y2-inch rock, all of which is an 
 Al product from the jaw crushers. The material from the rolls is a 
 second-class product in sizes of %- and IV-j-inch rock. The seventh 
 rock pile is composed of %-inch round pebbles screened direct from 
 the tailings pile without being crushed, and is used as roofing pebble. 
 Weight of crushed rock in pounds per cubic yards, according to sizes : 
 
 2i-ineh size 2,592 pounds per cubic yard 
 
 li-inch size _. __ 2.580 pounds per cubic yard 
 
 f-incli size"--"-- -' 2,330 pounds per cubic yard 
 
 i-inch sizel 2,400 pounds per cubic yard 
 
 Below the ground-line in the center of each of the seven storage piles 
 is a reinforced concrete tunnel, 110 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 6 feet 
 
 No. 202. Ground storage piles of crushed rock at Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2. 
 
 high, inside dimensions, with roof and sides and bottom 12 inches thick. 
 Each tunnel is provided with a 24-incli conveyor, 185-foot centers, 
 operating at a speed of 250 feet per minute, which receives the material 
 and elevates same on an angle of 18 degrees to a height of 25 feet, then 
 running horizontally over the railroad tracks a distance of 25 feet dis- 
 cliarges into a swinging chute, so placed as to direct the rock alter- 
 nately into cars on separate tracks. Each tunnel is provided with four 
 gates, on the swinging-door pattern, 20 feet apart, and so connected 
 by levers and rods that they can be operated separately or together 
 from a hand-wheel at the mouth of the tunnel. 
 
 The third track is loaded direct from the crushers by an inclined 
 chute from the head of conveyors, Nos. 10 to 16, inclusive ; at a .suitable 
 position in this chute is an auxiliary chute for the purpose of diverting 
 the material, when necessary, on to No. 18 conveyors to load cars on 
 two separate tracks from storage piles, and also to load cars on three 
 separate tracks direct from crushers. 
 
or7 ^..A ..T7;i,. ^H ,..,y., 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 231 
 
 "B" and delivered into the waste pile until necessary repairs have 
 been made and the entire plant is ready for operations aoain. There 
 are seven separate storage piles for crushed rock, each 100 feet long 
 by 40 feet wide and 40 feet high. The size and class of material is as 
 follows : 3/g-inch to dust, %-, ly^-, and 2y2-inch rock, all of which is an 
 Al product from the jaw crushers. The material from the rolls is a 
 second-class product in sizes of %- and li^-inch rock. The seventh 
 rock pile is composed of %-inch round pebbles screened direct from 
 the tailings pile without being crushed, and is used as roofing pebble. 
 Weight of crushed rock in pounds per cubic yards, according to sizes : 
 
 2A-ineh size 2,592 pounds per cubic yard 
 
 li-inch size 2,580 pounds per cubic yard 
 
 l-ineh size 2.330 pounds per cubic yard 
 
 f-inch size 2,400 pounds per cubic yard 
 
 Below the ground-line in the center of each of the seven storage piles 
 is a reinforced concrete tunnel, 110 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 6 feet 
 
 No. 202. Ground storage piles of crushed rock at Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2. 
 
 high, inside dimensions, with roof and sides and bottom 12 inches thick. 
 Each tunnel is provided with a 24-inch conveyor, 185-foot centers, 
 operating at a speed of 250 feet per minute, which receives the material 
 and elevates same on an angle of 18 degrees to a height of 25 feet, then 
 running horizontally over the railroad tracks a distance of 25 feet dis- 
 charges into a swinging chute, so placed as to direct the rock alter- 
 nately into cars on separate tracks. Each tunnel is provided with four 
 gates, on the swinging-door pattern, 20 feet apart, and so connected 
 by levers and rods that they can be operated separately or together 
 from a liand-wheel at the mouth of the tunnel. 
 
 The third track is loaded direct from the crushers by an inclined 
 chute from the head of conveyors, Nos. 10 to 16, inclusive ; at a .suitable 
 position in this chute is an auxiliary chute for the purpose of diverting 
 the material, when necessary, on to No. 18 conveyors to load cars on 
 two separate tracks from storage piles, and also to load cars on three 
 separate tracks direct from crushers. 
 
232 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The total eciuipment of the rock-erushing plant consists of as follows : 
 
 1 screen "A," 72 inches diameter by 22 feet long. 
 
 2 screens "E" and "F," 60 inches diameter by 24 feet long. 
 
 3 screens "B," "C." and "D," 48 inches diameter by 10 to 12 feet long. 
 
 1 Bacon 42- by 26-inch jaw crusher. 
 
 3 Bacon 36- by 10-inch jaw crushers. 
 
 2 Allis-Chalmers 40- by 20-inch corrugated rolls. 
 1 Allis-Chalmers 40- by 15-inch smooth roll. 
 
 30 Robins Conveying Belt Company's conveyors having a total length of 
 4.152 feet. 
 
 4 50-horsepower electric motors. 
 
 1 75-horsepower electric motor. 
 
 5 100-horsepower electric motors. 
 
 2 1.50-horsepower electric motors. 
 
 The motor equipment is housed in a main motor house 24 feet wide 
 by 60 feet long, timber framing, and covered on the outside with Xo. 24 
 corrugated iron. The pilot hou.se. 24 feet square, is mounted on the 
 roof of the main motor house, giving the operator a clear view of the 
 entire plant. 
 
 The switchboard and controllers are designed especially to meet the 
 
 requirements of this 
 plant. A separate 
 and different col- 
 ored light is in- 
 stalled directly over 
 each controlling 
 switch, and a dupli- 
 cate light and auxil- 
 iary switch is placed 
 clo.se to each electric 
 motor. Each motor 
 has a push-button 
 and an electric bell 
 near the auxiliary 
 controlling switch. 
 and is designated 
 by a certain number 
 of rings on the bell. 
 In case any part of 
 the plant gets out of 
 order the man in 
 charge of that par- 
 ticular part of the 
 plant signals to the 
 operator in the pilot 
 house, who innnedi- 
 ately closes down all 
 
 Natomas Rock-Crusher Plant No. 2, conveyor tunnel ^ _ . .i. i? ^.i 
 
 under storage pile in course of construction. ^ '^ dll\ pdi l Oi lllC 
 
 No. 203. 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 233 
 
 LI/^M 11 
 
 II '^r II wmi 
 
 j^l^ 
 
 y^gl^^^W/ 
 
 iSir 
 
 iim\^^/MU 1 
 
 S^M 
 
 !'' Tf ' -i 
 
 ■1 
 
 Kgs'^k 
 
 
 IHa 
 
 ^i3^ 
 
 iSSJjI^B^K^^H^OilB^^H^H 
 
 No. 204. Natomas Rock-Crusher Plant No. 2, loading crushed rock. 
 
 ^m^.:^- 
 
 No. 205. Machinery for Natomas Rock-Crusher Plant No. 2. 
 
 No. 206. Switchboard for controlling all circuits at Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2. 
 
234 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 machinery affected l)y the breakdown, and at tlie same time telephones 
 to the foreman of the repair gang, who shoiihl be in the repair house, 
 telling him exactly where to go to find the trouble. All electric wires 
 to the different motors from the pilot house are laid in underground 
 conduits, thus lessening the possibilities of fires from this source. Elec- 
 tric power is delivered to the plant at 22.000 volt, and is transformed 
 dowTi to 2,300 volt, and distributed to all motors at 2,300 volt. The 
 transformers are in a concrete tank, installed below the ground-line and 
 completely covered. 
 
 A hand-operated, 10-ton, overhead crane, having a span of -40 feet, 
 and 30 feet clear headroom, is installed upon a timber structure 100 
 
 ,ecoNu,o, f*?et long, placed 
 
 over the crusher 
 machinery and ex- 
 tending up to the 
 repair house, where 
 supplies and extra 
 parts are stored. 
 The repair house is 
 24 feet wide by 48 
 feet long, ecjuipped 
 with a complete set 
 of tools and ma- 
 chinery to carry 
 out necessary re- 
 pairs to the plant. 
 Two steel tanks for storing fuel oil, 11 feet 6 inches diameter by 10 
 feet deep, are mounted on a timber superstructure 25 feet above the 
 ground, and are placed midway between the railroad tracks and the 
 steam-shovel site. The oil pump is near t^he railroad track, and delivers 
 the oil from the cars into the storage tanks. The pipe line from the 
 storage tanks is laid underground, and is provided with ground-cocks 
 spaced every 80 feet up to the shovel site to supply fuel oil to the dinky 
 engine and steam shovel. 
 
 Two steel tanks for the storage of water, capacity 7,500 gallons, each 
 11 feet 6 inches diameter by 10 feet deep, are mounted on a timber 
 superstructure 37 feet above the ground and near the crusher site to 
 supply water to the shovel and railroad engines and also for fire pur- 
 poses. The water is delivered to the tanks by one 6-inch deep well 
 pump, driven by a belt from a 50-horsepower motor. A most complete 
 pipe line for fire purposes has been installed, amply supplied with 
 hydrants and fire hose, placed in convenient places. A Fairbanks iron- 
 framed railroad track scale, with 50-foot platform, and a capacity of 
 
 No. 207. Flow-sheet of Natomas Crusher Plant No. 2. 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 235 
 
236 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN C.yiilFORNIA. 
 
 200,000 pounds, is for the Aveighing of cars of crushed rock. The cars 
 come down by gravity from the loading bins on to the scale platform. 
 
 Labor Required to Operate Plant. 
 1 superintendent. 
 1 steam shovel engineer. 
 
 3 steam shovel engineer helpers. 
 1 locomotive engineer. 
 
 1 gravel train brakeman. 
 
 4 laborers moving tracks of shovel. 
 
 2 laborers unloading cars at receiving hopper. 
 
 1 laborer regulating the receiving hopper door feeding the rock to the No. 1 
 
 conveyor. 
 6 laborers attending the four crushers and two rolls. 
 6 laborers attending to loading of cars at storage piles. 
 
 2 laborers placing sideboards in railroad cars. 
 4 laborers oiling conveyors and countershafts. 
 
 1 main operator in the pilot house. 
 
 2 electricians for motors. 
 
 2 mechanics in repair house. 
 1 clerk, weighing car. 
 
 The steam shovel takes eight minutes to load a train of seven cars of 
 4-cubic-yard capacity. The dinky engine hauls the train of cars to the 
 
 Valley Contracting Company's Rock-Crushing Plant at Oroville, Cal. 
 Newton Cleaveland and others. Began operations August 12, 1908. 
 
 Erected by 
 
 dump hopper, and returns the empties to the shovel in seven minutes. 
 It takes ten minutes to load a 40-ton railroad car at the storage piles, 
 and two cars can be filled at the same time with the same size of rock. 
 There are seven separate piles of different sizes of rock ; therefore, it is 
 possible to load twelve cars per hour, making a shipping capacity of 
 each size of rock of 480 tons per hour. 
 
 The economic value of dredge tailings depends largely upon their 
 location. When near a railroad and within a reasonable distance from 
 large cities or other markets there will be a market for this material 
 for a period of many years. It is quite possible that, as the State of 
 California becomes more thickly populated and railroad facilities 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 237 
 
 increase, the demand for this material will rapidly exhaust the present 
 available gravel piles built up by the gold dredges; as it is quite 
 apparent that even at this early date, since the advent of the roek- 
 crushing plants the dredge tailing has risen from a by-product to a 
 co-product, commanding a place among the industries of the State. 
 
 No. 210. Steam shovel loading dredi;e tailini; for Rock-Crushing Plant at Oroville, Cal. 
 
 2. REPLANTING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 The utilizing of dredged land for horticultural and agricultural 
 purposes, etc.. has been successfully tried in several places in Cali- 
 fornia. In the Oroville district, James H. Leggett replanted many 
 acres to eucalyptus, fig, orange, and almond trees and grapevines. The 
 eucah'ptus of both the "blue" and "red gum" variety and some fig 
 trees are growing on unleveled tailing piles requiring no irrigation, 
 fertilization, or special care. The three-year-old eucalyptus trees have 
 attained a growth of from 16 to 20 feet; the fonr-ycar-old trees about 
 30 feet, and the tallest of the five-year-old trees a growth of about 40 
 feet. They range from 4 to 10 inclies in diameter near the base. Nearly 
 all of these trees were planted fifteen feet above tlie original surface of 
 the ground, and when set out were al)()ut ten inclies tail. 
 
 The grapevines, orange, almond, and fig trees, wliich were planted on 
 leveled dredge tailing, are all growing rapidly and are in a healthy 
 condition. ^Mr. Leggett says that the fruit from these trees ripens 
 earlier and gives a better flavor than the fruit from trees growing in 
 ordinary soil, and tluit owing to the heat retained by the rocks during 
 the night, the danger from frost is a great deal less than on s(nl land. 
 
238 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 No. 211. Eucalyptus growing on unleveled dredge tailing in the Oroville District. 
 
 No. 212. Eucalyptus and fig trees growing without irrigation on unleveled dredge tailing in 
 the Oroville District, June, 1909. 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 239 
 
 He also states that it requires only five per cent of the water used in 
 irriyation on ordinary soil to grow plants on dredged land. 
 
 The method of planting trees is as follows: A small shallow place is 
 excavated in the rock tailing and filled with good soil, and the young 
 trees. Avhich are lifted with the usual ball of earth to the roots, are 
 planted in this soil. In some instances old orange and other trees have 
 been transplanted from land to be dredged to the tailing ground, in 
 which case the method of planting is the same but more expensive. 
 Usually the young plants recjuire irrigation for some length of time, 
 
 No. 213. Orange trees and grapevines growing on leveled dredge tailing, Oroville District, 
 
 July, 1909. 
 
 until the roots penetrate some distance into the moist zone of the gravel 
 and sand. 
 
 It was found in dredging some land, adjacent to a tract of tailing 
 ground, planted to grapevines, that the vines had grown roots in a few 
 months, six to twelve feet long, extending down to permanent water 
 level. Owing to the porosity and the moisture holding capacity of this 
 ground alfalfa and grasses seem to do particularly well, as the roots of 
 these plants quickly penetrate down to the permanent water-level. 
 
 One of the exhibits of products grown upon dredged ground, and 
 displayed in the windows of the Chamber of Commerce at Oroville, 
 showed a one-year-old peach tree, in a healthy, sturdy condition, having 
 upon it a number of large Avell formed peaches. Some muscat grapes 
 seemed to prove that a good production can be obtained from vines 
 l)lante(l on dredged lands. An apple tree, dahlias, and ha\' completed 
 tliis ]>articiilar exhil)it. which showed in a striking way the jiossiljililies 
 of reclaiming dredged land for pr<)fital)le agricultnral and horticultural 
 purposes. 
 
 Successful results were obtained in the Folsom district with (Micalyp- 
 
240 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IX CALIFORNIA. 
 
 
 
 No. 214. Grapevines and almond trees on leveled dredge tailing, Oroville District, July. 1909. 
 
 tus trees. The Xatomas Consolidated Company planted in May, 1909, 
 several acres of leveled dredge tailing to eucalyptus trees, of the "blue 
 gum" varietv. which are doing well. 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ i 
 
 No. 215. Eucalyptus trees planted on reclaimed dredging ground, Folsom District. 
 Three months after planting, June, 1909. 
 
 If tree planting continues to prove as successful as present exjieri- 
 ments indicate, a large acreage of dredged ground will be useful for 
 horticultural and agricultural purposes. The soil of most of the dredg- 
 ing lands in California Avas unproductive and was of little value for 
 
 Ui 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 241 
 
 any purpose but initiin.y'. The only valuable land for other purposes 
 Avas located in the Oroville and Folsom fields. In the Oroville field out 
 of about (),0U0 acres of dredging' land, less than 400 acres were planted 
 to fruit, and it is probable that not more than 1,000 acres of the remain- 
 ing portions could have been used with irrigation, as it is ground of 
 poor (piality. 
 
 Much material has been made by antidebris exi)onents over the de- 
 struction by dredges of good orchards in the Oroville district and else- 
 where, and it seems 
 
 proper to state that 
 previous to dredg- 
 ing most of the vine- 
 yards in the Oroville 
 district w e r e in- 
 fested w i t h the 
 almost fatal phyl- 
 loxera. ]\Ir. Leggett 
 among others was 
 seriously contem- 
 plating taking up 
 his vineyard, which 
 comprises an area 
 of 150 acres, and 
 which is included in 
 the above e.stimate 
 of 400 acres of 
 planted land in the 
 district. The peach 
 orchards also were 
 not doing very well, 
 most of them aver- 
 aging* but one crop 
 in two and three 
 years, and many orchards were abandoned. Most ol' tlie ranchi's in 
 tile district were heavily mortgaged and it can not. tlierefore. be said 
 that dredge mining has done much harm to this now prosperous locality. 
 In the Folsom district, as was also the case at Oroville, a large area 
 of the dredging land had been worked by gravel miners previous to 
 dredging, a large portion of the ground being left in such condition 
 as to make it unfit for cultivation. Out of a total of about 6,000 acres 
 of dredging land in this district not over 2,000 acres were planted to 
 grapevines and for every acre tui'ued over in dredging this land two 
 acres of vines are planted on othei- land held for this purpose. Other 
 
 *^^^^^ 
 
 'Ml 
 
 7:^v- 
 
 ^..^^; 
 
 Orange trees growing on leveled dredge tailing in 
 the Oroville District, July. 1909. 
 
 16— GD 
 
242 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 conditions in this district were similar to those at Oroville previous to 
 dredging. 
 
 On the Yuba River the question of reclamation is of another nature, 
 most of the land being located on river bars covered by hydraulic tail- 
 
 No. 217. Grapevines growing on dredged land in the Oroville District. 
 
 ing and subject to overflow. The dredges in this district are erecting 
 embankments to confine and control the flow of the Yuba River, this 
 
 No. 218. View of a large portion of the Oroville ground previous to dredging. 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 243 
 
 No. 219. View of ground in Oroville dredging field before dredging. 
 
 No. 220. General view of dredging ground in the Folsom District, previous to dredging 
 showing old placer workings. 
 
 No. 221. Dredging ground in the Oroville District. 
 
244 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 
 rtO 
 
 B^ 
 
RECLAIMING DREDGED LAND. 
 
 245 
 
 work being done on behalf of the State of California and the United 
 States. Farm land being dredged in the vicinity of the Yuba River 
 was very poor land, and will probably produce a better hay crop after 
 the tailing is leveled than was possible before dredging. 
 
 Dredging ground located in Placer County on the Bear River con- 
 tains some grazing land, but most of the land is subject to overflow 
 and is covered by hydraulic tailing. In Calaveras County an area of 
 250 acres of dredged land has been sold to a farmer who is to receive the 
 
 No. 223. Apple and walnut trees, two years old, on Tewksburg Company's dredged land, near 
 Bright, New Zealand. Soil, sand, and shingle are on the surface of the former land. 
 
 land in a level condition suitable for planting. The cobble-stones were 
 sold to a rock-crushing company and are being removed from the prop- 
 erty. In ]\[erced and Stanislaus counties the dredging ground was of 
 little value for farming purposes, some of it being fair grazing land. 
 In Shasta and Siskiyou counties the dredging lands were of no partic- 
 ular value excepting for mining purposes. 
 
 Attempts to utilize dredged land for agricultural purposes in New 
 Zealand, seem, as a whole, to have met with success. In answer to 
 inquiries by the California State ^Mineralogist the inspector of mines, 
 E. R. Green, Wellington, New Zealand, writes as follows: 
 
 I have made inquiries from Messi-s. McGeorge Bros., and am informed that flax 
 growing was successfully tried on restored land, but owing to fluctuation on the 
 market it was not likely to prove remunerative. Clover and timothy grass seed 
 
246 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 No. 224. Dredged ground restored to city property. Oroville District, California. 
 
 sowtii on dredge tailing have been successful, and on the occasion of a visit to 
 Waikaka by the Hon. Mr. McGowan we saw a paddock of 50 acres where the cattle 
 were grazing on the dredge tailing thus treated, in preference to the original pasture. 
 
 Mr. John Turnbull, farmer, Waikaka, has informed me that he has sold laud 
 for mining up to $100 per acre, and that after dredging, by McGeorge's sluice-box 
 method in restoring the soil as silt on the surface, he had rebought the land at the 
 rate of $15 per acre and was glad to get it, and would continue giving that price, 
 which, he was satisfied, results would warrant him in doing. 
 
 The ground so far worked by McGeorge's dredges at Waikaka has not exceeded 
 22 feet in depth, but now that gold has been found in the false bottom, McGeorge 
 Bros, have a dredge almost completed to work at 40 feet from water level, so that 
 it remains to be proved whether the soil can be successfully restored at that depth. 
 
 With regard to tree planting larch trees appear to have done the best. An area 
 of four acres of larches planted on the Waikaka United claim seven years ago are 
 now 10 feet to 20 feet in height. 
 
 As to the method of tree planting. The young trees are lifted with the usual 
 ball of earth to the roots and planted out on the tailing in the ordinary way. 
 
 The following are abstracts from the papers and reports of the 
 Minister of Mines, New Zealand. John Hayes, inspecting engineer 
 (page 16, c. 3) : 
 
 There has been an outcry in some quarters about valuable land being destroyed 
 
RECLAIMINe DREDGED LAXD. 247 
 
 for agricultural purposes by gold dredging operations. This has undoubtedly been 
 the case in a few instances, but in others, where swampy marsh land has been 
 dredged, the effect has been to drain and sweeten it. and it is now growing sweet 
 grass and clover where rank sour grass and rushes grew before. At the same time, 
 it can not be claimed that this land has been left in anything like so good a condition 
 as it might have been had advance stripping been practiced, and the soil and subsoil, 
 etc., deposited on the gravel tailing instead of them all being mixed up as at present. 
 At Waikaka. Southland, trees have been planted on the tailing left by one dredge 
 working on private land. On my last visit to the locality I carefully inspected this 
 plantation, and found the young trees healthy and growing well. The idea of 
 planting some of the tailing areas which were formerly swamp lands with native 
 flax suggested itself ro my mind, and I submit this as offering a means of profitably 
 utilizing the ground from which the alluvial gold has been won. 
 
 No. 2 District, A. R. Campbell, inspector. 
 
 An Omeo dredge is making a good show in regard to resoiling, this being mainly 
 attributable to the depth and nature of soil dealt with. This soil is stripped in 
 advance and sluiced down the box with the full body of water, but owing to the 
 tenacity of the material, a fair quantity of it stays on the tailing, the deposit being 
 in places 4 feet deep. On this dredged ground there has this season been grown a 
 crop of oats on three acres besides small plots of vegetables. 
 
 That dredged ground can be successfully restored to town property 
 is evident as shown by the accompanying illustration No. 22-4 of the 
 house of 0. C. Perry of Oroville. California. 
 
 This residence was built on ground that had been dredged and after- 
 wards leveled, and although the house was built within a year after the 
 ground was dredged, there is no evidence of settling, and the plaster is 
 perfect in every respect, showing no cracks or flaws. 
 
 ^Ir. Perry considers dredged and leveled ground very desirable for 
 building sites, on account of the perfect drainage. He has also found 
 that flowers and trees grow luxuriously with a shallow layer of top 
 soil over the cobbles. 
 
248 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 VII. DEBRIS PROBLEM. 
 
 There has been a great deal of antidebris legislation in California, 
 and many mining operations have been stopped by legislation to 
 protect other interests. Recently there has been agitation against 
 dredge mining, and the question raised as to what extent dredging 
 pollutes and obstructs the streams. A committee appointed by the 
 
 No. 225. Feather River, near Gridley bridge. 
 
 board of an antidredge convention in reporting on the operations 
 of the dredges along the American and Yuba rivers, found that on 
 each of these rivers the dredges are doing no damage, and that instead 
 of sending down any debris, much sand is being impounded and kept 
 from going into the streams. 
 
 On the Feather River the same conditions exist regarding the present 
 operations of the dredges, but in this district the early dredge opera- 
 tions left some obstructions in the river which are said to cause damage 
 to adjacent low lands during flood times. As has been mentioned else- 
 where, the present dredges in California, with the exception of those on 
 the Yuba River, are all working inland, and hence the tailing stacks 
 do not obstruct the flow of any of the rivers. The dredge cobbles in the 
 Sacramento Valley have become valuable since the advent of the rock- 
 crushing plants and it is not likely that any dredge tailing will remain 
 very long where put by the dredges. 
 
DEBRIS PROBLEM. 
 
 249 
 
 The question of pollution of streams by the spill water from dredge 
 ponds is not a serious matter in California, as most of the dredges 
 operate quite a distance inland from the rivers and practically all of the 
 dredge water is impounded. 
 
 Before the water from dredge ponds Avas impounded, the question 
 whether the colored spill water flowing into the rivers could have any 
 injurious effect upon the river and farming interests was more fre- 
 quently discussed in the Oroville than in other districts, and in an 
 eftort to obtain some exact information upon this point, the following 
 samples were taken by H. Appel and W. S. Xoyes at Oroville : 
 
 Sample Xo. 1. Outflow from under the tailing piles at the bank of 
 the Feather River, near Pennsylvania Pond, about 10 inches in volume. 
 
 No. 226. Feather River below Oroville. 
 
 Xo. 2. About 100 yards down stream from Xo. 1, opposite a big riffle 
 in the river, about 40 miner's inches flowing out from the cobble piles. 
 
 Xo. 3. Water crossing from east of Marysville road into the tailing 
 piles west thereof, near the dam in the ditch on the Pennsylvania 
 ground, and .just south of the bridge crossing Gold Run. 
 
 Xo. 1. Outflow from pit of El Oro Dredge Xo. 1, about 15 inches in 
 volume. 
 
 Xo. '). Sample taken above the dam in El Oro Xo. 1 pond. 
 
 Xo. 6. Outflow from pond of El Ore Xo. 2 dredge. 
 
 All of these samples were sent to Abbot A. Hanks. San Francisco, 
 with instruction to determine the foreign matter therein, in grains per 
 gallon and in percentages by weight, and also to ascertain the fineness 
 of the suspended matter. The following report on the foregoing was 
 received : 
 
 Sir: I received from you recently six jars of water marked Xo. 1 to r>. inclusive. 
 Each sample was mixed by careful shaking, and a measured quantity, one litre, 
 
250 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIx\, 
 
 drawn off. This was evaporated to dryness and the weight of the total solids deter- 
 mined as follows : 
 
 Mark. 
 
 Grains per 
 
 U. S. Wine 
 
 Gallon of 
 
 58415 Grains 
 
 Percentages 
 by Weight. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 3 
 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 
 187.783 
 215.772 
 274.092 
 753.468 
 2029.466 
 1014.733 
 
 .32 of 1% 
 
 .37 of 1% 
 
 .46 of 1% 
 
 1.29 of 1% 
 
 3.47 of 1% 
 
 1.73 of 1% 
 
 Experiments were then made to determine the fineness of the suspended matter 
 in the water. In every sample all of this matter passed through a 200-mesh screen. 
 This mesh is the finest product found in the market, and contains 200 apertures to 
 the running inch. The finest cloth used in the manufacture of flour contains only 
 176 holes to the running inch, while the usual mesh is 150. 
 
 I believe that the only method of determining the exact size of the particles held 
 in suspension in this water would be to measure them under a microscope with a 
 standard form of micrometei'. The suspended matter evidently consists of silt in 
 its very finest form. 
 
 (Signed) Abbot A. Haxks. 
 
 The solids shown in the above table included the solids in solution, 
 which are always present in river water, and to determine these latter, 
 two samples of the clear river water were later taken and their solids 
 determined. They averaged 8.854 grains per gallon: equal to .0151 
 per cent. These amounts deducted from the corresponding items in the 
 table leave the true amount of "suspended matter" in the water under 
 consideration, a§ shown in the following table : 
 
 Mark. 
 
 Grains 
 per U. S. 
 
 Wine 
 Gallon of 
 
 58415 
 Grains. 
 
 Percent- 
 ages bv 
 Weight. 
 
 Solids in 
 Solution 
 
 Grains 
 per 
 
 Gallon. 
 
 Net Sus- 
 pended 
 Matter 
 Grains 
 
 per 
 Gallon. 
 
 Per Cent 
 
 Suspended 
 
 Matter. 
 
 1 . _ _ - 
 
 187.783 
 215.772 
 274.092 
 753.468 
 2029.466 
 1014.733 
 
 .32 
 
 .37 
 
 .46 
 
 1.29 
 
 3.47 
 
 1.73 
 
 8.854 
 8.854 
 8.854 
 8.854 
 8.854 
 8.854 
 
 178.929 
 206.918 
 265.238 
 744.614 
 
 .305 of 1% 
 
 2 ...--- 
 
 .355 of 1% 
 
 3 
 
 .445 of 1% 
 
 4 
 
 1.275 of 1% 
 
 5 
 
 2020.612 ' 3.455 of 1% 
 
 6 
 
 1005.879 : 1.71.T of 1% 
 
 
 
 
 For the purpose of determining the size of the particles, a micro- 
 scopical examination of the sediment was next made. Mr. Hanks' 
 report on this follows : 
 
 Sir : In attempting to arrive at the size of these particles I have made a micro- 
 scopical examination of the samples. Slides were prepared by evaporating small 
 portions of each sample to dryness, and the sediment was measured both with a 
 stage micrometer and an eyepiece micrometer. Under the microscope the sediment 
 is seen to consist of an infinite number of particles of approximately the same size. 
 These particles show a tendency to cake together on drying, but under a strong 
 light it was possible to see the individual pieces and to measure them with a fair 
 degree of accuracy. 
 
DEBRIS PROBLEM. 251 
 
 I find the particles in both samples to vary in size from cue one-hundredth of a 
 millimeter to one four-hundredths of a millimeter. I have reduced these measures to 
 decimals of an inch, as follows : 
 
 1/100 mm .0003037 inches. 
 
 1/100 mm .0000084 inches. 
 
 (Signed) Abbot A. Hanks. 
 
 This examination shows that the coarsest particles of the "suspended 
 matter" in the discolored water tlowing into the river (samples 1 and 2) 
 
 No. 227. Mining on the headwaters of the Feather River, Phillbrook Creek, Butte County. 
 Bare boulders show the effect of flood waters. 
 
 were only about one tenth the size of flour particles and the finest but 
 one fortieth of the size. 
 
 A careful consideration of the preceding will show that the material 
 actually escaping into the river contained from .3 to .35 of 1 per cent 
 of this extremely fine powder ; or, in other words, but from 178 grains 
 to 209 grains to the gallon. 
 
 In xVustralia some provision for the study and abatement of nuisances 
 of this sort has been made in the creation of sludge abatement boards. 
 The method of work by this board is not unlike that of the Interstate 
 Commerce Commission; that is. eomphiints of nuisances as received are 
 investigated by special agents, followed if need by public hearings, and 
 finally, if the evidence .justifies, by an order for its abatement. 
 
 It is an interesting fact that the same complaints regarding dam- 
 ages bv dredges to farming interests and rivers are made in Victoria 
 
252 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 as have been agitated in California, and that there, as here, careful 
 investigations prove the complaints essentially groundless. 
 
 In the reports of the Victoria board for 1908, in one case of alleged 
 damage due to dredging, the board finds : ' ' When a bucket elevator 
 dredge was working a few years since in the bed of the Goulburn, some 
 miles below Jamieson, settlers down stream were unaware of its pres- 
 ence. We have found that local complaints are principally due to 
 erosion of drains and creek banks. ' ' 
 
 The importance of sedimentation, due to erosion of ditches, roadways, 
 and to other disturbances of natural conditions due to public works, 
 is especially emphasized. In one case a complaining town was shown, 
 by the testimony of its own engineer, to have furnished in this way to 
 the stream more detritus than possible from the mining of which com- 
 plaint was made. 
 
 The board further says : ' ' Some of the farming witnesses object to 
 all discoloration, and apparently would not be satisfied in summer time 
 with water almost clear, though compelled even where there is no mining 
 to use worse water during winter and spring. The board can not recom- 
 mend the elimination of a valuable industry on account of ill grounded 
 objections of persons not acquainted with the nature of the work, many 
 of whom would not, owing to distance from the mines, be subject even 
 to discoloration of water by their operation. ' ' 
 
 The whole work of the Victoria board seems to indicate that when 
 problems like these are intelligently and honestly studied, the amount 
 of damage is neither so large nor the means of abatement so difficult 
 as to cause serious uneasiness. 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 253 
 
 VIII. OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 
 
 Outside of California, gold dredging is being carried on in the United 
 States of America in North Carolina. Colorado, ^Montana. Idaho. In 
 the states of Oregon and Nevada there have, so far, been no extensive 
 dredging operations. One dredge is reported in southern Oregon, but 
 is not thought to be a financial success. Some years ago an attempt 
 was made to dredge ground near Sumpter, in eastern Oregon, but with 
 poor results. The inferior construction of the dredges used ma,y partly 
 account of the nonsuccess of these operations. In Alaska, considerable 
 gold dredging is being done, and some dredges are operating success- 
 fully in the Philippine Islands. 
 
 In foreign countries gold dredging is or has been carried on in the 
 following places : Canada, Klondyke region, and British Columbia ; 
 Mexico, in the states of Sonora and Sinaloa. In Central America, in 
 the State of Honduras, considerable prospecting for dredging laud is 
 being done at the present time. In South America in the following 
 states: Colombia, French and Dutch Guiana. Brazil. Argentine Kepub- 
 lic, Chile, Peru. Bolivia, and Ecuador. In Australasia, Victoria. New 
 Zealand and New South Wales. In India some dredges are operating 
 in Burmah. In Africa con.siderable prospecting for dredging laud is 
 being done on the west coast. In Europe a number of dredges are 
 operating in Siberia and the Urals, and some gold dredging operations 
 have been reported from Servia. 
 
 A fuller description of dredging operations in some of these states 
 and foreign countries is given in the following pages. 
 
 *GOLD DREDGING IN MONTANA. 
 
 The gold dredging industry" owes a great deal to ^Montana. ]\Iany of 
 the earl.y problems in gold dredging were solved by the operators at 
 Bannock, where dredging was carried on as early as 1894. At present, 
 some of the largest and most modern dredges in the Avorld are being 
 operated at Ruby. It is well worth while for those interested in gold 
 dredging to visit Ruby, where, aside from seeing a number of features 
 other than those seen in diiferent dredging fields, a great deal of useful 
 infornuition can be ol)tained. The dredge operators at Ruby, tliough 
 isolated, and not in contact with other dredge operators, show little 
 provimialism. and are generous in giving information to strangers. 
 
 The principal dredging field in ^Montana is located at an altitude of 
 about 5,200 feet above sea level, in Ruby Valley, IMadison County, at a 
 
 •A portion of this article is taken from a paper by J. P. Hutthins in the Engineer- 
 ing and Mining Journal. 
 
254 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 place just be- 
 low where Alder 
 (rulch leaves a 
 narrow canyon 
 in breaking 
 from the moun- 
 tains. There 
 are two dredg- 
 ing companies 
 in the district, 
 the C o n r e y 
 Placer ]\Iining 
 Company and 
 the Poor Farm 
 Placer iMining 
 Company. Both 
 companies are 
 under the same 
 general manage- 
 ment and have 
 the same stock- 
 holders. Har- 
 vard University 
 inherited from 
 the late Colonel 
 Gordon McKay 
 a large interest 
 in b t h com- 
 panies, and it is 
 estimated that 
 during the life 
 of the mines 
 Harvard Uni- 
 versity will have 
 profited to the 
 extent of from 
 $1,500,000 to 
 $2,000,000. 
 
 Alder Gulch 
 was one of the 
 rich placer de- 
 posits discovered 
 m the early six- 
 ties. In 13 miles 
 of its course. 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 
 
 255 
 
 over an average width of al)Out 300 feet and an average depth of about 
 20 feet, it has produced a gross yield estimated by various authorities 
 at from .$75,000,000 to $150,000,000. The expensive methods of rocking 
 and liand-sluicing material, which was mined by open-cutting with hand 
 shoveling (often with ground sluic ing of overburden), when the nuiterial 
 was shallow, or by drifting and hoisting to the sluices when it was deep, 
 were used. Attempts have been nuide to work parts of the gulch gravel 
 with varioiLs types of mechanical excavators, but not with success. 
 
 The gravel of Ruby Valley ranges in depth from 30 feet to 60 feet, 
 the depth increases with the slopeof the bedrock, in a westerly direction. 
 In character the gravel is coarse and compact, carrying, in places, con- 
 siderable sticky clay and many large boulders. The bedrock is an 
 extremely tenacious clay; varying in color from light cream to dark 
 brown, and seeming to owe its origin to deposition of tufa and volcanic 
 ash in slow moving or still water. It resembles the Oroville bottom, 
 but is more tenacious and sticky, although generally smooth, with 
 but gentle undulations. There is no particular concentration of gold on 
 or near the bedrock; these features and the circumstance that when 
 any considera1)le volume of it is excavated by the buckets it must be 
 pried or dug out of them (for it will not discharge) make it not only 
 unnecessary, but undesirable to attempt more than to skim the liedrock 
 very slightly. 
 
 There is a marked contrast between the bottoms of Alder Gulch and 
 its delxnichment. Not only are they different in that one is said to be 
 rough, "true" bedrock, with deep crevices, while the other is a smooth 
 "false" bedrock without cracks, but in the gulch a marked concentra- 
 tion and penetration of gold have been noted, while absence of these 
 features is observed in the dredging area. 
 
 The Ruby Valley gravels were prospected by means of drills and on 
 part of the property the test holes were put down 150 feet apart and 
 staggered on lines 200 feet apart, while a large portion of the property 
 was divided into rectangles 330 by 660 feet and test holes sunk at the 
 corners. The gold is 840 to 860 fine. Its coarseness varies; about 40 
 to 50 per cent passing through a 60-mesh, and about 15 to 30 per cent 
 passing through a 100-niesh screen. Much of the gold is subangular 
 and is coarse in comparison with the gold of the California dredging 
 fields. It resembles the gold from Alder Gulch, showing the same rela- 
 tion to it as observed elsewhere between gold of debouchments and that 
 of the creeks above them. The average gold content is about 25 cents 
 per cubic yard. 
 
 Attempts to work the gulch gravel with mechanical excavators other 
 llian I)ucket elevator dredges did not prove successful. One of the 
 early devices used consisted of a cal)lewav to wliidi was attached a 
 
256 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 o. o 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 257 
 
 bucket or drag scraper, that excavated the gravel as it was dragged 
 across the cuts. The full bucket was trammed on the cableway to a 
 stationary sluice mounted on a structural frame high enough above 
 the ground to allow of grade and dump room for the tailing. 
 
 The plant, requiring over 30 men to run it, and costing about 30 
 cents per cubic yard to operate, was too expensive, and handling only 
 about 500 cubic yards per 2-1 hours, was too limited in capacity. Like 
 numerous other placer mining plants of but slight mobility, resultant 
 low capacity and high cost prevented successful operation. 
 
 The first attempts to dredge the deposit included an excavator with 
 an orange-peel bucket. The excavating machinery was mounted on a 
 large car and track to permit movement ; and a long boom was installed 
 to enable discharge of the material from the bucket into a high hopper 
 and washing machine, also mounted on a car. This installation was a 
 failure ; while possessing the many faults common to placer mining 
 machines mounted on cars, it was also incapable of excavating the 
 tenacious gravel. Attempts to work it were soon abandoned. 
 
 The first bucket elevator dredge in the district was the "]Maggie 
 Gibson." This machine was of the double-lift tj^pe, equipped with tail 
 sluices and tail scow. It was first successfully operated at Bannock, 
 Montana, and was reerected in Ruby Valley, and put in operation on 
 leased ground belonging to the Conrey Placer Mining Company, where 
 it operated for five years until the lease expired. The general equipment 
 of the dredge consisted of 5-cubic-foot open-connected buckets, weighing 
 eacli 600 pounds. The upper tumbler was driven by a sprocket wheel, 
 and the tumbler shaft was 8 inches in diameter. The material after 
 being raised by tlie buckets to a height of about 17 feet above water line, 
 passed through a chain-driven revolving screen, having 4-inch by 5-inch 
 openings. The fine material and gold going through the screen openings 
 was collected in a sump in the hull of the dredge, from whence it was 
 elevated by a 12-inch centrifugal pump to a sluice about 80 feet long, 
 extending a distance behind the dredge. The coarse gravel and boulders 
 passing out through the screen were dumped in the pond on the side of 
 the dredge. Wooden spuds 48 inches by 48 inches were used to hold 
 the dredge in place while digging. 
 
 In 1899 the Conrey Placer Alining Company installed a single-lift, 
 6-eubic-foot. open-connected-bucket elevator dredge, equipped with tail 
 sluices and tail scow. The material was elevated to a height of about 
 30 feet above water line and dumped into a revolving screen, liaving 
 5-inch openings. The coarse gravel and Imulders passing through the 
 screen were dumped in the pond on both sides of the dredge by means 
 of chutes, the fine material and gold passed to a sluice having a 7 per 
 cent grade. This sluice was 140 feet long, 52 inches wnde, and actuated 
 
 17 — on 
 
258 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 at the stern, the outboard part 120 feet long being sustained, on an 
 auxiliary scow. The sluice was divided into two parts by a longi- 
 tudinal partition (to allow continuous running in one half of it while 
 the other half was being cleaned up). This partition was removed 
 principally because unequal distribution of material on the two sides 
 of the partition, due to listing, gave poor results. 
 
 The hull of the dredge was 100 by 44 by 7 feet, with a draft of 5.25 
 feet. It was equipped with three 70 horsepower boilers, one 14-inch 
 and one 10-inch centrifugal pump lifting 24 feet. The 6-cubic-foot 
 buckets, weighing each 700 pounds, were of weak construction and were 
 later replaced by 7i/2-cubic-foot buckets weighing each 1,400 pounds. 
 
 A second dredge was equipped with 10-cubic-foot buckets, 200,000 
 feet of lumber, board measure, were used in the construction of the hull, 
 which was made 100 feet long, 44 feet wide, and 7 feet deep, with a 
 draught of 5 feet. The tail sluice Avas 4 feet 3 inches wide and 2 feet 4 
 inches deep. Two 100-horsepower boilers were mounted on the hull. 
 The Conrey Company later discarded these two dredges and substi- 
 tuted for them two modern electric driven dredges, built by the Marion 
 Steam Shovel Company. 
 
 In September, 1906, the Poor Farm Placer Mining Company put in 
 operation a 15-cubic-foot open-connected-bucket elevator dredge. The 
 hull of this dredge was made 130 feet long, 48 feet wide, 7i/4 feet deep, 
 400,000 feet of lumber being used in its construction. The digging 
 motor has a rated capacity of 150 horsepower, and is located on a steel 
 superstructure directly behind the upper tumbler. This motor is 
 geared to the upper tumbler shaft through two intermediate shafts, 
 a slipping friction and a circuit-breaker set at about 300 horsepower. 
 This dredge was equipped with a tail sluice 66 inches wide and 135 feet 
 long, being on a 7 per cent grade, and paved with strap longitudinal 
 and transverse angle-iron riffles. Clean-ups on all the dredges are made 
 every ten days. This dredge Avas designed by the late Julius Baier, 
 former general manager for the company. Its average record for the 
 past three years, up to 1910, has been 90,000 cubic yards per month. 
 
 In 1907 the Conrey No. 1 dredge, with 7i/4-cubic-foot buckets, was 
 reported to dig an average of about 1,800 cubic yards per day; No. 2 
 dredge, with 10-cubic-foot buckets, 2,300 cubic yards per day ; and the 
 Poor Farm dredge, with 15-cubic-foot buckets, an average of 3.300 
 cubic yards per day at a cost of about 10 cents per cubic yard for the 
 Conrey dredges and 6V2 cents per cubic yard for the Poor Farm 
 dredge, including depreciation, salaries, general expenses, etc. While 
 these yardage figures seem small as judged by Californian standards, 
 it must be remembered that there is a difference in the character of the 
 respective gravels. 
 
 As the Conrey Company does its own repairing, etc., it has installed 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 259 
 
 a shop having, besides the common tools, a 250-ton hydraulic press. 
 In the gold dredges at Ruby, experience with the buckets, tumblers, 
 and ladders has been similar to that of other dredging districts, and 
 from the light buckets first used were evolved the later 7.5-cubic-foot 
 bucket, weighing 1,400 pounds, with ij^-iwch pins, the 10-cubic-foot 
 bucket on No. 2 dredge, weighing 2,100 pounds, with 4%-inch pins, and 
 15-cubic-foot bucket on the Poor Farm dredge, weighing 2,800 pounds, 
 with 5%-inch pins. Manganese steel pins and bushings were first used 
 and various other steel alloys have been tried; but now locomotive-tire 
 steel pins and manganese steel bushings are used with good results. 
 Complete spare bucket chains are kept on hand and each chain is con- 
 sidered and treated as a unit in repairing and renewing. This method 
 has for its object maintaining a uniform bucket pitch in all the elements 
 of the chain and thus preventing excessive wear on the bucket bottoms 
 and tumbler faces by slipping, as results when the uniformity of pitch 
 is destroyed. Bucket pins and bushings have been designed and used at 
 Ruby so that their life bears a certain relation to each other, thus per- 
 mitting systematic methods in renewals. 
 
 Some experimenting was carried on with close-connected buckets on 
 the 7.5-cubic-foot dredge. The opinion is that the close-connected 
 buckets will dig with less power per cubic yard excavated, will dig more 
 per unit of weight of the digging apparatus, will dig with less surging, 
 will dig with less wear and tear per cubic yard excavated, and will thus 
 be more economical and reduce operating cost. Indicator cards also 
 showed an increase of about 17 per cent in the power required to dig 
 the indurated bottom gravel over that needed in loose top material. 
 
 The Poor Farm dredge has an 8-cubic-foot close-connected-bucket 
 line which is being used part of the time. New elose-connected-bueket 
 lines of 9i/o-cubic-foot capacity are about to be installed on the Courey 
 and Poor Farm dredges, one such bucket line being alread.y in use. 
 
 Teeth of numerous types, with different shapes and angles of the 
 biting edges, have been tried, but all have been discarded after a great 
 deal of experimenting, as it was found that they gave no noticeable aid 
 in excavating. Bucket rollers of various materials have been tried, 
 manganese steel being one of the alloys ; white iron is now used. Bucket 
 lips of cast manganese steel are used ; those for the 15-cubic-foot 
 buckets weigh 500 pounds each. Considerable experimenting has been 
 done with bucket castings; in one instance annealed and unannealed 
 castings were used in the same bucket chain ; no difference in wearing 
 quality and strength was distinguished. 
 
 A successful means has been evolved for keeping the lower tumbler 
 boxes lubricated. Protecting rings on the tumbler boxes, so arranged 
 as to take the side thrust of the tumbler while side feeding, have 
 angular spaces which are packed with flax packing; the outer ends of 
 
260 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 the boxes are capped. Engine oil is used with good results. The bear- 
 ings of the rollers on the bucket ladder are also protected and lubri- 
 cated in a similar way. 
 
 A device for preventing the loss of material spilled from the buckets 
 is in successful operation on all the dredges. The two sides of the 
 ladder are connected on the bottom faces by a sheet and a stream of 
 water from the upper end keeps this clean. Material washed down is 
 discharged on both sides of the buckets about to round the lower 
 tumbler by a device similar in shape to the roof of a house, and at such 
 a point as to insure its being picked up in feeding laterally. 
 
 The save-alls, also called "deck sluices," save about 5 per cent of all 
 the gold recovered. This again shows the result of the clay content 
 preventing easy discharge. Wood was originally used; coal is had at 
 the dredges for $4.90 per ton, and electricity at about 1 cent per kilo- 
 watt hour is available. About 15 tons of coal were burned per day per 
 dredge. 
 
 It has been found that electric power is superior to steam bj^ com- 
 paring the working of the new dredges with that of the old ones. It 
 has a steadier, surer pull, with much less stalling action, and but slight 
 variation in the chain speed in hard digging is noted. The buckets seem 
 to fill more satisfactorily and there is much less racking, jerking and 
 jarring. The ammeter of the digging motor fluctuates between 130 and 
 150 kilowatts. It may be said that, from the mechanical and economical 
 view points, electricity is superior to steam in the dredging operations 
 at Ruby. 
 
 The Conrey Mining Company has now two 7i/^-cubic-foot Inicket 
 elevator dredges, electrically driven, constructed by the Marion Steam 
 Shovel Company. These dredges are of the California type, equipped 
 with gold-saving tables and tailing stacker. It is said that as far as 
 can be estimated, the percentage of gold saving is about the same as on 
 the sluice boats, and the operating costs of the two types of dredges, 
 character of ground being considered, is about the same. The dredges 
 have averaged 82,000 cubic yards per month, and during the year 1909 
 the working costs and general management has been about 6I/2 cents 
 per cubic yard. The repair and replacement charge is about 40 per cent 
 of the total expense. 
 
 A general description of one of the above dredges, which is shown in 
 the illustration on page 254, is as follows : Digging depth below water 
 line, 27 feet ; length of bucket ladder, 72 feet ; number of buckets, 60 ; 
 capacity, each 7I/2 cubic feet; pitch of buckets, 32% inches; diameter 
 of bucket pins, 4% inches. 
 
 The hull is 98 feet long 9 feet deep and 44 feet wide, having a deck 
 surface of 50 feet wide. The draught is about 6 feet. The center of 
 upper tumbler shaft from deck is 25 feet 9 inches. The screen is of the 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 261 
 
 telescope type and is 35 feet 5 inches long, 6 feet in diameter at the 
 upper end and 4 feet 3 inches in diameter at the lower end. 
 
 Length of stacker 90 feet between centers. Width of stacker belt 32 
 inches. The stacker, as can be seen in the illustration, is covered over, 
 in order to protect the belt, rollers and roller bearings from the cold 
 weather in winter. 
 
 The Marion Steam Shovel Company is now constructing a 15-cubic- 
 foot bucket elevator dredge for the Conrey Mining Company, which 
 will be put in operation in 1910. This dredge is designed for a capacity 
 of 300,000 cubic yards per month. There will be eighty 15-cubic-foot 
 buckets in line, Aveighing each 4,200 pounds. The stacker will be 138 
 feet long and the spuds weigh 45 tons each. The motor equipment of 
 the dredge will have a rated capacity of 1,050 horsepower. 
 
 It is expected that the cost of dredging with the new 9i ^-cubic-foot 
 buckets will not exceed 5^ cents per cubic yard and A^-ith the new 
 15-cubic-foot bucket dredge about 414> cents per cubic yard. 
 
 The Ruby dredges are the first to run throughout the winter in such 
 a cold climate. Formerly it was thought that a dredge must be shut 
 down about the time other placer mining operations ceased, and it was 
 because of this belief, rather than any other reason, that dredges in 
 many instances were idle during four or five months each year. 
 
 It is not an easy matter to operate during the coldest weather, when 
 the thermometer is 25 to 35 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The steam 
 dredges have warmed their ponds with the water of condensation and 
 have also used live steam in combating frost and ice. Ice is also chopped 
 from the sides, ladder and chutes. The dredges are manipulated during 
 the cold weather so as to keep the parts most likely to freeze well 
 exposed to the sun. The ground to be dredged is kept flooded and 
 thus does not freeze, and the dredge pond does not freeze if operation 
 is continuous. Amalgamation is not as rapid when the water is cold, 
 but this does not seem to affect the extraction materially. The amalgam 
 is softer and it takes more mercury to do the same amount of work 
 during cold weather. 
 
 During the winter of 1907, the coldest in many years, the temperature 
 was continuously near zero during January and at times as much as 
 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. The temperature of the dredge pond 
 was 34 degrees Fahrenheit and the pond was kept from freezing over at 
 times only by moving the dredge about. It was extremely difficult to 
 dig into the corners of the cut by reason of the largo accumulations of 
 floating ice. 
 
 The ice accumulation on the hull made the No. 3 dredge draw more 
 water and reduced its freeboard at times to about 25 per cent of the 
 normal draught of the dredge. Ice accumulated to such a depth on the 
 ladder tliat the ladder rollers were out of sight and the buckets slid 
 
262 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 over ice. Sheaves froze solidly, frozen material accumulated in the 
 hopper, the outboard pump suctions froze if the dredge was shut down 
 for long, and inside small pipes and valves froze and burst. In January 
 about 5 per cent of the total lost time was due to the excessive cold ; the 
 Jredge operated 72 per cent of the time during the month of January. 
 The Poor Farm dredge has a boiler and steam piping to provide warmth 
 for the dredge men, hot water for clean-ups, and heat for the false- 
 bottomed sluice. 
 
 In January 1.7 kilowatt hours of electricity per cubic yard were used. 
 In April only 1.25 kilowatt hours were consumed, but the material 
 excavated was less indurated. The total amount dredged in January, 
 1907, was 81,000 cubic yards in 539 hours; the total for April was 
 108.000 cubic yards in 599 hours. 
 
 Elsewhere in ^Montana a 5%-cubic-foot open-connected Risdon type 
 bucket elevator dredge, electrically driven, is operating at Rocker, near 
 Butte, in Silverbow County. A number of years ago a tail sluice dredge 
 was operating on Gold Creek in Powell County, but whether this dredge 
 is now in operation is not known. No dredging is being done at present 
 on Grasshopper Creek, near Bannock, in Beaverhead County. Con- 
 siderable prospecting for dredging ground has been done in Montana, 
 but it is understood from men interested at Ruby that so far no suc- 
 cessful results have been obtained. 
 
 DREDGING AT BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO.* 
 
 Breckenridge, the county seat of Summit County, Colorado, is located 
 112 miles southwest of Denver, on the South Park branch of the 
 Colorado and Southern railroad. The elevation is 9,600 feet above sea 
 level. The Breckenridge district embraces the valleys of the Blue, 
 Swan, and Snake rivers, together with the drainage basins of their 
 tributaries. These streams head on the w^estern side of the main range 
 of the Rocky Mountains, and consequently drain to the Pacific. 
 
 In the present bed of the streams, and along their flood plains, are 
 deposits, varjdng in width from 100 yards to a mile in places. These 
 are known as ''river gravels." They contain many water- worn rocks 
 from 6 to 8 inches in diameter, with occasional boulders as large as 3 
 feet in diameter. In the Blue and Swan river gravels, which are com- 
 pact and cemented by clay, porphyry is the predominant rock. 
 
 The gravel varies considerably in depth in different places, as it 
 appears to have been deposited on an uneven floor. Near Breckenridge, 
 at the Gold Pan workings, the depth is 76 feet to bedrock; at Dillon, 
 seven miles down the Blue river, it is 79 feet to bedrock ; between these 
 points in the Blue and up the Swan rivers the depth is from 40 to 45 
 
 ♦Abstract from a paper by A. H. Bradford and Roy P. Curtis, Colorado School of 
 
 Mines. 
 
OTIIEK DREDGING FIELDS. 26'S 
 
 feet. The Upper Blue River above Breckenridge shows but little evi- 
 dence of the influence of waters after their glacial deposition. The 
 deposits are very deep, the boulders large, while the gold is coarse and 
 shows little action of water wear. The large boulders were the prime 
 cause of the failure of an extensive enterprise on the Gold Pan placer 
 deposit. The bedrock of the dredging area consists principally of either 
 porphyry or shale, or shale traversed by dikes of porphyry. The shale 
 is often nearly horizontal. Most of the gold is generally found on or 
 in the oxidized shattered porphyry or on top of the shale, but gold is 
 found from the "grass roots" to bedrock, and sometimes for a few 
 inches or feet into the bedrock. 
 
 The pay-streaks occur in channels, not continuous, and the coui*se and 
 dimensions of which can be ascertained only by drilling or prospecting 
 by shafts. The gold is coarse rather than fine, due perhaps to not hav- 
 ing traveled far from its source. Large nuggets are uncommon, but 
 small ones half an inch to an inch long and generally flattened are not 
 rare. The fineness of the gold ranges from $17 to $18 per ounce. Black 
 sand occurs in considerable quantity, and is said to have a smelting value 
 of $75 per ton. The black sand is not all magnetite. Much of the gold is 
 coated by iron oxide and therefore does not amalgamate. 
 
 While in former years the "bench gravels" have been extensively 
 worked it is the lower river gravels that are now being worked by 
 modern placer mining methods. The early dredges built here were not 
 adapted to the nature of the ground, being too light for the successful 
 handling of the stiff cemented gravels and the boulders. Large quanti- 
 ties of black sand proved a great hindrance, especially on the gold- 
 saving tables, where, owing to its specific gravity, it chocked the riffles 
 and prevented the catching of gold in them. The hydraulic elevator, 
 the clam-shell dredge, and other light constructed dredges have all 
 proved failures, and have been succeeded by the latest and most power- 
 ful California type of dredges, which have proved successful in the 
 economical handling of the gravel and efficient saving of the gold. 
 
 Between 1897 and 1900 the North American Dredging Company 
 operated three dredges on the Swan River. In 1907 this company 
 reorganized into what is now known as the Colorado Gold Dredging 
 Company, and the construction of two powerful California type dredges 
 at the junction of the Swan and the Blue rivers marked a new era for 
 this company. 
 
 The Reliance Gold Mining Company operates a dredge in French 
 Gulch, about a mile and a half from Breckenridge. It is the oldest 
 machine in the district, and has been in successful use for five years. 
 The conditions mot with in the immediate vicinity are: (1) Coarse 
 gravel and small rock fragments. (2) Large boulders. (3) Streaks 
 of sticky clay cai-rying the greater portion of llic gold. These streaks 
 
264 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 must be disintegrated before the gold can be saved. (4) Much of the 
 gold is coarse and rusty and will not amalgamate, and (5) much heavy 
 black iron sand tends to clog the riffles. The Reliance dredge was ori- 
 ginally driven by steam and was of the double-lift open-connected bucket 
 type. During the season of 1909 the motive power was changed to 
 electricity, and the dredge remodeled. Before i-emodeling the dredge 
 extraction was effected by means of a sluice 120 feet long by 4 feet 
 wide, extending behind the stern of the dredge and supported on inde- 
 pendent pontoons. The chief objection to this arrangement was that 
 there were no means for stacking the tailing, and the tailing pile soon 
 encroached upon the unworked ground necessitating rehandling. In 
 remodeling, the dredge w^as equipped with a tailing stacker and the 
 riffle tables, in place of the sluice flume, were placed on board of the 
 main hull, thus putting the gold-saving device wholly on board the boat 
 and allowing the tailing to be stacked far enough behind the dredge 
 so that there is no danger of their impeding the operations of the dredge. 
 
 By the addition of a heating appliance for the inside of the dredge 
 and for the exposed parts of the digging ladder the necessity for closing 
 down during the past winter season was avoided, the Reliance dredge 
 now being able to run all the year round. This heating is an important 
 factor for consideration, since the months from November to February 
 are severe. Heat is generated by a 30-horsepower boiler, and as one 
 cord of wood lasts about two days the cost of heating is not excessive. 
 
 The electric power for operating the dredge is delivered through an 
 insulated cable from a portable transformer on shore. Alternating cur- 
 rent of 13,000 volts is stepped down to 440 at this transformer. 
 
 The Colorado Gold Dredging Company has two Bucyrus dredges at 
 Valdoro, five miles down the Blue River from Breckenridge. One is 
 working down stream in the Blue River, the other up stream in the 
 Swan. These dredges have operated but one season. The dredge work- 
 ing up the Swan River is designed to dig 38 feet below the surface of 
 the water and the other 48 feet. The latter dredge has worked down 
 the Swan River and is now at the junction of the Swan and Blue rivers, 
 and will continue down the Blue River. Both dredges are of the open- 
 connected single-lift bucket elevator type. The material is excavated 
 and lifted but once, and progresses by gravity from the time it leaves 
 the bucket until it is discharged back into the pit as waste. There are 
 42 91/4-cubic-foot buckets and 42 links in the chain, and the dredge is 
 said to handle 3,000 yards per day of 24 hours. 
 
 The electric power for operating the motors is supplied by the Central 
 Colorado Power Company. The total rated horsepower on each dredge 
 is about 430. The electric power is transformed from 13,000 volts down 
 to 440 volts before being brought on board the boat. The motors operate 
 at 440 volts and the lighting system at 110. The motors used are main 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 265 
 
 drive or digging motor, 200-horsepower ; sand pump motor. 75-horse- 
 power ; water pump motor, 75-horsepo\ver ; stacker, winch, and trommel 
 drive motor, 25-horsepower ; stacker motor, 20-horsepower ; winch motor, 
 20-hoi'sepoAver ; and deck pump motor, 15-horsepower. 
 
 The hull is 115 feet long, 40 feet 6 inches wide and 9 feet deep. The 
 sides are curved inward at the forward end, making the bow 26 feet 
 wide, and the well is 6 feet 6 inches wide. Both the digging and walk- 
 ing spuds are made of structural steel, with extra heavy cast steel points. 
 The walking spud weighs 24.000 pounds and the digging spud 45,000 
 pounds. 
 
 The Colorado Gold Dredging Company dredged during the last season 
 at a cost of 8 cents per cubic yard, everj-thing included, and as nearly 
 as can be ascertained the average saving was from 12 to 14 cents per 
 yard. The gold saving under the best conditions is estimated to reach 
 80 per cent. 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN IDAHO -BOISE BASIN. 
 
 The Boston-Idaho Gold Dredging Company moved a dredge of 3.000 
 yards daily capacity from Yreka, California, to their property below 
 Idaho City. A hydro-electric power plant on the south fork of the 
 Payette River, wath a rated capacity of about 1,400-horsepower. trans- 
 mits power about fifteen miles to the dredge. 
 
 This company is having a dredge of 9.000 cubic yards daily capacity 
 designed for the same ground, w^hich is quite extensive and is said to 
 contain average values, of 16 cents per cubic yard. The property of the 
 Boston and Idaho Gold Dredging Compau}^ belonged formerly to the 
 late Charles Souther of Boston, Mass., Avho at first installed and oper- 
 ated a dipper dredge, equipped with double hoppers, screens, and 
 stackers. This dredge was not a success. In 1898 a 334 -cubic-foot 
 open-link-bucket elevator dredge, constructed by the Risdon Iron 
 Works, was installed. This dredge, which was steam driven, operated 
 successfully under the direction of Captain Winters for many years, 
 until worn out. The holdings of the Boston and Idaho Gold Dredging 
 Company comprise an area of about 617 acres, located along IMoores 
 Creek and part of Elk Creek, extending from the town of Idaho City, 
 several miles down Moores Creek, along the road to Boise City. Pre- 
 vious to dredging, extensive hydraulic mining operations were carried 
 on along the banks of ]\Ioores Creek where the bench gravels were rich 
 in gold. As a result of these operations, Moores and I]lk creeks are 
 clogged with hydraulic tailings. 
 
 At Elk City, the Ihaho Dredging C()nq)Miiy aiul the Jennings Dredg- 
 ing Company operated but a short tiiiii' before closing down for the 
 season 1909. Tlie former conqiany has a consiih-ralile ai-ea of dredgeable 
 
266 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 gravel on American River: the latter has ground on Little p]lk River, 
 three miles north of Elk City. 
 
 In the Boise basin the IMoline IMining Company has operated a Risdon 
 dredge near Placerville for the past 4ii/2 years, having averaged 8 
 months per season, 27 days per month, handling 1,400 cubic yards per 
 da}', working three 8-liour shifts. This dredge has 5-foot buckets, open- 
 connected, is equipped with a compound condensing steam engine, the 
 fuel for the boilers being wood that costs $3.25 per cord delivered to 
 the dredge, the company owning the timber land from which the wood 
 is taken. An area of about 80 acres of dredgeable ground is owned, 
 the gravel being from 30 to 45 feet deep, and overlying a soft sedi- 
 mentar^y bedrock, which is easily cleaned. The operating season for 
 19.09 was slightly shortened by reason of the dredge being dry docked 
 November 1st so as to overhaul and reinforce the hull, an unusual 
 operation that was successfully accomplished, and the dredge put afloat 
 again before the winter freeze up. 
 
 *GOLD DREDGING IN ALASKA. 
 
 The production of gold from placer mines in Alaska for the year 1909 
 is estimated at $16,000,000 as compared with $15,885,000 for 1908, and 
 $16,491,000 in 1907. Most of this, with the exception of about half a 
 million dollars, the combined production of the smaller districts, comes 
 from the Yukon Basin and the Seward Peninsula. Information is not 
 available as to what proportion of the placer gold is produced by dredge 
 operations. 
 
 Up to four or five years ago, most of the attempts at dredging were 
 either failures or gave but little profit, and the results discouraged 
 even experienced mining men. In spite of adverse opinions and the 
 failures of the first attempts, many engineers persisted in their experi- 
 ments to meet the local conditions and it is owing to the efforts of these 
 men that dredging is being successfully carried on in Alaska and 
 adjacent parts of Canada. 
 
 The installation of two additional dredges near Nome and the suc- 
 cessful operation of those of the Yukon Gold Company, several in the 
 Seward Peninsula and three in the Forty-mile district, one of the most 
 isolated placer districts in Alaska, are significant of the future of 
 Alaska placer operations and indicate that progress is steadily being 
 made to work the lower grade gravels. 
 
 In the Seward Peninsula are considerable areas of gold-bearing 
 gravels. In 1909 there were about eleven dredges working, including 
 several that were installed the latter end of the season, and a number of 
 dredges have been ordered for the spring of 1910. 
 
 *Partly abstracted from "LT. S. Geological Survey Records" and the "Mining Press." 
 
OTHEK DKEDUING FIELDS. 
 
 267 
 
 The dredge of the Three Friends ]\Iining Company, Solomon River, 
 Seward Peninsula, operated from the middle of June to the middle of 
 October, which is the full dredging season in that district. It is a 
 5-cubic-foot elose-connected-bueket elevator dredge, California type, con- 
 structed by the Western Engineering and Construction Company of 
 San Francisco, and equipped with Bucyrus Company machinery. It 
 was erected complete in the year 1905, in the record time of 57 days, 
 and has been operating continuously ever since. 
 
 Up to the close of the season of 1909. the Three Friends dredge had 
 dug 92 acres of ground, the average per day being 3.706 cubic yards, 
 or 111.180 cubic yards per month. This is considered an exceptionally 
 
 No. 230. Three Friends' Dredge, Alaska. California type. 
 
 good record for a dredge operating under the severe conditions met with 
 in Alaska. In 1908 it was necessary to dig 6 feet into a hard limestone 
 bedrock, in order to extract the gold, a condition which existed for over 
 four weeks. Aside from excessive wearing away of the lips, the opera- 
 tions of tlie dredge were not affected, a fact which reflects credit on 
 both the management and the builders. 
 
 Steam power is used, coal being shipped from the outside at a cost 
 of $20 a ton at the boat. The actual operating costs are said to be 11 
 cents per cubic yard, and the total costs including winter care, repairs, 
 and amortization of capital are said to be 18 cents per cubic yard. 
 
 The Nome, ^Montana. New ]\Iexico Mining Company, also on Solomon 
 River, operates a 5-cubic-foot open-connected bucket dredge, built by 
 the Hisdon Iron AVorks. This dredge uses 4.6 tons of coal per day for 
 fuel and is said to average 60.000 cubic yards per month. For some 
 months the operating costs were 11 cents per cubic yard; the ground 
 averages 9 feet in depth. The plant is e<[uipp('d witli compound con- 
 densing engine, surface condenser, and locoiuolivc type of lioilcr. and 
 
268 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 is considered one of the most economical operated in the district. This 
 dredge had a season of 143 days in 1909. 
 
 A dredge that would be regarded by most dredge operators as a toy, 
 but which, nevertheless, is said to have made a profit of $15,000 for the 
 season is the Sievertson Dredge, also on Solomon River. It is a small 
 machine driven by gasoline engines and equipped with 1-cubic-f oot open- 
 connected buckets; it is reported to have cost $6,000. A number of 
 
 No. 231. 
 
 Timber construction of dredge hull, Alaska, as designed by the Western Engineering 
 and Construction Company. California type. 
 
 other companies are operating dredges, but results are not available at 
 this writing. 
 
 There is luidoubtedly a field in the Seward Peninsula for dredges with 
 3- and 5-cubic-foot buckets and several installations are to be made this 
 season. The stream beds are mostly shallow, being from 10 to 25 feet 
 deep, the l^edrock is generally schist or limestone and the gravels loose 
 and generally free from boulders and clay. 
 
 The record of the dredges of the Yukon Gold Company for the past 
 season is noteworthy, especially as the ground had to be thawed by 
 steam. The Yukon Gold Company operated seven dredges in 1909. 
 They commenced operations as early as power was available. The last 
 dredge to start began June 9th. The dredging season for six of the 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 
 
 269 
 
 seven dredges was 132i/2 days. The running time of dredge No. 5 was 
 curtailed on account of local conditions. During the season the dredges 
 handled 2,381,800 cubic yards and produced $1,363,722 worth of gold. 
 The value per cubic yard was 57.24 cents and the cost 31.94 cents per 
 cubic vard. This cost included thawing charges, amounting to 15.45 
 
 No. 232. Rothchild No. 1 Dredge operating in Alaska. Note electric power plant and 
 wood in distance. Marion make. California type. 
 
 cents, preliminary stripping operations, and depreciation at the rate 
 of $2,000 per month per dredge. 
 
 A remarkable record was made at the power i)lant at the head of 
 Little Twelve-mile River, the loss of time at the power house was only 
 twenty minutes in the entire season. The capacity of the plant is 2.000 
 horsepower. 
 
 It is reported that tlic Detroit Gold ^Mining Company, the Lewis 
 River Gold Mining Company, and the Walkers Fork Gold Dredging 
 'Company, each operating one dredge, had a successful .season in 1909. 
 
272 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The following information is given by Joseph W. Boyle, manager of 
 Canadian Klondyke Mining Company, Limited, operating on Bear 
 Creek, near Dawson, Alaska: 
 
 The Bear Creek dredge, a 7i/2-cubic-foot bucket California type 
 elevator dredge, electrically driven, constructed by the Marion Steam 
 Shovel Company, started dredging this year (1909) at 11 p. m. on May 
 9th and stopped at 7 a. m. November 20th, a total of 194 days and 8 
 hours for the season. The boat dredged 681,616 cubic yards of material, 
 or on an average of 3,558 cubic yards per day throughout the season. 
 The total lost time for the season was 368 hours and 43 minutes, which 
 was 7.90 per cent of the total possible running time, which indicates 
 that the length of season is greater than was supposed possible in Alaska. 
 It is expected that the dredge will operate 224 days next season. 
 
 The operation of this dredge for the above period compares favorably 
 with those of the best boats in California, both as to the yardage handled 
 and the lost time during the operating season. Mr. Boyle states that 
 the actual operation of the dredge and power plant, including mainte- 
 nance and repairs and all items of labor, fuel, etc., has for the year 1909 
 been less than 15 cents per cubic yard of material handled, which he 
 hopes to reduce next year. 
 
 Heating appliances were arranged with steam pipe extending on both 
 sides of the entire length of the enclosed stacker ladder, with steam 
 coils under the lower belt rollers, under the sluice tables, and in the 
 enclosed house constructed over the main drive and all other points 
 necessary to be kept free from frost. On different occasions during the 
 month of November, 1909, the dredge was operated in a temperature 
 of more than 20 degrees below zero without the slightest difficulty and 
 with all the efficiency which it would have in the warmest weather. The 
 system of applying hot water to the fair lead sheaves through which the 
 various shore lines were operated prevents any difficulty from this 
 quarter. 
 
 A number of dredge installations have been failures in Alaska, as 
 elsewhere, principally because they were based upon ill-advised schemes 
 or because of the lack of proper technical supervision. As a rule, each 
 property should be studied carefully, by a competent engineer, to 
 determine if the proposition would justify exploitation and the best 
 method of working. 
 
 One of the heaviest items of expense in Alaskan placer mining opera- 
 tions is that of transportation, which affects not only the initial installa- 
 tion, but also operating expenses, including labor and fuel. The present 
 price for labor varies from $5 to $6 a da.y and board, making a total 
 cost per man of $6 to $8.50 per day in the most important camps. 
 
 Coal costs from $15 to $18 a ton at Nome ; to this must be added the 
 cost of transportation to the scene of mining operations. Where wood 
 
18— GD 
 
274 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 is available, the prices run from $7 to $12 a cord, delivered to the 
 mines. One of the many factors that atfect dredging is the frozen 
 character of the ground which has been described in various articles 
 on Alaska. A few years ago it was considered impossible to profitably 
 dredge frozen ground, but experience has shown that this is not always 
 the case. 
 
 PLACER MINING IN THE YUKON. 
 
 On Bonanza Creek the ground being worked by hydraulic giants and 
 sluices is 20 to 25 feet deep and very flat. To obtain the necessary dump 
 a portable bucket elevator was arranged to raise the gold-bearing gravel 
 from the bedrock sluice to a suitable height and discharge into a 
 system of portable sluices arranged to facilitate a change of position 
 when necessary to obtain a new dump. The whole of the elevator 
 machinery is supported upon a structural frame mounted on wheels, 
 one day being required to move the machine to a new position and put 
 it in order ready for operation. 
 
 This method has proven very satisfactory, and at the present time 
 0. B. Perrj^, general manager and chief engineer for the Yukon Gold 
 Company, has three of these machines of his own design at work upon 
 the company 's property. The mode of operation is as follows : 
 
 A sump approximately 20 feet square, having a depth of 14 to 16 
 feet below bedrock, is excavated to receive the lower end of the elevator, 
 a channel or bedrock sluice emptying into the sump, having an approxi- 
 mate grade of 5 inches in 12 feet, is excavated in the bedrock and 
 provided with riffles. The bank of gravel to be treated is washed down 
 by two Iwdraulic giants with 3-inch nozzles ; a third giant is directed 
 down the bedrock sluice to carry the gravel to the elevator which dumps 
 the gravel into a riffled sluice, approximately 25 feet above the ground. 
 
 The elevator chain consists of 3-cubic-foot close-connected buckets, 
 operated by a 50 horsepower motor. The water used in the upper 
 sluice is pumped from the sumps by one 12-inch centrifugal pump 
 belted to a 100 horsepower motor and one 8-inch centrifugal pump 
 belted to a 50 horsepower motor. 
 
 A derrick having a long boom is located in a convenient position to 
 handle the large boulders and deposit same in a suitable place clear of 
 the gravel being treated. See illustration. No. 235, page 273. 
 
 *60LD DREDGING IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 
 
 The only successful dredging in the islands has been carried on in 
 the Paracale district, which is situated in the northern part of the 
 province of Ambos Camarines on the eastern coast of the Island of 
 Luzon. It is reached by steamer from Manila around the southern end 
 of Luzon to Mercedes, abo.ut 20 miles east of Paracale. 
 
 ♦Abstract from "The Mineral Resources of the Philippine Islands." 
 
OTHER DREDGING P^IELDS. 275 
 
 The Paracale district was regarded by the Spaniards as the most 
 important mining region in the islands, and the mines have been worked 
 intermittently and the streams washed since before the days of the 
 Spanish conquest and the hills are honeycombed with ancient workings. 
 
 Since the American occupation development has been hindered by 
 the confusion which has existed in regard to titles, there being great 
 uncertainty as to the validity and extent of many of the Spanish con- 
 cessions. Lately, however, satisfactory arrangements have been made 
 in many cases and work is progressing. 
 
 The Paracale district consists of maturely eroded hills of metamorphic 
 and igneous rocks containing quartz veins. The -large plains of the 
 Paracale and Malagit rivers, as w^ell as smaller valleys, afford very 
 promising dredging ground, which is now being thoroughly prospected, 
 chiefly by means of small drills, and showing excellent returns. The 
 Paracale Dredging Company has had a dredge in operation on its 
 property near the town of Paracale for the last year and a half, and 
 such excellent results have been obtained that several other dredges will 
 be in operation in a short time on neighboring properties. The placer 
 ground in the vicinity of Paracale generally consists of about four to five 
 meters of barren clay mixed wdth vegetable matter. In places this over- 
 lies a few centimeters of coral and below this is a varying amount of 
 gray clay carrying values. Beneath this again is an irregular amount 
 of extremely rich sand and quartz pebbles, the latter often showing 
 large amounts of free gold. The gold brought up by the dredge now 
 working is remarkably angular and often shows distinct cry.stalline 
 structure. The quartz pebbles are often sharp and angular, showing 
 that they have traveled but a very short distance. The bedrock appears 
 to be a schistose rock, decomposed to a cla}', which is easily cut by the 
 dredge buckets, making it possible to secure practically all of this rich 
 gravel. 
 
 The dredge at present in operation is of the New Zealand type and 
 differs from those generally used in America in that it has no stacking 
 ladder and no quicksilver is used in the riffles. According to the dredge- 
 master's reports, during a period from May 25 to December 31, 1908, 
 50,244 cubic yards were handled and 2,814.1 ounces of gold, having a 
 value of $50,653.80, recovered. For the whole period from ]\fay 25, 
 1908, to July 1, 1909, a return of 4,985 ounces, valued at $89,731, United 
 States currency, is reported. The dredge is equipped with one 70- 
 horsepower boiler. 60-horsepower engine, a digging ladder 62 feet in 
 length, a revolving screen, and 37 digging l)uckets, each of 4^-cu])ic- 
 foot capacity. The hull is built of Oregon pine and is 114 feet lony. 30 
 feet wide. 5 feet 6 inclies deep at the bow. and 9 feet deep at tlie stern. 
 The greater depth at the stei-n is required to sup]iort four sluices. 80 
 feet long, wliidi luivc ;m overhang of 30 fi-et be\(»n(l the stci-n of the 
 
27G 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 PaV-tPPIXB IBIANDB Bai 
 
 hnm Dl LAHTCTO* 18" N 
 
 No. 236. Map of Philippine Islands. 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 
 
 277 
 
 boat. The general system of the gold-saving arrangement includes a big 
 spread of expanded metal and cocoa matting. The custom in the district 
 is to have five white men on a dredge; the dredgem aster, three winch- 
 men, and one extra man, who should be an engineer and machinist. All 
 the other labor is native. The dredgemasters receive $200 to $250 per 
 month and board, and the white men $125 to $150 and board. The 
 natives receive 37j/2 to 50 cents per day, according to their ability. 
 
 Dredging is made difficult not only by the large amount of barren 
 clay which must l)e removed, but lh(^ uimsiially hirge percentage of fine 
 
 No. 237. Dredge on the Paracale River, Philippine Islands. New Zealand type. 
 
 material haiidlctl, about 80 per cent of all the material passing through 
 the screens. The black sand carries values and is saved for future 
 treatment, as is also part of the gray clay. The oversize material from 
 the revolving screen is sorted by hand and the quartz pebbles saved for 
 future crushing. 
 
 The operations referred to have been carried on by a New Zealand 
 corporation the Paracale Gold Dredging Company. Limited, working 
 on shares willi the claim owners. A second l)oat has liccn installed 
 farther up on the same river by another New Zealand company, the 
 Stanley-Paracale Gold Dredging Company. It differs from the fir.st 
 dredge in that it has no revolving screen or tables, the buckets discharg- 
 ing directly into a larger sluice box. A third dredge installed on the 
 Paracale River is a Risdon di-cdgc equipped with 31/pfoot ])uckets. This 
 dredge was originally set uj) on the island of ^Masbale. It wa.s bought 
 
278 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 by the present owner, the Philippine Gold Dredging Company, and 
 removed to Paracale. 
 
 The Paracale River is really an arm of the sea with a rise and fall of 
 some five or six feet of tide. The flat in which it runs is perhaps 
 a mile in width near the mouth. It continues about the same width 
 for a mile or more up and then spreads out into smaller flats with ranges 
 of hills cutting in between. The total area available for gold dredging 
 in this flat is estimated at about 1,300 acres. The average depth to bed- 
 rock on the lower river is from 30 to 40 feet. Where the Stanley dredge 
 is at work at a point higher up on the river, the depth is considerably 
 less. A great deal of sand and other fine material is found and prob- 
 ably not over 35 per cent of the dirt handled can be stacked, and of the 
 three dredges only the Risdon has a stacker. 
 
 The Malagit River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean not far from 
 the Paracale River, has been prospected, to a considerable extent with 
 hand drills. There is a much larger percentage of gravel and heavy 
 material there than on the Paracale and several other streams in the 
 same district, all tidal rivers running into the Pacific Ocean, are being 
 investigated at the present time. 
 
 The Labo and Malagit are the principal rivers, and with their tribu- 
 taries drain most of the country, which, with the exception of ]\Iount 
 Bagacay in the southeastern portion of the district, about 3,000 feet 
 high, and ]\Iay Cruz Mountain, forming Mambulao Point in the north- 
 western part of the district, about 1,000 feet high, is quite flat. Low 
 hills and ridges divide the tide water streams, and except w^here cleared 
 by the natives for growing hemp, are covered with heavy^ timber and 
 a dense undergrowth so that prospecting is difficult. The country is 
 inhabited mainly by Tagalogs. though there are a few Bicols left and 
 Negrites from the interior are occasionally found on the small farms. 
 The rainy season is opposite to that of ^Manila, the heaviest precipitation 
 occuring in Decemlier, January, and Fel)ruary. 
 
 During the year 1909 there are several improvements planned for 
 the district aside from the mining work. The most important of these 
 will l)e the removal of a reef which obstructs the entrance to the ]\Iala- 
 git River, thereby aftording excellent harbor facilities. At present 
 there is no shelter nearer than ^Mercedes on the one hand and IMambulao 
 on the other, and during bad weather the regular steamers can go no 
 farther than ^Mercedes, some 30 kilometers down the coast. 
 
 Other improvements planned for the district are the building of a 
 telephone line and the construction of a wagon road from Indang. The 
 association also hopes to secure from the insular government some 
 arrangement which will permit of having a resident mining recorder. 
 At present there is unnecessarily great delay and confusion caused by 
 the necessity of sending all papers to Nueva Caceres. the capital of the 
 province. 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 
 
 279 
 
 DREDGING IN NEW ZEALAND EOR THE YEAR 1908. 
 
 During the past year, as will be seen from the following statement, 
 the average yield per working dredge was £3,039, being a decline of 
 £239 on that obtained during the previous year; a decline of £45,816 
 has to be recorded in the value of gold production by dredges, and the 
 number of working dredges has decreased by five. 
 
 The following statement shows the number of dredges, the gold pro- 
 duced by them, and the number of persons employed during 1907 and 
 1908 : 
 
 
 Number of Dredges. 
 
 Number 
 
 of 
 Persons 
 Ordi- 
 narily 
 Em- 
 ployed. 
 
 Yield 
 
 During 
 
 1908. 
 
 Average 
 
 
 1907. 1908. 
 
 \ ield 
 
 per 
 
 Dredge 
 
 1908. 
 
 
 Ml«- Work, j Idle. 
 
 At 
 Work. 
 
 West Coast 
 
 2 
 35 
 
 25 
 103 
 
 4 
 13 
 
 23 
 100 
 
 196 
 817 
 
 £75,670 
 298,148 
 
 £3,290 
 
 Southern 
 
 2,981 
 
 
 
 Totals - 
 
 37 
 
 128 
 
 17 
 
 123 
 
 1,013 
 
 £273,818 
 
 £3,039 
 
 
 
 The dividends paid by forty-one of these dredges, the propert}^ of 
 registered companies, amounted to £75,050 during the year; the profits 
 of privately owned dredges is unobtainable. 
 
 The following is a statement regarding the most productive dredges 
 during the vear: 
 
 Name of Dredge. 
 
 Production 
 During 
 
 1908 of all 
 Dredges. 
 
 Dividends Paid by 
 
 Forty-three Dredges 
 
 Owned by Registered 
 
 Companies. 
 
 During 
 1908. 
 
 To Decem- 
 ber 31, 1908. 
 
 West Coast District — 
 
 No Town Creek £7,174 
 
 Pactohis (two dredges) 14..391 
 
 Southern District — 
 
 Alexandra Eureka 5,012 
 
 Golden Treasure 5,847 
 
 Koputai 6,952 
 
 Manuherikia ,5,145 
 
 Masterton 9.206 
 
 Mystery Flat 9,873 
 
 Otago (3 dredges) 5,621 
 
 Paterson's Freehold 7,669 
 
 Rise and Shine 14,414 
 
 Ri.sing Sun ._ 8.567 
 
 Waikaia 8,113 
 
 Wuikaka Syndicate 5,735 
 
 Waikaka United (two dredges) 11,767 
 
 Waikaka Queen 4,345 
 
 Otiier working dredges (both districts) 243,987 
 
 Totals £373,818 
 
 £3.000 
 
 8,125 
 
 2,400 
 2,445 
 2,538 
 2,100 
 5,500 
 6,614 
 1,250 
 3,600 
 5,700 
 3,600 
 4,550 
 1,400 
 7,000 
 1,590 
 14,408 
 
 £23,400 
 56,250 
 
 18,450 
 23,439 
 
 4,813 
 30,600 
 25,000 
 20,119 
 16,000 
 13,200 
 15,600 
 
 8.000 
 10,500 
 13,300 
 33,600 
 
 4,628 
 377,007 
 
 £75.820 
 
 £693,906 
 
 In Otago. the priiicipjil gold dredging field in Australasia, many of 
 the chiinis OH the Kiver Molyueu.x and upon the Waipori and Waikaka 
 
280 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 fields are gradually becoming worked out, but upon the upper Clutha 
 and elsewhere considerable areas remain to be worked. 
 
 The era of the dredge of small dimensions and low power is past, 
 but there yet remain several years of prosperity for those large dredges 
 of greater power capable of working increased quantities of low-grade 
 gravel. 
 
 In Otago and Southland eight dredges are now operated by hydraulic 
 powder and two by electricity. The most consistently remunerative 
 dredging field is still that at Waikaia, and some excellent returns have 
 been obtained from the Waikaia, Koputai, Mystery Flat, and Masterton 
 dredges. The first named established a record for land dredging in New 
 Zealand during one week in April, 1908, by securing 248 ounces of 
 gold. The Hartley and Riley dredge in the Clutha Gorge in less than 
 three weeks during the same year obtained from a small patch 450 
 ounces of gold. 
 
 On the West Coast no new dredges have been built during the year, 
 but those at work have done very well, especially the Pactolus and No 
 Town Creek dredges. 
 
 The diminution of the dredging returns during 1908 may to a certain 
 extent be attributed to the flooded state of the rivers during the autumn 
 and early winter, when, owing to the height of the water, the dredges 
 were precluded from working in the river gorges for a considerable 
 period. 
 
 The following is a statement comparing the production of dividends 
 paid by and number of men employed upon all the gold dredges in 
 Victoria and New South Wales with those in New Zealand, the property 
 of registered companies, during 1908 : 
 
 
 
 Value of Bullion. 
 
 Dividends. 
 
 Men Employed. 
 
 IS.? 
 
 icro "S 
 re 
 
 TotaL \;j^^ 
 
 Total. 
 
 Per 
 Dredge. 
 
 Total. Dredge. 
 
 Victoria (all dredges).-. 
 
 New South Wales (all dredges). 
 New Zealand (dredges the prop- 
 erty of registered companies 
 only) 
 
 47 
 26 
 
 41 
 
 £220.632* 
 155,770 
 
 ;:}53,104 
 
 £4,694 
 
 5,980 
 
 8,612 
 
 £59.249 
 
 J. 
 r 
 
 75,050 
 
 £1,260 
 
 t 
 
 1,830 
 
 641 
 
 t 
 
 369 
 
 13.6 
 
 - 1 
 
 9 
 
 * Estimated at £4 per ounce, 
 t Not known. 
 
 Note. — Abstract from report of the Department of Mines on the gold fields of New 
 Zealand for the year 1908. 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN SIBERIA. 
 
 The gold mines of Siberia proper consist almost entirely of river 
 placers. The Ural region has a number of quartz mines and about two 
 fifths of its gold production comes from this source. The gold-bearing 
 gravels of Siberia are widely distributed, each of the great rivers having 
 among its tributaries several areas from which placer gold is produced. 
 
OTHER DHEDGIXG FIELDS. 281 
 
 The richest placers are probably those of the Lena region, where $25 to 
 $30 per cubic yard is not uncommon. In the valley of the Yenisei, 
 along many of the tributaries of the Amur, and elsewhere throughout 
 Siberia are placers that would cause big stampedes if located in America 
 or in English territory. 
 
 Siberia is bj^ no means an unknown country, and is far from being 
 a frozen land. A report by Keutofski, a geologist in the government 
 service, gives much that is of interest and is accompanied by geological 
 maps. Unfortunately, this work is in Russian and has not yet been 
 translated to English. Numerous articles have been published in the 
 "technical press" of this country and England on Siberia, abstracts 
 from W'hich have been freel^^ taken when available in writing this article, 
 and also from Eeutofski's report and the statistics furnished by the 
 Gold and Platinum Miners' Association of Russia. 
 
 According to Reutofski the Siberian placers have yielded, up to 1904, 
 at least $700,000,000 ; the Nakatami River, in the Lena district, yielded 
 between 1865 and 1900 $54,000,000 from gravels, having an average 
 value of $10 per cubic yard. On the Akakan, one of its tributaries, 
 the pa3' streak is reported to be from 300 to 500 feet wdde and has been 
 worked for three miles along the stream; the gravel is 3i/^ to 15 feet 
 thick and carries a heavy overburden. 
 
 Gold dredges are of recent date in Russia and were first installed 
 about seven or eight years ago. Gold mining has existed in Russia for 
 over 150 years. On account of the crude methods employed in washing 
 auriferous gravel the tailing of old plants should present good oppor- 
 tunities for the work of dredges. An experiment to work wdth modern 
 methods the tailing from an old placer mine w^as successfully carried 
 out by Mr. C. W. Purington in the Amur district, over 60,000 cubic 
 yards being handled in the test and a total clean-up of $67,000 obtained. 
 
 There have been many failures recorded of dredging operations in 
 Siberia, but it is not surprising considering the faulty equipment of 
 most of the early installations. Many of the first dredges were of 
 German make, built by people Avho had little or no experience in gold 
 dredging, and were often installed on a proposition under terms 
 whereby the construction company received the gross profits until the 
 dredge was paid for. The gold-saving apparatus was crude and the 
 machinery was not durable, but generally held together long enough 
 for the Germans to get their money from the gross profits. 
 
 With the installation of modern dredges, notably tliose l)uilt by the 
 Putiloff Works at St. Petersburg, from plans of California type dredges 
 furnished by the Bueyrus Company, a new impetus was given to the 
 dredging industry in that country. Details of operation of two Cali- 
 fornia type dredges built l)y the Putilofl' Works and installed and 
 successfully operated at Ivdell are given by W. H. Shockely in the 
 Mini));/ Magazine. 
 
282 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA, 
 
 Details of Ivdell Dredges. 
 
 Size of Buckets. 
 
 Worked for 
 
 Days. 
 
 Hours. 
 
 Yards 
 Exca- 
 vated. 
 
 Ounces 
 of Gold 
 
 Pro- 
 duced. 
 
 Yield per 
 Cubic 
 Yard in 
 Cents. 
 
 No. 1, 3-foot . 
 No. 2, 5i-foot 
 
 192 
 
 184 
 
 3,783 
 3,283 
 
 156,210 
 256,159 
 
 1,655 
 1,962 
 
 18.8 
 13.4 
 
 Note. — Work began April 14, 1907, and ended October 19, 1908. 
 
 The Permanent Consultive Office of the gold and platinum industries 
 in Russia, which represents the interests of the gold and platinum 
 industry of all Russia, has published interesting information on the 
 production of the Ural and Siberian dredges in Russia for the years 
 1906, 1907, and 1908. 
 
 The average number of days worked by dredges reporting the season 
 of 1908 M'as 1491/^ days, one of the dredges of the Neviansk Company 
 at Nikolaievsk operated 194 days. Most of the dredges commenced 
 work late in April and in the Yenesie region about the middle of May. 
 Some of the dredges were shut down by the first of October, but the 
 majority continued digging until nearly the end of October and a few 
 well into November. Two dredges in the Nijni Tagil region of the Urals 
 are reported as working up to the 11th of December. The information 
 furnished by the 49 dredges reporting out of some 64 dredges known 
 to be in existence in Siberia and the Ural region in 1908 is not all that 
 could be desired, but serves to give an idea of dredge operations in 
 that country. 
 
 Information is not included in the report concerning the type of 
 dredges used. They varied greatly in capacity and size of buckets; 
 twenty having 7-cubic-foot buckets and most of the balance 5 and 4^- 
 cubic-foot buckets. The average yardage handled during the season 
 was 166,400 cubic yards per dredge. The following table gives average 
 returns and yardage handled by reporting dredges for 1906, 1907, and 
 1908 : 
 
 
 !z; 
 
 » 
 
 > 
 
 5= 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 > 
 
 > 
 
 • 
 
 
 eporting 
 
 Dredges 
 
 verage 
 Working 
 Days 
 
 orking 
 Time 
 Average ... 
 
 Q CD f6 
 CD " 
 
 unces of 
 Bullion 
 Recovered 
 per Dredge 
 
 1-1 
 
 CD <D a 
 
 pproximate 
 Value per 
 Cubic Yard 
 in Cents... 
 
 1906 
 
 40 
 
 32 
 
 173 
 
 2,837 
 
 159,600 
 
 1,082 
 
 $19,205 
 
 12 
 
 1907 
 
 64 
 
 46 
 
 1371 
 
 2,259 
 
 139.300 
 
 1,140 
 
 20,235 
 
 14.5 
 
 1908 
 
 64 
 
 49 
 
 im 
 
 2,502 
 
 166,400 
 
 1,430 
 
 25.380 
 
 15.2 
 
 For the year 1908 the average recovery per dredge was 1,430 ounces, 
 or. approximately, $25,380 for the season. The average value of the 
 gravel worked by all the dredges, according to the reports, was a little 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 283 
 
 over 15 cents per cubic yard, one dredge reporting the gravel handled 
 at a little over 31 cents per cubic yard. 
 
 The bureau estimates that the average cost of carr^-ing on dredging 
 operations in the Ural region was about $15,000 per dredge, exclusive 
 of amortization, while $19,000 is figured as the expense per dredge for 
 those operating in the Yenesei region, where conditions are less favor- 
 able. Taking $5,000 as the average amount to be set aside annually to 
 amortize the cost of the dredge and equipment, it is estimated by the 
 bureau that the operations in the Ural show an average profit of $5,000 
 per dredge, while in the Yenesei region they barely pay expenses. 
 
 These average figures are of little value on account of the various con- 
 ditions of operation. ]\Iany dredges worked under conditions that made 
 it impossible to more than roughly estimate the cjuantity of material 
 lifted. 
 
 Siberia offers many inducements for gold dredging operations and 
 is attracting much attention from capitalists and investors. A number 
 of California engineers have reported on different fields and some are 
 at present engaged on such work, mostly for English companies. 
 
 The following interesting description of the conditions met witli in 
 Siberia has been kindly furnished by ]\Ir. J. B. Landfield : 
 
 A foreign company has no difficulty legally in operating in Russia. 
 provided the laws are observed. The one definite requirement is that 
 the company have a responsible representative residing in Russia upon 
 whom can be served any papers or processes. Some corporations follow 
 the practice so much used in connection with JMexican mines, /. c. they 
 form a Russian corporation and then have a foreign holding company. 
 In addition to the strictly legal conditions there are important practical 
 conditions that affect the successful operation of a foreign corporation 
 in Russia. The most important is the question of language. The use 
 of an interpreter is so unsatisfactory that the corporation that has not 
 a Russian speaking manager, or one that will quickly learn the language 
 and the mining law which, in general, is an excellent code and far 
 superior to our own, had better not attempt to operate. 
 
 Labor is good if properly handled. The Siberian Russian is strong 
 and haj-dy. In southern Siberia the Tartars make excellent workmen. 
 The Cliinese and Koreans in eastern Siberia in many cases are splendid 
 woi-kmcn. and are r(ui('t and law-abiding, but there is a strong exclusion 
 sentiment in Russia, and it is likely that they will have to go. or that 
 restrictions will be placed on their employment. 
 
 There are many placers far removed from easy transport, which point 
 must be taken into consideration ; but the railroad and the numerous 
 rivers reach a great many regions, and the snow in winter makes pos- 
 sible the cheap hauling of heavy machinery on sledges. In many cases 
 in oi-(l(M" to take advantaui^ of the wintiM- roads it will he found nrccssarx- 
 
284 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 to allow an extra season before the dred<ie can be made ready for 
 operation. Supplies of food, fodder and simple necessaries are usually 
 cheap, much more so than in corresponding Alaska camps. General 
 supplies can usually be easily and cheaply transported by taking advan- 
 tage of the proper season to lay in stores. 
 
 In regard to labor it must be said that the Russian workmen is 
 remarkably quick to learn the handling of machinery. The majority 
 of them seem to be natural mechanics, and it is easy to train up efficient 
 help for the mechanical end. Superintendents and assistants are diffi- 
 cult to obtain in Russia ; that is to say, efficient ones. The technical 
 education in Russia is to blame for this. The course is largely theoret- 
 ical, and the graduate is too proud to work with his hands. Further- 
 more, there is seldom developed any sense of personal responsibility. 
 
 In general, it may be said that the conditions of labor and transpor- 
 tation facilities ought not to affect operation and maintenance greatlj', 
 but the latter will, in most cases, raise the original cost of the plant. 
 
 Most Russian placers are rather extensively prospected according to 
 the methods employed there; that is to say, a Russian mine ow^ner 
 spends a great deal of money on shaft sinking. These shafts or pits 
 are put down in row^s and the pits are usuall}^ 35 feet apart (sometimes 
 70 feet) and the rows from 140 to 350 feet apart. A post near each is 
 marked with the number of the row, the number of the pit, and some- 
 times the date. The superintendent has a book specially ruled for 
 keeping the records of the prospecting. Each shaft has a page and one 
 line is devoted to the record of each seven inches of depth. The reason 
 for this is that the arshiu, the regular Russian measure, is 28 inches 
 and the quarter arshin, also a familiar measure, is found convenient 
 for units of material to be washed. There are columns marked "over- 
 burden" and "pay-streak" and under one or the other column will be 
 entered such remarks as "fine gravel," "blue clay," and so forth, for 
 each seven inches. Tests are made from the gravel of each seven inches 
 of depth and these tests mean the washing of a considerable amount of 
 gravel. The gravel is washed in a washing machine of the regular 
 Siberian type, only smaller, and consists of a long tom, followed by a 
 short, steep sluice. As most prospecting is done in the winter time the 
 gravel is carried to a cabin for testing. In spite of all this work and 
 apparent care, however, the results are very inaccurate. There are two 
 reasons for this, the carelessness in testing, owing to the crude machine, 
 and the lack of a feeling of personal responsibility on the part of the 
 superintendent. 
 
 The placers of Siberia, scattered over an area of 5.000,000 square 
 miles, present every variety of depth, bedrock, etc. In general, the 
 river placers of western, southern, and eastern Siberia are not very 
 
OTHER DREDGIXC; FIET.DS. 285 
 
 deep. Except in some instanees in the lower reaches of the rivers they 
 are seldom more than 15 to 18 feet in d('])th. In the Lena region, 
 liowever. they are sometimes of ^reat depth. l)uricd luider the drift. 
 Fine bedrock, from a dredging standpoint, is frequently met with. 
 IMany placers have a bedrock of decomposed diorite or other rock soft 
 enough to be taken up by a dredge to a depth of 18 inches. 
 
 All sizes of boulders are met with, but in some placers there are none 
 of any size. In most localities the ground freezes in winter and this 
 delays work in the spring. Only in the extreme north is permanently 
 frozen ground met with. The sticky claj^ that frequently lies on top of 
 the gravel in the upper stretches of a river placer is a serious obstacle 
 to dredging. In washing it rolls up into balls and interferes with the 
 saving of the gold, and it is often greasy enough to make the water 
 carry off any gold of a flaky character. In going down the streams this 
 clay usually disappears. One curious feature of Siberian placers is 
 that the trees have very shalloAv roots and most of them can be easily 
 overturned. 
 
 The character of the gold varies greatly. In some placers the gold 
 is very fine, almost like powder, and yet so heavy that it was easy to 
 save practically all of it. In other placers the size is very irregular. 
 In one locality there was so much silver in the gold that it was very light 
 and hard to save in the upper reaches of the stream, but attained a 
 much higher fineness lower down. Gold in Siberia seldom fails to 
 amalgamate readily. There are as great variations in fineness as in 
 the gold in different parts of Alaska. 
 
 Wood is the chief fuel in the placer regions of Siberia. Except in 
 the Altai region, and perhaps the ^Maritime province and the Ural 
 region, there seems little chance for the development of water power. 
 Coal and oil are not found in the neighborhood of the placers, and 
 transportation on them is prohibitive. Wood is usually plentiful and 
 costs about $1.50 per cord. There is very little market for electric 
 power in the mining localities. 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN MEXICO. 
 
 Extensive "dry" placers occur in the Altar district near La Cienaga 
 and Palomas, in the State of Sonora. Numerous attempts to work 
 these placers have been made with varying success and those near 
 I'alomas, it is reported, will be worked by dredges in the near future. 
 Other areas of auriferous gravel occur in southern Sonora and in 
 Sinaloa. An attempt was made to dredge gravel near Suaqui Grande, 
 Sonora. some ycai's ago. hnl tli(» V(Mitnre proved a failure. 
 
286 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN COLOMBIA. 
 
 The greater part of the gold yield of Colombia has been from placer 
 deposits. All the large rivers passing through Antioqua are aiiriferons, 
 as also are or have been the majority of the smaller tributaries. Of the 
 former the principal are the Magdalena, Cauco Force, and Niehi. 
 At Zaragoza, the placers were discovered in 1581, and are said to 
 have yielded over $5,000,000. Ilydraulicing has been carried on suc- 
 cessfully at various times on the Force and Niehi rivers, but all 
 attempts at dredging, up to the present time, have been failures. 
 
 Fromising placer deposits in Colombia are those of the Choco dis- 
 trict, along the Atrato and San Juan rivers. The unhealthy climate 
 and difficulties of transport have hitherto prevented the successful 
 exploration of these placers by modern methods, though several hy- 
 draulic claims have been worked near the heads of the rivers with, it is 
 claimed, good results. 
 
 The most important known dredging field in Colombia is on the 
 Niehi Eiver, near the town of Zaragoza, where an area of 300 acres has 
 been proven payable dredgeable ground. The gravel is said to average 
 11 yards deep and the value to be 30 cents a cubic yard. This property 
 is controlled by the Oroville Dredging, Limited, and is part of a eon- 
 cession of 22,000 acres, the greater portion of Avhich has not yet been 
 prospected. 
 
 A hydro-electric plant is being installed and a California type 8I/2- 
 cubic-foot-bucket elevator dredge, with steel hull, has been designed by 
 the Yuba Construction Company, Marysville, California, and will soon 
 be shipped to the property. The following abstract from an article by 
 A. F. Rodgers in The Engineering and Mining Journal, gives an idea 
 of the general conditions in the country. 
 
 Colombia offers to-day several attractive features for gold dredging 
 operations, although the drawbacks should be well understood before 
 any one attempts to invest his money there. I spent several months 
 upon a thorough examination, which resulted favorabl5% of a piece of 
 land in that country and as far as I know it is the first expedition ever 
 sent down there that has drilled the ground in the systematic manner 
 that such work is done in California and other established fields. The 
 successful operation of a dredge upon this land will be watched with 
 much interest, and it is bound to prove a stimulus to other similar 
 projects within a short time, when the work of equipment has been 
 completed and the extraction of the gold has actually begun. 
 
 The conditions under which one must work are radically different 
 from those found in the United States. This land is all situated within 
 10 degrees of the equator, and most of it is at <\n elevation above sea 
 level, which is considered unfavorable to health in that latitude. The 
 
288 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 climate is tropical in every sense of the word, while the heavj^ and 
 violent rainstorms during the Avet season — lasting nearly nine months 
 of the year — turn the tiat areas suitable for dredging into veritable 
 swamps which l)reed the malaria infected mosquito by the million. To 
 guard against these pests requires a strong constitution and a sane 
 manner of living which the northern man is loathe to adopt until he 
 has gone through the mill. 
 
 A tropical jungle that is exceedingly dense and a cause of much 
 annoyance must be cleared off most of the land. It must be understood 
 that this country is very sparsely populated, and practically the only 
 means of travel is by the large navigable rivers, or over frightfully 
 rough and uncertain trails blazed through long stretches of impene- 
 trable wilds. Small settlements exist at intervals along the rivers, but 
 behind them there is always the .jungle until another river is reached. 
 As a consequence the traveler must carry his own camp equipment and 
 food supplies upon any journey he intends to make into the interior and 
 a plentiful supply of netting to keep away the insects at night. 
 
 The gold content of the ground is often high enough to prove very 
 attractive for dredge mining, especially when it is taken into considera- 
 tion that you can work throughout the year with no fear of an inter- 
 ruption due to cold weather. The onl}^ thing one must guard against 
 is the chance of a heavy flood, if the dredge is working on a river. 
 Such an occurrence is liable to happen at any time during the wet 
 season, and occasionally during the dry season, with great rapidity and. 
 produce startling results. For this reason it is preferable to work 
 inland a short distance where it is possible. 
 
 The gravel usually contains a small percentage of clay, but in most 
 places this is not so much of a hindrance as the lack of uniform values. 
 It is the usual thing for the owners to claim phenomenal values through- 
 out their laud, which must always be taken with a grain of salt. Rich 
 spots are quite common, but their extent is usually rather limited, and 
 one must discount these statements when a large area is figured on. 
 There are so many rivers in this region flowing down from the upper 
 Andes that sufficient water power can be developed in numerous places 
 for all the dredges that are ever likely to be installed, although one may 
 have to go some distance from his ground to find the most suitable 
 location for a power house. 
 
 The conditions iinder which the men must live are very trying in 
 some respects. A northerner going there for the first time should 
 exercise the same precautions he would take if he lived in a swampy 
 region here at home during very warm weather. All houses should be 
 built off the ground upon some hilltop, have high ceilings with a 
 double roof, and wide verandas. By clearing away the jungle from 
 about the liouse, the warm sun will dvy things up ;nid a chance will 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 289 
 
 be given to auy breeze that may spring up. The soil over tliese low 
 lands is exceedingly rich and fertile so that a large variety of vegetables 
 can be raised at your very door, while cattle seem to thrive. To pre- 
 pare the food, an imported cook is a necessity, as the native knows 
 nothing about this important art. To keep good men contented in such 
 a country nothing pays better than to set an attractive table. 
 
 The government of Colombia is now considered fairly stable and it 
 is anxious to help all legitimate mining enterprises as much as possible. 
 There is an export tax of 1 per cent upon all gold exported from the 
 country; but mining machinery is practically free from duty. As far 
 as labor goes, it is fairly efficient, for the wages paid. The peon is 
 much like a small child and will work to the best of his ability, if 
 treated properly. Probably the most difficult problem to solve for a 
 foreign company, operating in this field, will be to secure the services 
 of an efficient and honest corps of our countrymen to keep things 
 going. It is a long way from home and the average man is apt to get 
 homesick, if not really sick, and then his principal thouaht is how to 
 get north with the least possible delay. This condition of things neces- 
 sitates a reserve corps to fall back on when the occasion arises. In 
 spite of the drawbacks, I look to see considerable capital invested in 
 dredging enterpri.ses in Colombia within the next few years. 
 
 DREDGING IN TRENCH GUIANA. 
 
 Until 1905 most of the alluvial gold had been obtained by crude 
 m.ethods of sluicing, but in that year a small dredge Mas put in com- 
 mission on the Courcibo River, a tributary of the Sinnamari. For 
 some time it gave good returns, but was eventually sunk during a flood. 
 Two dredges w^re operating on the Lezard River in 1907. 
 
 Official figures give but a poor idea of the output of French Guiana. 
 The Carsewene mine, which according to the owners produced gold 
 to the value of 80.000,000 to 100,000,000 francs from the year 1894 to 
 1900. only supplied 21.000.000 to 22.000.000 francs worth to Cayenne. 
 The Inini mine, on the Dutch frontier, shipped more than half the gold 
 to Holland. Finally, many miners from the British . Antilles carry 
 away their own gold. All this gold was produced with the littk^ (hiiana 
 sluice. Hitherto the small rivers or creeks of French Guiana have 
 been mined chiefly by hand labor and small sluices, long toms, where 
 there is not too much water nor too great a thickness of overburden. 
 The overburden is often 2 to 3 metres deep, whereas the gold wash is 
 only 30 to 40 centimetres. Gravel sand with 3 to 4 grammes of gold 
 per cubic metre has been profitably worked. This seems a fair per- 
 centage, but circumstances are unfavorable; provisions are very dear, 
 
 19— GD 
 
290 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 and the alluvials very clayey and adhesive ; consequently, dredges have 
 been adopted. At the end of the current year there will be five dredges 
 working in the colony, the type of which was only selected after many 
 experiments. The most conclusive were made at the Elyse placer, in 
 the River Lezard, and others in the Courcibo and Sparwin. The Crique 
 Roche has been carefully prospected. A dredge is being built for each 
 of these rivers. There are other rivers equally rich, yet to be opened 
 out. Results already obtained are as follows: 
 
 1. There is no difficulty in removing the wood buried in the alluvions 
 any more than large boulders ; it is a matter of practice. 
 
 2. Washing is operated with jets of water in the trommel of the 
 dredge or (particularly when there is hard clay adhering to the 
 buckets) with picks. An automatic washer is being tried. 
 
 3. It has been found possible to instruct the natives in the manage- 
 ment of a dredge. This is important, because, during the fifty years 
 gold has been known to exist, the labor problem has paralyzed all indus- 
 trial enterprise. There must, however, be a white overseer.* 
 
 The gold placers are mostly rich. Over stretches of 1 to 2 kilometres, 
 the average yield was 3 to 4 francs per cubic metre for a width of 30 
 to 40 metres. Dredging only exceptionally gave more, though this is 
 probably due to defective prospecting. Costs are still very great— 1.80 
 to 2 francs per cubic metre. In any case, the alluvials, often very rich, 
 have been ample compensation for the absence of vein formations, and 
 likely to continue to be so, thanks to systematic dredging. 
 
 fGold dredging in French Guiana seems to be successful when 
 working in the beds of the rivers. In view of this two modern gold 
 dredges are soon to be shipped to French Guiana to work on the de- 
 posits of the Sparwin River, a tributary of the IMaroni (Ste. Anonyme 
 du Sparwin) and of the Courcibo River, a tributary of the Sinnamary 
 (Cie. Coloniale de Dragages Auriferes). They are of the open-link 
 continuous bucket type, with 4.5-cubic-foot buckets designed to work 
 at a depth of 9 metres. The pontoon and gantries are entirely made 
 of steel. A special feature of these dredges is a double revolving screen, 
 33 feet long, intended to disintegrate thoroughly the clayey alluvials 
 which are met with in Guiana. Besides the ordinary spray pipe leading 
 from the centrifugal pump, two rows of monitors, fed by a Knowles 
 pressure pump, will help to disintegrate the gravel. To prevent clay 
 from sticking on the Turner gold-saving tables, a special water jet 
 has been arranged over the tables. 
 
 fTlie Compagnie Coloniale de Dragages Auriferes and the Societe 
 Anonyme du Sparwin report that the 5-cubic-foot gold dredges they 
 sent to French Guiana have arrived and are now under erection. 
 
 *The Mining Journal, from "La Nature." 
 ■j-Engineering and Mining Journal. 
 
OTHER DREDGIXG FIELDS. 291 
 
 DREDGING IN DUTCH GUIANA. 
 
 Considerable placer mining is being carried on in Dutch Guiana 
 along the Saramaca. Surinarane, and Marowijne rivers and their tribu- 
 taries. Like French Guiana, Dutch Guiana is very rich in alluvials, 
 and most of the gold is produced by washing the gold-bearing material 
 through sluices, or long toms. where there is not too much water or a 
 too heavy overburden. Dredging for gold with small Holland-l)uilt 
 dredges has been carried on along the Saramaca and Marowijne rivers. 
 The climate is not bad and the country' is rich in gold placers. Probably 
 the best informed American on the gold placers of Dutch Guiana is 
 Dr. W. H. Bradley. American Consul at Paramaribo, the capital town 
 of Dutch Guiana. 
 
 BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 The alluvial gold of British Guiana is found in the gravels of the 
 existing streams. Only one hydraulicing company has carried on 
 operations. This company, the Demerara Exploration Company, com- 
 menced work at Omai on the Essequibo River in 1902, but by 1907 had 
 exhausted its sluicing ground and ceased operations in that direction. 
 In 1904, the company placed a small dredge on Gilt Creek, and. its 
 operations being successful, a larger dredge was placed in commission 
 in June, 1906. Dredging at Omai meets with some difficulty on account 
 of buried logs and trees. On the Conawaruk River a large dredge was 
 erected and commenced work in January. 1907, but information is not 
 available at the present writing as to the outcome. 
 
 *Iu 1907. about 80 per cent of the gold yield of British Guiana was 
 produced by the individual miner and small parties. The total output 
 being estimated at over .$1,500,000. 
 
 GOLD DREDGING GROUND IN PERU AND BOLIVIA. 
 
 Alluvial gold occurs in several of the rivers of southern Bolivia. A 
 recent attempt to dredge the gravels of the Rio San Juan de Oro, near 
 Tupiza. resulted in a failure. One of the three dredges that had been 
 in operation there was dismantled in 1908, and reconstructed on the 
 Quebrada de Esmorca. a neighboring tributary of the San Juan. 
 
 The Tipuani River in the Larecja Province, is the richest in Bolivia. 
 The auriferous gravels of the Tipuani are of great depth and true bed- 
 rock is seldom reached. Concentration of gold generally occurs on 
 false bottoms of ferruginous conglomerates locally known as eargalli. 
 Other placer deposits of value are at Yaiii. Tacacoma, and Chuqui- 
 aguillo. 
 
 ♦Gold, its Occurrence and Distribution, J. Malcolm Madaren. 
 
292 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Placer deposits are numerous in Peru in the province of Sandia, 
 north of Titicaca and southeast of Carabaza. The value of the gravels 
 near Aporona has been estimated at 20 cents per cubic j^ard. Hydraul- 
 icking has been carried on with success in some districts, and the natives 
 recover considerable gold by paving the dry beds of the streams with 
 stones ; the gold settling in the interstices between the stones during the 
 floods of the wet season. The conglomerate gravels of the Poto are said 
 to be from 60 to 180 feet thick. 
 
 Dredging on a large scale was being inaugurated in 1907 on the Rio 
 Inambari in the Carabaya Province, and on the boundary between 
 Peru and Bolivia. The placers of Pataz and Sandia, as well as those 
 of the Rio Nusemescato, were also being investigated. 
 
 *Several American and English companies have been operating gold 
 placer properties in Peru and Bolivia, at the headwaters of the Ama- 
 zon. Roads have been built at large expense and considerable equipment 
 taken in to the properties. The following description of the country 
 and future possibilities is of interest. 
 
 Since the times of the Incas, rough trails have existed between the 
 Inca centers of Titicaca and Cuzxo and the ravines of the eastern 
 Cordilleras, which culminate in the Kaka River close to the small village 
 of Guanay. The most important of these precipitous valleys have been 
 formed on the rivers Tepuani. Mapiri, Challana, and Corvico. 
 
 A great amount of work was done in early days but nothing has been 
 done in modern times save by an occasional prospector. The upper 
 rivers are difficult to work because of the great boulders which are 
 frequent and the torrential nature of the streams. They come together 
 to form the Kaka just below Guanay and run through a succession of 
 narrow canyons for about 20 miles, until Incahuara is reached. Below 
 Incahuara the canyons of the Kaka wander out into great flats, often 
 several miles wide, of shallow depth, and it is here that gravel deposits 
 were formed. 
 
 Transportation is a serious difficulty. Rough mule trails are the 
 only means of entering this region and the transportation of heavy 
 machinery is almost impossible until roads of some kind are built. 
 
 f Practically all that has been done in prospecting the Incahuara and 
 Inambari gravels has been to ascertain surface richness. At Incahuara, 
 however, the ground was found to contain value, the total depth ex- 
 plored, of 16 feet. At no place has bedrock been reached, neither has 
 the bed of either river been examined. Companies are now proceeding 
 to test these gravels by actual working. 
 
 The only practical method of working these gravels is dredging. 
 
 ♦Abstract from report of Alexander Benison, La Paz, in the Engineering and Min- 
 ing Journal. 
 
 •j-Abstract from report of M. Conway. 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 293 
 
 The grouud does not fall steeply euoiigh for sluicing or liydrauiieking. 
 At Ineahiiara, for instance, and along most of the reaches of the lower 
 Inaniliari (except where torrential side streams enter it) there are no 
 bonlders, and on neither river is there hard clay ; the gravel is composed 
 of loose stones and sand. 
 
 At Incahnara the ])edrock is sandstone and can be easily scraped by 
 the lip of the dredge buckets ; a similar bedrock appears on the Inam- 
 bari. The current of neither river is swift enough to cause danger to 
 the dredge. 
 
 The transportation of dredges to these remote places is difficult and 
 costly ; in the ease of the Incahuara dredge, a considerable part of the 
 machinery is said to have been already transported to the site. Accord- 
 ing to report, the Ollachea road presents no greater difficulties than 
 does the Caravani. 
 
 The only part of the ground on the Inambari and Beni rivers that 
 has been examined by competent men is the Incahuara basin, which 
 contains about 10,000,000 cubic yards of dredgeable gravel. The sur- 
 face has nowhere yielded less than 19 cents a cubic yard, w^hile large 
 areas average at least a dollar. An average value of 75 cents per cubic 
 yard is not an extravagant estimate ; of course, local authorities put the 
 average much higher. The gold from the Inambari resembles, in shape 
 and quality, the gold ol)tained from the Kaka or Beni River. It is flat 
 and relatively thick. 
 
 For 100 miles below the Incahuara basin it is believed that the Beni 
 gravels yielded gold. There are numbers of places that have been 
 definitely located, so that in all probal)ility the Incahuara basin is a 
 mere fractional part of the dredgeable ground on the Beni. 
 
 On the Inambari, if no spot has been so carefully examined as the 
 Incahuara. a much longer stretch of the river has been rapidly sampled 
 by more than one prospector, high values to the ('ul)ic yard being 
 revealed. The Inam]);iri. therefore, is likely to yield as much gold as 
 the Beni. 
 
 *GOLD PLACERS Or TIERRA DEL PUEGO. 
 
 Until recently llie birgest gold mining operatii»iis were at Paramo 
 and Lennox Island, but since the introduction of dredges the most 
 active oi)erations are on the northwesterji part of the main island of 
 Tierra del P^uego, across the strait of jNIagellan from Punta Arenas. 
 Here the town of Poweiiir is the head(|uarters of the industry. 
 
 This town is now a pi'osperous mining center of about 800 people. 
 In addition to the Powenir region mining on a small scale of more or 
 less importiuiee is si ill yoiuL;- on at some of the other localities. 
 
 •Abstracts from papers by R. A. Penrose, Jr., S. H. Loram, and from "Estadistica 
 Minera de Chile" of 1908. 
 
294 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 The chief center of civilization in the whole region is the Chilean 
 town of Punta Arenas, on the Patagonian side of the strait. This town 
 has a fairly good harbor, is an active place of 12,000 population and 
 the seat of government for this part of the Chilean possessions. The 
 settlement of Ushuwaia, the seat of government for the Argentine 
 part of Tierra del Fuego. is only a small place. Punta Arenas is in 
 50^ 9' 42" south latitude, and has the distinction of being the most 
 southerly town of any considerable size in the southern hemisphere. 
 Those interested in the geology of the region will find useful informa- 
 tion in "Geological Observations in South America" by Charles 
 Darwin. 
 
 In Tierra del Fuego the surface is rolling country, cut through by 
 seaworn valleys and straits, and terminating on the east coast in what 
 is really a vertical section along that particular line, with some cliffs 
 50 to 60 metres high. Judging by the pebbles the deposit was derived 
 from the denudation of horublende-quartz-schist, diorite, syenite, 
 andesite, and clay-slates. The first three of these are well known, as 
 the country rocks contain gold-bearing lodes, besides carrying small 
 quantities of the precious metal themselves, consequently the detritus 
 from them might lie expected also to contain gold, even if in minute 
 quantities, as in the present case. Once above sea level denudation 
 started on the accumulated soft beds by wave action; wide bays, inlets 
 and channels were cut, the lighter particles being carried away, while 
 the gravel and heavier constituents, as oxide of iron, garnet, gold, and 
 the like, remained behind in concentrated form. 
 
 Nearly all the gold of the Magellan region, so far as known, is in 
 alluvial deposits ; few gold-bearing veins have been found. The alluvial 
 deposits may be divided into two classes, those in beds of creeks or 
 hillsides, and those on sea beaches, where they are subject to the action 
 of the sea; during the high spring tide, the rise and fall of the tide is 
 45 feet and in winter there are occasional furious storms. This action 
 of the sea has had much to do with the forming of the richer deposits 
 on the beaches. Mining by hand labor and washing the beach sand 
 and gravel in long-toms has been carried on with more or less success 
 for some years. In the mineral statistics of Chile it is estimated that 
 the production for the whole region during 1903 and 1904 was 137 and 
 170 kilograms, respectively, practically all of which came from the 
 small workings. 
 
 The alluvial deposits in beds of streams and in hillsides vary in con- 
 tent from a few cents to $1 or more a cubic yard. Most of the ground 
 noAV worked is claimed to average from 25 to 50 cents per cubic yard. 
 Under the existing conditions it is difficult to make low grade ground 
 pay. The gold-bearing beds vary from a few feet to 10 or 30 feet deep ; 
 an overburden of liarren ground often occurs. 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 295 
 
 Prospecting is a more difficult task than in most places. Traveling 
 is done mostly in boats, as the land is cut up by deep tide water chan- 
 nels and bays and covered with dense underbrush or immense peat bogs, 
 while everywhere, even on the mountain sides, the soil is soft and boggy, 
 so that walking is difficult and often impossible. 
 
 The climate, though stormy, is not extreme, the thermometer rarely 
 going much belo\\' zero, or greatly above 60° Fahrenheit ; the mean 
 temperature in winter being about 33° and in summer about 50° 
 Fahrenheit. The season during Avhich mining can be carried on is 
 from August to ]\Iay. 
 
 The history of the dredging operations to the present time has, with 
 few exception>s. been a succession of failures, caused, on the main, by 
 ill-advised projects or wild-cat promoters, and to a smaller extent by 
 the use of badly designed and poorly constructed dredges. 
 
 The first company to install a dredge, according to the "Estadistica 
 Minera de Chile,'" was the Compania Sutphen de Lavaderos de Oro, 
 which was formed in Buenos Aires in 1903, but on account of a series 
 of delays from various causes £30.000 and two years' time were spent 
 before the dredge was ready to begin operations on the Rio del Oro. 
 According to S. H. Loram this dredge was built to handle small gravel 
 only, and was not provided with grizzlies or trommel, whereas opera-, 
 tions showed up many boulders of various sizes, some large enough to 
 stall the digging engine when encountered. Breakdowns were frequent 
 on account of the clay bottom: considerable difficulty was experienced 
 in washing the gravel and in getting the buckets to dump. However, 
 results were siifficiently encouraging to permit an increase in the cap- 
 italization of the company and four large dredges were ordered from 
 Holland. 
 
 JMean while, the gold excitement had spread and land was taken up 
 all over the island. Glowing reports were issued ofttimes without the 
 slightest knowledge of conditions. One company' in the most accessible 
 part of the island began work on the basis of two drill holes, one at 
 either end of the property. The majority of the companies did not 
 even go to that trouble until after the dredge was installed on the 
 property. 
 
 A significant feature was that gold dust and nuggets were at a 
 premium of nearly 100 per cent. Generally the showing of dust sup- 
 posed to have come from a property backed by the statements of an 
 "engineer" (who was to receive the greater part of his pay in shares 
 of the company, if formed) was sufficient to find all the capital called 
 for. Below is given an incomplete list of the companies formed, with 
 the capitalization of each. To these must be added a considerable 
 amount of private capital and also those companies that did not get 
 organized in time for the boom. The shares of most of tliese listed 
 companies wci-c at one time quoted at a premium. 
 
296 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 *List of Principal Companies Formed to Work Gold in Magellan Territory 1903-1906. 
 
 Cia. Sutphen de Lavaderos de Oro, later increased to t-.<X)0.O00 
 
 Cia. Dnisaje Rio del Oro de Tierra del Ftiego tSS.OOO 
 
 Cia. Drasaje Rio Verde ^ $70,000 
 
 Soc. Lavaderos de Oro de Tierra del Fuego $300,000 
 
 Cia. Dragaje de Rio fiallego Chico $35,000 
 
 Cia. Dragaje de Rio Palo $35,000 
 
 Cia. Dragaje de Rio Sau ^lartiu $62,000 
 
 Cia. Dragaje de America $i00,000 
 
 Cia. Rios Unidos de Tierra del Fuego $40,000 
 
 Cia. Dragaje del Rio Progreso $70,000 
 
 Cia. Exploradora de Rio Grande $40,000 
 
 Soc. Exploradora de Ultima Esperauza $10,000 
 
 Soc. Chorillos de Rio del Oro $50,000 
 
 Rio Oscar Dredging Co 1250,000 
 
 Soc. Exploradora de Minas de Magallanes $15,000 
 
 Soc. Carmen Silva $35,000 
 
 Cia. Argentina de Esploracion en Tierra del Fuego $400,000 
 
 Cia. Aurifera de Punta Delgada t750,000 
 
 Cia. Minera Rio Colorado t300,000 
 
 Cia. Loi-eto 
 
 Cia. Aurifera de Lennox 
 
 Cia. Brunswick 
 
 Cia. Rosario 
 
 Of the above list, according to Mr. Loram, the only companies carry- 
 ing on active operations to-day are the Sntphen and Lennox, with what 
 results is unknown. Of the rest it is difficult to get particulars, and 
 their shares are no longer ciuoted. Three, the Rio del Oro, Rio Verde, 
 and Rio Progreso, which were formed, floated and managed by John D. 
 Roberts, once well digger, then dredge expert, and transitory Gold 
 King of Sandy Point, liquidated in June, 1908. The first two lost all 
 their capital and had some small debts, the third was more fortunate 
 and expected to return 33 pence for each £1 share. 
 
 According to a statement issued to the stockholders the dredge started 
 work November 11, 1907, and stopped March 14, 1908, had run 80 days 
 and been stopped 44. During this time it produced 8,988 grammes gold 
 (fineness not stated) corresponding to 112 grammes per working day. 
 The secretary of the company stated that he believed the capacity of 
 the dredge to be 1,000 cubic metres per day, so the production would 
 work out 0.112 grammes per cubic metre, or .0082 of an ounce per 
 cubic yard. 
 
 According to the Estadistica Miner most of the dredges seeni to have 
 been constructed in Holland ; they were operated with steam power, 
 and coal has been the fuel most used. On account of transportation the 
 cost of coal is excessive and experiments have been made to burn turf 
 or peat with, it is stated, good results. 
 
 J\Iost of the dredging companies, so far as known, were of Argentine 
 or Chilean origin. The Queen Gold Dredging Company of London 
 acquired land on Tierra del Fuego in 1908 and installed a dredge 
 
 *By S. H. Loram. fArgentine pesos. tChilean pesos. 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 297 
 
 designed by Ciitten Bros. In July. 11)0!), however, according to The 
 Mining Manual, it was resolved to wind up the affairs of the company 
 voluntarily; data as to actual operations, if any, is not furnished. 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN ECUADOR. 
 
 Little information is available of the mineral resources of Ecuador. 
 The United States Gold Dredging and Rubber Company of New York 
 is interested in a placer deposit in the province of Esmeralda, and 
 Coats & Associates of London also control large property interests in 
 the same province. The Ecuadoran government is anxious to interest 
 ■foreign capital to develop mining enterprises, and has established 
 liberal mining laws. 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN BRAZIL 
 
 Of late years dredging companies have been floated in Buenos Aires 
 to dredge rivers descending from the ]\Iatto Grosso central hills. They 
 have almost all been failures, however, although gold undoubtedly 
 exists. The difficulty of transportation is a serious drawback. The 
 most accessible parts of ]\Iatto Grosso are a three weeks' journey up 
 the Parana River system, and communication is unreliable. 
 
 A dredge was installed in 1902, to work the gravels of the Coxipo de 
 Ouro, which flows into the Cuyaba. These gravels had been w^orked 
 for many years by native methods. It is claimed that this dredge oper- 
 ated successfully. Other dredging areas are on the Piracicaba River, 
 which flows into the Rio Tiete, a tributary of the Parana. In the 
 province of Minas Gereas, dredges are in operation on the Rio das 
 Mortes and the Ribierao de Carmo. 
 
 *The following is given as a list of operating Rio Plata dredging com- 
 panies: Brumado Gold Dredging Company. Cabaeal Gold Dredging 
 Company. ]\ratto Grosso Gold Dredging Company, Diamantino (^latto 
 Gross), Este Matto Grosso Company. 
 
 GOLD DREDGING IN ARGENTINA. 
 
 Auriferous gravels are found in the Ju.juy province, also at Fama- 
 tina, and in the eastern portion of Tierra del Fuego. Gold is also 
 found in the provinces of San Luis. San .Juan. Tacunian. Calainarca 
 and Salt a. 
 
 There have been some minor dredi^ing opi'i-ations in the northern 
 rivers which, however, do not seem to have been very successful, though 
 several dredges are reported to be still working. At the head of the 
 Neuquen River, in the Cordilleras, the auriferous area is said to lie of 
 eonsideral)le extent and has been sucfcssrii.lly worked for years by 
 Chileans, in a small way by ground sluicing. 
 
 ♦Bulletin of the Bureau of American Republics. 
 
298 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 ^DREDGING IN KELANTAN, MALAY PENINSULA. 
 
 The Duff Developnieut Company own the only four dredges on the 
 Kelantan River, which flows to the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, 
 and which is 600 to 800 feet wide, about 100 miles inland, at the place 
 where the dredges have been working. During two months one of the 
 dredges won 1.600 ounces of gold. The biggest return the company has 
 had from one dredge was 375 ounces for one week. Each dredge has a 
 dredgemaster, three European winchmen — one for each shift — and 
 about 16 native hands. The dredgemasters received a salary of about 
 $2,000. the European winchmen about $1,500. and the native coolies 
 50 cents per day. Firemen and greasers got 60 cents and native winch- 
 men 70 cents. Expenses are considerably heavier than in New Zealand, 
 but a man could have everything necessary for about $10 per week. 
 Generally speaking, the climate is good. It is moist and warm, but not 
 so oppressive as is generally supposed. The rainy season usually lasts 
 only a week or a fortnight, and at such times the rivers rise perhaps 
 30 or 40 feet in 24 hours, but fall again just as quickly. There are 
 numbers of other smaller rivers on the ]\Ialay Peninsula on which 
 nothing has ever been done beyond a little prospecting. 
 
 KOREAN GOLD PLACERS. 
 
 fPlacer gold is found in almost every prefecture in Korea; but 
 practically all the deposits are too low grade to attract foreign capital 
 and the richer ones have mostly been worked out. The native method 
 of mining is by sluicing ; a small stream of water is conducted through 
 a ditch lined with stones. The gravel is excavated with picks and the 
 fine gravel shoveled into the ditch, the boulders being thrown to one 
 side. The gold is recovered by panning the concentrates removed from 
 the sluice in large wooden pans. No mercury is used. 
 
 The Koreans as laborers are inferior to the Chinese, except perhaps 
 as underground miners, for which they seem to have a natural aptitude. 
 The average Shantung coolie is strong, energetic, good natured, and 
 usually tractable. The best feature of the labor situation in Korea is 
 the fact that Chinese and Koreans do not pull together and a strike by 
 one nationality may always l)e l>roken by employing the other. The 
 climate is healthful, water is abundant, and power may frequently be 
 developed at small expense. Transportation is by bullock cart or pack 
 horses. Fuel and timber are scarce, which is a serious factor in suc- 
 cssful operations of mining enterprises. Where timber is found, it is 
 usually oak or pine. The only extensive forest areas are in the extreme 
 north of the country, near the Manchurian frontier. 
 
 *From the Mining and Scientific Press, 1909. 
 
 fAbstract from "Tlie Mineral Resources of Korea," by H. R. Robins. Trans. A. 1. 
 M. E., Vol. 39. 
 
OTHER DREDGING FIELDS. 299 
 
 *The District of (.'liiksan has been one of the most profitable placer 
 fields worked by the Korealis. For some time past Japanese have been 
 successfully working portions of these placers by sluicing. The condi- 
 tions for successful work of this kind have ])een unsatisfactory. There 
 being comparatively little water and a very slight fall, all the pay dirt 
 has been carried to the sluice lioxes on the backs of Koreazi coolies. 
 
 The pay gravel occurs principally in a stratum of about 3 feet on bed- 
 rock. Recent investigations have proved that there are values in the 
 overburden, though not in sufficient quantity to make it profitaljle to 
 run the same through the sluices. The depth of the overburden varies 
 from 7 to 30 feet, most of it being about 18 feet in depth. There are 
 no ])oulders larger than 8 or 10 inches, the greater portion of the over- 
 burden being gravel with stones aliout the size of an egg. The bedrock 
 is soft decomposed schist, which may he dug with a spade to a depth 
 of 2 or 3 feet. While there is very little water on the surface, there 
 would be sufficient for dredge operation. 
 
 So far as can be determined from available information, there have 
 been no gold dredges operated in Korea. Tests have been made of 
 different placer areas, but apparently with indifferent results ; accord- 
 ing to the Consular Report for 1907. tests in the Usan fields demon- 
 strated average values from 5 to 6 cents only. It has been recently 
 reported that some Japanesexjompanies were to install dredges and had 
 sent representatives to California to gain information of operating 
 methods and drediie construction. 
 
 DREDGING IN WEST AfRICA. 
 
 In the Gold Coast Colony where dredging operations have been car- 
 ried on for some years, the principal dredging rivers are the Offin 
 Ankobra and Birrim. 
 
 In French Guinea dredges have been working on the Tankisso River 
 and auriferous areas are being examined in the district between the 
 Senegal and Niger rivers where dredges will be installed if the engi- 
 neers report favorably. 
 ^ . — _ 
 
 ♦Abstract from United States Consular Report for 1907. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 CALIFORNIA STATE MINING BUREAU. 
 
 This institution is the chief souree of reliable information about the 
 mineral resources and mining' industries of California. 
 
 It is eneouraiied in its work by the fact that its publications have been 
 in such demand that large editions are soon exhausted. In fact, copies 
 of them now command high prices in the market. 
 
 The publications, as soon as issued, find their way to the scientifie, 
 public, and i)rivate libraries of all counti'ies. 
 
 STATE MINERALOGIST. 
 
 The California State jNIining Bureau is under the supervision of a 
 State ]\Iineralogist and Board of Trustees. 
 
 It is supported by legislative appropriations, and in some degree per- 
 forms work similar to that of the geological surveys of other states, but 
 its purposes and functions are mainly practical, the scientific work being 
 clearly subordinate to the economic phases of the mineral field, as shown 
 by the organic law governing the Bureau, which is as follows : 
 
 Sec. 4. It shall be tlu' duty of said State Mineralogist to make, facilitate, and 
 enconrase special studies of tlie mineral resources and mineral industries of the 
 State. It shall be his duty : To collect statistics concerninjj the occurrence of the 
 economically important minerals and the methods pursued in making their valuable 
 constituents available for commercial use ; to make a collection of typical geological 
 and mincn-alogical specimens, especially those of economic or commercial imiwrtance, 
 such collection constituting the Museum of tht> State Mining Bureau : to i)rovide a 
 library of books, reports, drawings, jjearing upon the mineral industries, the sciences 
 of mineralogy and geology and the arts of mining and metallurgy, such library con- 
 stituting the Library of the State Mining Bureau : to make a collection of models, 
 drawings, and descriptions of the mechanical appliances used in mining and metal- 
 lurgical processes : to preserve and so maintain such collections and library as to 
 make them available for reference and examination, and open to public inspection 
 at reasonable hours : to maintain, in effect, a bureau of information concerning the 
 mineral industries of this State, to consist of such collections and lil)rary. and to 
 arrange, classify, catalogue, and index the data therein contained, in a niannei' to 
 make the information available to tiiose desiring it. and to provide a custodian 
 six^cially qualified to jiromote this jjurpose: to make a biennial report to the Board 
 of Trustees of the Mining Bureau, setting forth the important results of his work. 
 and to issue from time to time such bulletins as he may deem advisable concernimr 
 the statistics and technology of the mineral industries of this State. 
 
 THE BULLETINS. 
 
 The field covered by the books issued iindcr this title is shown in tli(> 
 list of publications. Each bulletin dcfds with only one phase of mining. 
 Many of tliem are elal)orately illustrated with engravings and maps. 
 Oidy a iioniinnl |)rice is asked, in order that those wlio need them most 
 may obtain a cop.^'- (See list on hist page.) 
 
302 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 THE REGISTERS OF MINES. 
 
 The Registers of ^Mines form practically both a State and a County 
 directory of the mines of California, each county being represented in 
 a separate pamphlet. Those who Avish to learn the essential facts about 
 any particular mine are referred to them. The facts and figures are 
 given in tabular form, and are accompanied by a topographical map of 
 the county on a large scale, showing location of each mineral deposit, 
 towns, railroads, roads, power lines, ditches, etc. 
 
 HOME OF THE BUREAU. 
 
 The JNIining Bureau occupies the north half of the third floor of the 
 Ferry Building, in San Francisco. On the same floor are the rooms of 
 the California Development Board, and an exhibition instituted by and 
 maintained by the same Board, illustrative of agriculture, horticulture, 
 viticulture, and other industries of California. All visitors and resi- 
 dents are invited to inspect the Museum, Library, and other rooms of 
 the Bureau and gain a personal knowledge of its operations. 
 
 THE MUSEUM. 
 
 The Museum now contains over 20.000 specimens, carefully labeled 
 and attractively arranged in showcases in a great, well-lighted hall, 
 Avhere they can be easily studied. The collection of ores from California 
 mines is of course very extensive, and is supplemented by many cases 
 of characteristic ores from the principal mining districts of the world. 
 The educational value of the exhibit is constantly increased by substitut- 
 ing the best specimens obtainable for those of less value. 
 
 These mineral collections are not only interesting, beautiful, and in 
 every way attractive to the sightseers of all classes, but are also educa- 
 tional. They show to manufacturers, miners, capitalists, and others the 
 character and ciuality of the economic minerals of the State, and where 
 they are found. Plans have been formulated to extend the usefulness 
 of the exhibit by special collections, such as one showing the chemical 
 composition of minerals; another showing the mineralogical composition 
 of the sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks of the State ; the 
 petroleum-bearing formations, ore bodies, and their country rocks, etc. 
 A fine permanent exhibition of the structural materials of California 
 will be maintained to illustrate the resources of the State in that regard. 
 
 Besides the mineral specimens, there are many models, maps, photo- 
 graphs, and diagrams illustrating the modern practice of mining, mill- 
 ing, and concentrating, and the technology of the mineral industries. 
 An educational series of specimens for high schools has been inaugu- 
 rated, and new plans are being formulated that will make the Museum 
 even more useful in the future than in the past. Its popularity is shown 
 by the fact that more than 125.000 visitors registered last year, while 
 many failed to leave any record of their visit. 
 
APPENDIX. 303 
 
 THE LIBRARY. 
 
 This is the mining reference library of the State, constantly consulted 
 by mining men. and contains about 5.000 volumes of selected works, in 
 addition to the numerous publications of the Bureau itself. On its 
 shelves will be found reports on geology, mineralogy, mining, etc.. ])ub- 
 lished by states, governments, and individuals; the reports of scientific 
 societies at home and abroad; encyclopaedias, scientific papers, and 
 magazines; mining publications, and the current literature of mining 
 ever needed in a reference library. 
 
 Manufacturers' catalogues of mining and milling machinery by Cali- 
 fornia firms are kept on file. The Registers of Mines form an up-to-date 
 directory for investor and manufacturer. 
 
 The Librarian's desk is the general Inireau of information, where 
 visitors from all parts of the world are ever seeking information about 
 all parts of California. 
 
 READING-ROOM. 
 
 This is a part of the Library Department and is supplied with more 
 than one hundred current publications. Visitors will find here various 
 California papers and leading mining journals from all parts of the 
 world. 
 
 The Library and Reading-Room are open to the public from 9 a. m. 
 to 5 p. M. daily, except Sundays and holidays. 
 
 THE LABORATORY. 
 
 This department identifies for the prospector the minerals he finds, 
 and tells him the nature of the wall rocks or dikes he maj^ encounter in 
 his workings; but this department does not do assaying nor compete 
 with private assayers. The presence of minerals is determined, but not 
 the percentage present. No charges for this service are made to any 
 resident of the State. Many of the inquiries made of this department 
 have brought capital to the development of new districts. IMany tech- 
 nical cpiestions have been asked and answered as to the best chemical 
 and mechanical processes of handling ores and raw material. Tlie 
 laboratory is well equipped. 
 
 THE DRAUGHTING-ROOM. 
 
 In this room are prepared scores of maps, from the small ones filling 
 only a part of a page, to the largest County and State maps; and the 
 numerous illustrations, other than photographs, that are constantly 
 being required for the Bulletins and Registers of Mines. In this room, 
 also, will be found a very complete coUection of maps of all kinds 
 relating to the industries of the State, and one of the important duties 
 of the department is to make such additions and corrections as will keep 
 the maps up to date. The seeker after information inquires here if lie 
 wishes to know about llie geohigy or t(»i)ogi'apby of any disti-ict; about 
 
304 GOLD DREDGING IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 the locations of the new camps, or positions of old or abandoned ones ; 
 about railroads, stage roads, and trails ; or about the working drawings 
 of anything connected with mining. 
 
 MINERAL STATISTICS. 
 
 One of the features of this institution is its mineral statistics. Their 
 annual compilation by the State Mining Bureau began in 1894. No 
 other state in the Union attempts so elaborate a record, expends so much 
 labor and money on its compilation, or secures so accurate a one. 
 
 The State Mining Bureau keeps a careful, up-to-date, and reliable 
 but confidential register of every producing mine, mine-owner, and 
 mineral industry in the State. From such are secured, under pledge 
 of secrecy, reports of output, etc., and all other available sources of 
 information are used in checking, verifying, and supplementing the 
 information so gained. This information is published in an annual 
 tabulated, statistical, single-sheet bulletin, showing the mineral produc- 
 tion by both substances and counties. 
 
 TOTAL GOLD PRODUCT OP CALirORNIA-1848-1908. 
 
 While gold is next to the leading mining product, its yield no longer 
 puts the greatest gold-producing county in the first place. Gold is more 
 widelj^ distributed than any other substance thus far mined in Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 The following table shows the total gold yield of California, by years, 
 
 from the time mining commenced in 1848 to 1908, inclusive :* 
 
 1848 .$24.j.301 1880 .$20,030,761 
 
 1849 10.1.51,360 1881 19.223,155 
 
 1850 41.273.106 1882 17.146,416 
 
 1851 7.5,9.38.232 1883 24,316,873 
 
 18.52 81.294,700 1884 13,600,000 
 
 18.53 67.613.487 188-5 12,661,044 
 
 1854 69,433,931 1886 14.716,506 
 
 1855 ,5.5,485.395 1887 13.-588,614 
 
 1856 -57,509.411 1888-_ 1*2,750,000 
 
 18-57 43,628.172 1889 11,212,913 
 
 1858 46.591.140 1890 12,309,793 
 
 18.59 4-5.846..599 1891 12.728,869 
 
 1860 44.095,163 1892 12,571,900 
 
 1861 41.884.995 1893 12,422,811 
 
 1862 38.8-54.668 1894 13.923,281 
 
 1863 23.-501.7-36 1895 1-5,334,317 
 
 1864 24,071,423 1896 17.181.562 
 
 1865 17.9.30.858 1897 1-5,871,401 
 
 1866 17,123.867 1898 15.906.478 
 
 1867 18.265,452 1899 1.5.336,031 
 
 1868 17.-55-5.867 1900 1-5,863,355 
 
 1869 18.229,044 1901 16,989,044 
 
 1870 17,4-58.133 1902 16.910,320 
 
 1871 17.477.885 1903 16.471,264 
 
 1872 1-5,482.194 1904 19,109,600 
 
 1873 15,019,210 1905 19.197,043 
 
 1874 17.264,8-36 1906 18.732,452 
 
 1875 16.876.009 1907 16.727,928 
 
 1876 1.5.610,723 1908 18.761,559 
 
 1877 1(5.-501.268 1909t 21.500,000 
 
 1878 18.8.39,141 
 
 1879 19,626,654 Total -'?1..509,775,250 
 
 * Figures for 1906, 1907. and 1908 by U. S. Geological purvey, f Estimated. 
 
APPENDIX. 305 
 
 LIST Of PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Publications of this Bureau will be sent on receipt of the requisite 
 amount and postage. Only stamps, coin or money orders will he 
 accepted in payment. Do not send personal checks. 
 
 Address all communications regarding publications to Librarian-. 
 
 (All publications not mentioned are exhausted.) p^g^_ 
 
 Price. age. 
 
 Report XI— 1.892. First Biennial $1.00 .?0.15 
 
 Report XIII— 1S90. Third Biennial 1.00 .20 
 
 Bulletin No. — "Gold Mill Practices in California" (od ed. ) .50 .04 
 
 Bulletin No. 9 — "Mine Drainage, Pumps. Etc." (bound) .60 .OS 
 
 Bulletin No. 15 — "Map of Oil City Oil Fields, Fresno County, Cali- 
 fornia" .05 .02 
 
 Bulletin No. 23 — "Copper Resources of California" .50 .12 
 
 Bulletin No. 27 — "Quicksilver Resources of California" (2d ed. ) .75 .14 
 
 Bulletin No. 30 — "Bibliography Relating to the Geology. Palaeontology 
 
 and Mineral Resources of California." including List of Maps.. .50 .10 
 
 Bulletin No. 31 — "Chemical Analysis of California Petroleum" .02 
 
 Bulletin No. 32 — "Production and Use of California Petroleum" .75 .OS 
 
 Bulletin No. 3C — "Gold Dredging in California" (3d ed. ) .50 .08 
 
 Bulletin No. 37 — "Gems and Jewelers' Materials of California" (2ded. ) .50 .OS 
 
 Bulletin No. 38 — "Structural and Industrial Materials of California"-. .75 .20 
 
 Bulletin No. 45 — "Auriferous Black Sands of California" .10 .02 
 
 Bulletin No. 40 — "Index of Mining Bureau Publications" .30 .00 
 
 Bulletin No. 50 — "Copper Resources of California" (revised ed. ) l.(XJ .20 
 
 Bulletin No. 57 — "Gold Dredging in California" (revised ed.) 
 
 Bulletin No. 58 — "Mineral Production of California" — 1909 .02 
 
 Bulletin No. 59 — "Mineral Production of California for 23 Years" .02 
 
 Bulletin No. 60 — "Minerals of California. Mining Laws. Maps. Etc.".- .05 
 
 California Mine Bell Signals (cardboard) .05 .02 
 
 California Mine Bell Signals (paper) .03 .02 
 
 Register of Klines, with Map. Amador County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. Butte County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. El Dorado County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map, Inyo County .25 .OS 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. Kern County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. Lake County .25 .()8 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. Mariposa County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. Nevada County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. San Bernardino (bounty .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. San Diego County ' .25 .OS 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map, Santa Barbara County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. Shasta County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map, Sierra County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. Siskiyou County .25 .()8 
 
 Register of Mines, with ^inp. Trinity County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Maj), Tuolumne County .25 .08 
 
 Register of Mines, with Map. Yuba County ..1 .25 .08 
 
 Register of Oil Wells, with Map. Los Angeles City .35 .02 
 
 Map of El Dorado County Showing Boundaries National Forests .20 .(»2 
 
 Map of Madera County Showing Boundaries National Forests .20 .02 
 
 Map of Placer County Showing Boundaries National Forests .20 .(»2 
 
 Map of Shasta County Showing Boundaries National Forests .20 .02 
 
 Map of Sierra County Showing Boundaries National Forests .20 .02 
 
 Map of Si.skiyou County Showing Boundaries National Forests .20 .02 
 
 Map of Trinity County Showing Boundaries National Forests .45 .02 
 
 Map of Tuolumne County Showing Boundaries National Forests .20 .02 
 
 Map of Mother Lode .05 .02 
 
 Map of Desert Region of California .10 .02 
 
 Map Showing Copper Deposits in California .05 .02 
 
 Map of Calaveras County .1*5 .03 
 
 Map of Placer Countj' ..' I. .'I..'" .25 .03 
 
 Map of Plumas County .!>.", .03 
 
 Mineral and Relief Map of California .25 .05 
 
 Map of Forest Reserves in California (mounted) ..50 .08 
 
 Map of Forest Reserves in CaHfomia (unmounted) .30 .OC, 
 
 Map of Minan't District. Madera County 20 .02 
 
 In Preparation — 
 Bulletin — "Petroleum in ( '.ilirornia" 
 
 20— f:n 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Ashburton dredge 5 
 
 Ancient channels 15, 16 
 
 Ammeter 64 
 
 American Gold Dredging Company 149 
 
 American No. 1 and No. 2 dredges 1.51 
 
 American River district 177-20.4 
 
 American River district production 177 
 
 Ashburton Mining Company 178 
 
 Ashburton No. 1 and No. 2 dredges 178 
 
 American River district in 1909 and 1910 199-204 
 
 Appendix, State Mining Bureau .300 
 
 Bannock, Montana 4 
 
 Bucyrus Company 5, 40 
 
 Boston and California Gold Dredging Company 6 
 
 Butte County 10 
 
 Benefit derived from dredge mining 12 
 
 Bedrock 16-18 
 
 Black sand 29, 76 
 
 Buckets " 40 
 
 Buckets, weight 41 
 
 Buckets, close-connected 41, 259 
 
 Buckets, open-connected 41 
 
 Buckets, three-eye 42, 43. 193 
 
 Buckets, two-eye 42, 43 
 
 Buckets, hood 42, 43 
 
 Buckets, bottom 43. 259 
 
 Buckets, lips 43 
 
 Buckets, pin 44 
 
 Butte County 106 
 
 Butte County, general statistics, production, etc 106, 107 
 
 Butte County, history of dredging industry 108-110 
 
 Butte County, dredges operating 1909, table 113 
 
 Bucyrus and Risdon dredges, early operations 116 
 
 Butte Dredging Company 119 
 
 Butte dredge 119, 120 
 
 Brayton and Mayhew 123 
 
 Baggett dredge 125, 126 
 
 Bear River district 137. 163 
 
 Bear River Mining Company 163 
 
 Boston and California Dredging Company 137. 138 
 
 Boston and Oroville Mining Company 137, 139-142 
 
 Boston No. 1 and No. 2 dredges 140 
 
 Boston No. 4 dredge 142 
 
 Boston Machine Shop Company 139-144 
 
 Bradley. F. W. 142 
 
 Biggs No. 1 dredge 142, 143 
 
 Biggs No. 2 dredge 143, 144 
 
 Butte Creek district 159 
 
 Butte Creek Consolidated Dredging Company 159-162 
 
 Butte Creek dredge 160 
 
 Bear River 163 
 
 Bear River Exploration Company 163 
 
 Bear River No. 2 dredge 163 
 
 Breckonridge, Colorado 263 
 
 Boston-Idaho Gold Dredging Company 265 
 
 Boise basin 266 
 
308 INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Bonanza Creek 273 
 
 Couch, Thomas 1, 4, 108 
 
 Couch No. 1 dredge 1, 109, 146 
 
 Clam-shell dredge 2 
 
 Christie, W. H. 4 
 
 Continental dredge 5, 140-142 
 
 Calaveras County 7 
 
 Cache Rock 11 
 
 Complaints about dredges obstructing rivers 12 
 
 Callahan 14 
 
 Cost of drilling 31 
 
 Clean up of gold tables 76, 78 
 
 Cost of California type dredges 81 
 
 Cost of dipper dredges 84 
 
 Crew on dipper dredges 84 
 
 Crew on California type dredges 81 
 
 California type dredge 86, 87 
 
 California dredging districts 106 
 
 Cherokee dredge 114, 145, 146 
 
 Cameron, D. P. 116 
 
 California No. 1 dredge 124 
 
 Cheney, S. W. 134 
 
 California No. 1 and No. 2 dredges 138 
 
 California No. 3 dredge 138, 139 
 
 Cherokee Gold Dredging Company 145 
 
 Couch Nos. 2 and 3 dredges 146 
 
 Couch No. 4 dredge 147 
 
 Chesebro, H. E. 160 
 
 Cleveland, Newton 168, 201 
 
 Colorado Pacific Gold Dredging Company 178 
 
 Cranston, R. E. 178 
 
 Calaveras County 205-208 
 
 Calaveras Gold Dredging Company 207 
 
 Conrey Placer Mining Company 257 
 
 Colorado Gold Dredging Company 264 
 
 Canadian Klondyke Mining Company, Ltd 272 
 
 Double-lift bucket elevator dredge 2, 40 
 
 Dubois suction dredge 11 
 
 Drilling (see Prospecting). 
 
 Drill core 25, 26 
 
 Dredge construction and operation 38-84 
 
 Designers and constructors of California dredges 40 
 
 Dry rot of dredge hulls ■. 74 
 
 Dipper dredges 81, 84 
 
 Dipper dredges, electrically driven 83, 84 
 
 Doolittle, J. E. 142 
 
 Diamondville 160-162 
 
 Double-bank gold-saving tables 185-187 
 
 Dredges operating in the Folsom district in 1909 199 
 
 Debris problem 248-252 
 
 Debris problem in Australia 251, 252 
 
 Dredging in Montana 253-262 
 
 Dredging in Colorado 262-265 
 
 Dredging in Idaho 265, 266 
 
 Dredging in Alaska 266-273 
 
 Dredging in Philippine Islands 273-278 
 
 Dredging in New Zealand for tlie year 1908 279, 280 
 
 Dredging in Siberia 280-285 
 
 Dredging in Mexico 285 
 
 Dredging in Colombia, South America 286-289 
 
 Dredging in French Guiana 289, 290 
 
 Dredging in Dutch Guiana 291 
 
 Dredging in British Guiana 291 
 
 Dredging in Peru and Bolivia 291-293 
 
 Dredging in Tierra Del Puego 293-297 
 
INDEX. 309 
 
 Page. 
 
 Dredging in Ecuador 297 
 
 Dredging in Brazil 297 
 
 Dredging in Argentina 297 
 
 Dredging in Malay Peninsula 298 
 
 Dredging in Korea 298 
 
 Dredging in T\^est Africa 299 
 
 El Dorado County 11 
 
 Examinations, preliminary 33 
 
 Electrical dredge equipment 64 
 
 Electric power, Oroville and Yuba districts 66 
 
 Electric power, Folsom district 67 
 
 Electric shore cables 68 
 
 El Oro Dredging Company 120 
 
 El Oro dredge No. 1 121 
 
 El Oro No. 2 dredge 122, 123 
 
 Empire dredge 131, 132 
 
 Exploration No. 1 dredge 142. 143 
 
 Exploration No. 2 dredge 143. 144 
 
 Exploration No. 3 dredge 144 
 
 Evans R. D. 163, 165 
 
 El Dorado Gold Dredging Company 195 
 
 Feather River No. 1 dredge 1 
 
 First bucket elevator dredge in California 1 
 
 First dredges in the Oroville district 6 
 
 Folsom or American River district 6 
 
 Fires on dredges 65 
 
 Feather River division of the Natomas Consolidated of California 144-148 
 
 Feather River Exploration Company 145-147 
 
 Feather No. 1 dredge 145 
 
 Feather River Development Company 146, 147 
 
 Feather River Nos. 2 and 3 dredges 146 
 
 Feather River No. 4 dredge 147 
 
 Feather River No. 5 dredge 147, 148 
 
 Feather Nos. 2 and 3 dredges 148 
 
 Folsom district 176-204 
 
 Folsom Development Company 179-194 
 
 Folsom Nos. 1 and 2 dredges 179 
 
 Folsom No. 3 dredge 181 
 
 Folsom No. 4 dredge 185 
 
 Folsom No. 5 dredge 187 
 
 Folsom No. 6 dredge 190 
 
 Folsom district, summary of operations 198, 199 
 
 First electric driven dredge in California 140, 141 
 
 Grassliopper Creek, Montana 2 
 
 Geological 14 
 
 Golden States Miners' Iron Works 40, 134 
 
 Grade for riffle tables 75 
 
 Griffin. F. \^^ 116 
 
 Gardella dredging, Oroville district 124 
 
 Gold Run Dredging Company 125 
 
 Goodwin, J. W. 129 
 
 Guggenheim, S. R. 148 
 
 Gardella, L. and J., Wyman's Ravine 155. 156 
 
 Garden Ranch Gold Dredging Company 155. 158 
 
 Gardella dredge, Wyman's Ravine 155. 156 
 
 Hammon, W. P. 1, 4, 108, 109 
 
 Hydraulic or centrifugal pump suction dredge 2 
 
 Hanford. R. G. 4, 178 
 
 Hammonton 14 
 
 Hopper 48-51 
 
 Headline dredge 61 
 
 Hulls, wood construction .- 69-71 
 
 Hulls, steel construction .: 74 
 
 Holmes" riffles • 1 76 
 
 Hull of dipper dredges 83 
 
310 INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Hamlyn, John J. 109, 137 
 
 Hunter dredge 131-133 
 
 Hammond, John Hayes 142 
 
 Honcut Creek district 158 
 
 Indiana Gold Dredging Company 114-119 
 
 Indiana Gold Dredging and Mining Company 115, 116 
 
 Indiana No. 1 dredge 115-117 
 
 Indiana No. 2 dredge 118 
 
 Indiana No. 3 dredge 118, 119 
 
 Isabel Dredging Company 208 
 
 Jenny Lind 14 
 
 Known payable districts in California 11 
 
 Kia Oro Gold Dredging Company 149 
 
 Kentucky Ranch Gold Dredging Company 158, 159 
 
 Logs, field and time 30 
 
 Link-Belt Company 40, 120-122 
 
 Ladder 45 
 
 Ladder spillway 45 
 
 Ladder rollers 45 
 
 Ladder hoists 58 
 
 Loss of gold from gold tables 78-80 
 
 Loss of gold in tailing 80 
 
 Lost time records on dredges 103-105 
 
 Lava Bed Dredging Company , 130, 131 
 
 Lava Bed Nos. 1. 2. and 3 dredges 131 
 
 Leggett & Wilcox Company 138 
 
 Leggett Gold Dredging Company 153 
 
 Leggett No. 3 dredge 153, 154 
 
 Leggett Gold Mining Company 155, 156 
 
 La Grange Gold Dredging Company 210 
 
 Landfield, Jerome B. 283 
 
 Molyneux River, New Zealand 3 
 
 Marion Steam Shovel Company 6, 40 
 
 Merced County 7 
 
 Methods of mining gravel in California 9 
 
 Marigold 14 
 
 Manufacturers and designers of California dredges 40 
 
 Motors 65 
 
 Marigold Dredging Company 130 
 
 Marysville Dredging Company 165, 170 
 
 Marigold Nos. 1, 2, and 3 dredges, Yuba River 172 
 
 Mississippi Bar 178 
 
 Monitors on dredges 188-192 
 
 Mokelumne Mining Company 206, 207 
 
 Merced County 211-213 
 
 Natomas Consolidated of California 1, 180 
 
 New Zealand 2, 4 
 
 New England Exploration Company 6 
 
 Newson. J. F. 114 
 
 Noyes, B. S. and W. S 119-121 
 
 Nevada dredge 124 
 
 New York Machine Shop 134 
 
 Natomas Consolidated of California, Feather River division 144-148 
 
 Natoma Development Company 195-198 
 
 Natoma No. 1 dredge 196. 197 
 
 Natoma No. 2 dredge 197. 198 
 
 Natoma No. 3 dredge 198 
 
 Natomas Consolidated of California 200-204 
 
 Natomas rock-crushing plant No. 1 224-227 
 
 Natomas rock-crushing plant No. 2 227-237 
 
 Oroville district 1, 5. 6. Ill 
 
 Otago, New Zealand 3 
 
 Ophir Gold Dredging Company 123, 124 
 
 Ophir dredge 123 
 
 Oro Water, Light and Power Company 129 
 
INDEX. 311 
 
 Page. 
 
 Oroville Dredging. Limited 135 
 
 Oroville Gold Dredging and ExEdofation Company 137, 142 
 
 Other dredging fields 253-298 
 
 Postl'ethwaite, R. H. 2 
 
 Pneumatic caisson 2 
 
 Principal dredging fields in California 7 
 
 Production of gold from dredges in California 9, 10 
 
 Placer County 11 
 
 Plumas County 11 
 
 Pay-streaks 17 
 
 Prospecting dredging ground 19 
 
 with shafts or drills 20-22 
 
 gravel, different sizes 21 
 
 drill casing 22, 23 
 
 drilling without casing 22 
 
 drill bit and stem 23, 24 
 
 sand pump, in drilling 24 
 
 rocking and panning 26 
 
 platinum 29 
 
 Prospecting log-book 29, 30 
 
 Pump motors 61 
 
 Plutus dipper dredge 81 
 
 Perry, H. F. 114 
 
 Perry, O. C. 114, 148 
 
 Perry, O. B. 115, 148 
 
 Parks, Li. N. 125 
 
 Pennsylvania Gold Dredging Company 134 
 
 Pennsylvania dredge 134, 135 
 
 Payable districts known in California 11 
 
 Pacific Gold Dredging Company 148 
 
 Pacific No. 1 dredge 149, 151 
 
 Pacific No. 2 dredge, Oroville 151 
 
 Pacific No. 3 dredge, Oroville 151 
 
 Pacific No. 4 dredge, Oroville 152, 153 
 
 Perry No. 1 dredge, Oroville I49 
 
 Placer County 163 
 
 Paine, R. E. 167 
 
 Pacific Nos. 1 and 2 dredges. Folsom 178 
 
 Poor Farm Placer Mining Company 258 
 
 Placer mining in the Yukon 273 
 
 Paracale district 275 
 
 Paracale Gold Dredging Company 277 
 
 Risdon Iron Works 1, 4, n, 40 
 
 Riffles 74, 75 
 
 Riffles, Holmes system 76 
 
 Riffles. James H. Leggett 76 
 
 Ruby. Montana 116 
 
 Rebel Hill, Folsom 187, 188 
 
 Reclaiming dredged land 224 
 
 Rock-crusliing plants for dredge tailings 224 
 
 Rock-crushing plant No. 1, Folsom 224 
 
 Rock-crushing plant No. 2, Folsom 227 
 
 Replanting dredged land 237 
 
 Oroville district 237-241 
 
 Folsom district 241 
 
 Yuba district 242 
 
 California, general. 245 
 
 New Zealand 245-247 
 
 Ruby Valley gravels 255 
 
 Submarine boats 2 
 
 Steam shovel 2 
 
 Single bucket or spoon dredge 2 
 
 Suction dredge 2. 3 
 
 Southerland, F. T. 4, 108 
 
 Shasta County 7 
 
;312 INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Siskiyou County 7 
 
 Stanislaus County 7 
 
 Sacramento County 10, 174 
 
 Shafts, in prospecting 20 
 
 Standard type of California dredge . 38 
 
 Save-all 51 
 
 Screens 51 
 
 Screens, revolving 51-54 
 
 Screens, shaking 51, 54 
 
 Spuds 60, 61 
 
 Searchlight 65 
 
 Shasta Dredging Company 66 
 
 Sea valves on dredges 66 
 
 Spud casings 74 
 
 Sailor Bar 178 
 
 Syndicate Dredging Company 178, 179 
 
 Summary of dredging operations in the Folsom district up to 1909 198 
 
 Stanislaus County 209-211 
 
 Shasta County 213-218 
 
 Shasta Dredging Company 216-218 
 
 Siskiyou County 218-223 
 
 Scott River Dredging Company 221-223 
 
 Scott River dredge 221 
 
 Siskiyou Dredging Company 223 
 
 Seward Peninsula 266 
 
 Trinity County 11 
 
 Trinity Center 11 
 
 Tumbler, lower 45 
 
 Tumbler, upper 46 
 
 Tumblers 47 
 
 Tumbler drives 48 
 
 Tailing stacker, belt 54-57 
 
 Tailing stacker, bucket 54, 57 
 
 Troughing idlers 57 
 
 Transformer shelter 65 
 
 Tables, single bank 74 
 
 Tables, double bank 74 
 
 Tailing sluices 74 
 
 Tests to determine loss of gold on dredges 80 
 
 Three Friends Mining Company 267 
 
 Union Iron Works 40 
 
 Vacuum dredge 2 
 
 Viloro No. 1 dredge 66,126-129 
 
 Viloro Syndicate, Limited 1-6 
 
 Victor dredge 131, 134 
 
 "Western Engineering and Construction Company 40 
 
 Winch machinery 60 
 
 Working time of dredges 81 
 
 Wages of dredge crew 81 
 
 "Working costs of dredges 85-102 
 
 Wyman's Ravine district 155 
 
 Willow Hill 181 
 
 Yuba River 2, 7, 14. 170 
 
 Yuba County 10, 164 
 
 Yuba Construction Company 40, 174 
 
 Yukon Gold Company 148, 266 
 
 Yuba consolidated gold fields 165, 170 
 
 Yuba Nos. 1 and 2 dredges 166, 167 
 
 Yuba No. 11 dredge 168 
 
 Yosemite Mining and Dredging Company 211 
 
 Yukon, placer mining in 273 
 
 5 
 
 
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