4 B - DAILY COURIER, Grants Pass, Oregon MONDAY, DECE;MBER 12, 1994 THE GRAVE CREEK GOLD DREDGE by Gilbert E. Walter
Pictured is approximately 15,000 yards of the 150,000 yards of answer to this question is a qualified "yes." Many jobs ~;:e;aces dredge area that were crushed this past summer; most was used in repaving I-5 near the Hugo interchange into the Cow were created during a time ever of deep depression when Creek Valley. \ increasing jobs were sorely needed. It ASpressures is to be hoped that there The Leland dredge soon after it began operating. on her ever decreasing were those who got a new Photos courtesy Larry McLane. natural resources, we hear start in life from that more and more about the temporary employment. wisdom of long-range But the good things had a planning with the object of price. And, from the long achieving more efficient viewpoint, it was high. use of remaining When I visit the area and resources. look out over the This has not always devastation-the many, been the case. many acres of rock piles, As an example, for it's easy to create a many years prior to 1930, memory picture of Dad my father leased most of following his old, single the bottom land along both furrow plow pulled by our sides of Grave Creek predecessors and persisted. land clearing and two horses, Lady and extending eastward from The tale could not be operation was involved in Nelly, or of the stands of Leland for more than a confirmed, however, and the big project. The wheat rippling in the mile. The land was then skepticism remained high. dredge, constructed on a breeze; or images of Dad owned by the Leland Land When the Grants 50- by 100-foot hull, was a and the hired hands Company of Portland. It Pass Daily Courier finally floating device. This· loading the harvested was good farmland, and confirmed the story, all required the excavation of shocks of field-cured hay produced a variety of hay doubt was erased and most a 12-foot deep, 150- by onto the big, rack-bed and grain crops as well as of us immediately 150-foot pond. The pond wagon in preparation for vegetables. It also included experienced a drastic and would be perpetuated by baling and to hear their two small but well only marginally justified the dredge itself, as a large voices as they worked with producing fruit orchards. reversal of emotions. Most endless chain of buckets associated activities finally which almost resulted in fishing method was my carefully coordinated · It also contained an of us began planning on all dug up the gravel and soil began, I was unable to get an honest-to-goodness fish very wet front, well movements. Yes, and I can unknown volume of placer the wonderful things we ahead, ran everything a job due to my age, so I story which no one would plastered with silvery, easily remember my gold which had been could do with all that through a gold extraction enviously observed all the have believed. My older smelly fish scales. So, the miserable soreness, deposited there over the money we would be process, then deposited the activities from the brother George, still Grave Creek gold dredge especially in the seat, from unable to work at his past thousands of years by making from full-time jobs gravel, devoid of both sidelines. I did benefit in almost produced a side riding Nelly around and Grave Creek. The gold created by the dredge. topsoil and gold, behind. one way, however. My regular job as a Southern benefit of fresh salmon around in an endless circle was in the gravel lying on When it was learned This, of course, required a friend Homer Goff and I Pacific fireman due to the steaks for our dinner. of 8 hours a day 'during the Depression, was living at or just above bedrock and that a massive land rather large volume of were playing for Saturday . The dredge was baling operations. I had never been considered clearing job would have to water, which was brought night dances at Tom home (he eventually got noisy and the loud clatter remember the blissful rests by the old-time miners as be done prior to the actual to the pond via ditches Clark's Blue Moon dance work with the Skeeter of the tailings, consisting during noon hours, lying having sufficient value to gold dredging operation, from Grave Creek and/or hall at Leland. In those Brothers clearing crew). mainly of rocks, some up in the good-smelling grass justify mining by optimism grew. This Dog Creek. This days, the orchestra was He and I decided to go to to a foot more more in in the shade of an apple the site the newly conventional hydraulic would mean employment demanded the construction given 60% of the door of diameter, falling from the tree in one of the orchards: methods. for many men, everyone of a dam of sorts in Grave receipts. More people at constructed dam in Grave conveyor belt at the stern, But it's all gone now. Creek to see any salmon During the early agreed, because the Creek near where the the dances meant more if could be heard from It will be a very, very long 1930s, the Depression dredging operation dredge began operations. money, and the dredge was were coming up the creek almost any spot within a time before Mother Nature and trying to get over or deepened and demanded a surprisingly Undoubtedly, at the responsible for just that distance of a mile or more. restores the land to any past the dam. As luck unemployment became detailed degree of land peak of Leland's placer happening. We noticed Many times, while kind of condition suitable would have it, we saw one, severe. With so many folks clearing work. All trees, mining era, more men more strange faces at the walking back to the ranch for agricultural activities well over 2 feet in length, idle, rumors were plentiful both native and those of were employed than were Blue Moon and everyone during the "wee, small ' if ever. apparently resting in a but most of them were the fruit orchards had to be to be hired by all the said they were people from hours" from a Saturday Most of the gold is Pn t;,-,,.1" f ,,.)<:,,. ,>nrl <:n on removed, roots included. various phases of the the dredge activities. Tom shallow pool near one end night at the Blue Moon, I a"n P tnn T hnnP ~nm Pn nP use of remaining resources. look out over the This has not always devastation-the many, been the case. many acres of rock piles, As an example, for it's easy to create a many years prior to 1930, memory picture of Dad my father leased most of following his old, single the bottom land along both furrow plow pulled by our sides of Grave Creek predecessors and persisted. land clearing and two horses, Lady and extending eastward from The tale could not be operation was involved in Nelly, or of the stands of Leland for more than a confirmed, however, and the big project. The wheat rippling in the mile. The land was then skepticism remained high. dredge, constructed on a breeze; or images of Dad owned by the Leland Land When the Grants 50- by 100-foot hull, was a and the hired hands Company of Portland It Pass DailJ Courier finally floating device. This· loading the harvested was good farmland, and confirmed the story, all required the excavation of shocks of field-cured hay produced a variety of hay doubt was erased and most a 12-foot deep, 150- by onto the big, rack-bed and grain crops as well.as of us immediately 150-foot pond. The pond wagon in preparation for vegetables. It also included experienced a drastic and would be perpetuated by baling and to hear their two but well only marginally justified the dredge itself, as a large voices as worked nri)ctttcurn fruit orchards. reversal of emotions. Most endless chain of n11,,1r .. t" associated ·es finally which almost resulted in uc,uu,,F, method was my dug up the gravel and soil an honest-to-goodness fish contained an of us began planning on all began, I was le to get very wet front, well movements. Yes, and I can story which no one would unknown volume of placer the wonderful things we ahead, ran everything a job due to age, so I plastered with silvery, easily remember my have believed. older gold whichhad been could do with all that through a gold extraction enviously ob ed all the My smelly fish scales. So, the miserable soreness, process, then deposited the brother George, still deposited there over the money we would be activities fr he Grave Creek gold dredge especially in the seat, from gravel, devoid both sidelines. I didSbenefit in unable to work at his past thousands of years by making from full-time jobs of almost produced a side riding Nelly around and topsoil and gold, behind. regular job as a Southern Grave Creek. The gold created by the dredge. one way, how~\rer. My benefit of fresh salmon around in an endless circle This, course, required a Pacific fireman due to the was in the gravel lying on When it was learned of friend Homer6off and I steaks for our dinner. of 8 hours a day 'during the rather large volume Depression, was living at or just above bedrock and that a massive land of were playing for Saturday , The dredge was baling operations. I water, which was brought night dances atTom home (he eventually got had never been considered clearing job would have to noisy and the loud clatter remember the blissful rests to the pond via ditches work with the Skeeter by the old-time miners as be done prior to the actual Clark's Blue Moon dance of the tailings, consisting during noon hours, lying from Grave Creek and/or hall at Leland. those Brothers clearing crew). having sufficient value to gold dredging operation, Jn mainly of rocks, some up in the good-smelling grass Dog Creek. This days, the orchestra was He and I decided to go to justify mining by optimism grew. This to a foot more more in in the shade of an apple demanded the construction 60% tn.e the site of the newly conyentional hydraulic would mean employment given of door diameter, falling froni the tree in one of the orchards: of a dam sorts in Grave constructed dam in Grave methods. for many men, everyone of receipts. More people at conveyor belt at the stem, But it's all gone now. Creek near where the the dances meant more Creek to see if any salmon During the early agreed, because the could be heard from It will be a very, very long dredge began operations. money, and ' edge was were coming up the creek 1930s, the Depression dredging operation almost any spot within a time before Mother Nature Undoubtedly, at the responsible st that and trying to get over or deepened and demanded a surprisingly £ distance of a mile or more. restores the land to any peak of Leland's placer happening. We)oticed past the dam. As luck unemployment became detailed degree of land Many times, while kind of condition suitable mining era, more men f
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OREGON WELCOMES rock hunters to ROCKHOUND RUJ..ES the Agate State.... Oregon is a collector's paradise, but Collectors of every age enjoy the thrill of even in a paradise it is wise to follow a few discovering a flawless gem or a rare fossil, and simple rules ... certainly they will tend to Oregon is the place t0 find them. assure the best possible success. -. Come on out and try your luck in one or ,. ,: ; . ' u fc:<.., all of the state's many rich deposits. 1 However, don't be disappointed if you fail I. S�lect several sites within a to "strike it rich" on your first outing ... it took fairly small area to avoid spreading the residents of Canyon City, in central Ore valuable collecting time too thin ... gon, IO years to discover they had paved their become informed on the material streets with gold-bearing gravel! available and its exact location. 2. Don't hesitate to ask local col lectors for information about se lected sites ...check with rockhound clubs wherever they are found. 3. Bring along the proper tools and equipment-including boots and sturdy clothing-for field work ... depending on the material sought, you may find use for a rockhammer, shovel, prybar, sledge and chisel, or light pick mattock. ) J.,LJ (-;' , 1� L c 4. Make special preparations for seasonal weather conditions-can teens, c?ps and sunglasses for the desert, warm jackets for the moun- tains, etc. _ � 0 5. Obtain· permission of land owners before entering private property ... don't leave campsite debris scattered about and BE CA REFUL WITH FIRE. 6. Take care in entering aban doned mine. shafts-you enter at your own risk . ,u,··-'Iv 1.1-v 1-- 7. Don't thra'w roclts"from cliffs and endanger persons who might be below ... use proper care in handling tools. 8. Take only fhe material you will use and leave the rest for other col- lectors. ·., / f 1., 2 , r ' . > p U b(h IS e d b > ' ' ; - YI ':_,/t,{.,,c:- TRAVE[.' INFORMATION DIVISION OREGON STATE HIGHWAY DEPT. SALEM, OREGON OREGON'S MINERALS ... CLUBS, SOCIETIES The state's metallic mineral wealth may Oregonians are aware of the scenic beauty of their be measured-at least in terms of collecting state, but many are aware also of the beauty which lies beneath the surface. by both the abundance and diversity of avail Oregon has nearly 50 clubs and societies which exist able types. Topping the list are gold, silver, because of this awareness. The members of these clubs copper, lead, zinc, mercury and iron. In addi are a friendly and enthusiastic lot and welcome inquiries tion, the only nickel mine in the United States from out-of-state collectors. Contact any or all of the operates in southwestern Oregon. Commercial clubs listed below for tips concerning little-known localities grade uranium ore was discovered in south and "special" diggings. central Oregon in 1955 and is known to exist • Agate Beach Agate • Newberg Gem and Mineral in other parts of the state. The list of metals Society, Toledo Club, Newberg includes tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, anti • Albany Rock and Gem Club, • New.port Agate Society, mony and chromium. Albany Newport • Ashland Mineral and • Nickel Mt. Rock Club, Gem Club, Ashland Myrtle Creek GEMS ... \ • Blue Mountain Gem • Oregon Agate and Mineral EXPLORING OREGON'S GEOLOGIC PAST Oregon is famous for its semi-precious Club, La Grande Society, Portland gems. Agates, petrified wood, jaspers, opals • Camp White Rock • Oregon Trail Gem and OREGON ABOUNDS with geologic Club, Camp White Mineral Society, Pendleton wonders, ranging in size from the towering and thunder eggs are found in quantity in • Clatskanie Gem and • Owyhee Gem and Mineral snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Range to many areas of the state. Also to be found in Mineral Club, Clatskanie Society, Nampa, Idaho gem quality are hematite, garnet, sunstone, • Columbia Gorge Rockhounds, • Pioneer Prospectors Club, the fossilized seeds and plant spores of the Corbett Toledo Clarno deposit. These features form a visible malachite and azurite, rhodonite, chrysocolla, • Columbia Rock and • Prineville Mineral Society, Prineville link between the present day and a history obsidian and rock crystal. Native gold and Gem Club, St. Helens • Coos County Mineral and • Rogue Gem and Geology which spans 400 million years. cinnabar, when found in matrices suitable for Gem Club, Coos Bay Club, Grants Pass polishing, are used as gem stones. Oregon's • Corvallis Rock and Gem • Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral THE OLDESTROCKS found on the sur annual gem production is estimated at Club, Corvallis Club, Central Point face are the schists of southwestern Oregon • Deschutes Geology • Stonecrafters, $1,000,000. Club, Bend Joseph and the limestone formations of central Ore • Eugene Mineral Club, •Sweet Home Rock and Mineral gon. Among the newest are the scattered FOSSILS ... Eugene Society, Sweet Home • Hat Rock Gem Club, eTektronix Employees Geology cinder cones and lava flows of recent volcanic Prolific fossil beds are located in many Echo Club, Hillsboro upheaval ...one eruption occured no more sections of the state. Of special interest are • Hi-Desert Gem and Mineral • Tillamook Rock Hounds, Society, Bend Tillamook than 250 years ago-a "fraction of a second" the John Day beds, first explored by Dr. • Illinois Valley Mineral •Trails End Gem and in geologic time. Thomas Condon, the "Father of Oregon Hobbies Club, Cave Junction Mineral Club, Astoria Geology." Fossils of plants and animals which • John Day Basin Gem and eTualatin Valley Gem OREGON'S CLIMATE has ranged be Mineral Club, Prairie City Club, Hillsboro existed 30 to 40 million years ago are taken • Klamath Mineral Club, •Tyee Mineralites, tween glacial and semi-tropical, and as a result from these beds. Clarno formation fossils, in Klamath Falls Dalles City (The Dalles) the fossilized remains of such dissimilar crea • Lebanon Geological • Umpqua Mineral Club, cluding many varieties of nuts and semi-tropi tures as the wooly mastodon and the crocodile .,S-ociety, Albany Roseburg cal plants, have become world famous.Marine • Madras Gem and Mineral • Vernonia Gem and Fossil may be found today. Club, Madras Club, Vernonia beds in western Oregon contain an abundance • Morrow County Gem and •Willamalane Rock Club, SEMI-PRECIOUS GEMS are found in of fossil sea shells and occasional shark teeth Mineral Society, Heppner Springfield 1, and whale bones. Mollusks and rare specimens • Mt. Emily Gem and Mineral • Willamette Agate and every section of the state, from the beaches Club, Brookings Mineral Society_,_.S-alem to the eastern border ... Oregon gems are of marine reptiles occur in Oregon's rocks of • Mt. Hood Rock Club, •Yamhill County Rock a"d "ageless ", in that they are found among the the Mesozoic era ( I 00 to 200 million years Gresham Hobby Club, McMinnville rocks of many geologic periods. ago). • •
, MINERALS, FOSSILS
0 Agates & Opals
b-banded IC:;) Petrified wood c -carnelian .. i-iris ~ Quartz crystals m-moss 0 Thunder eggs p-plume Plant fossils s -sagenitic $ Animal fossils Jaspers = l\~arine fossils C- Obsidian ® ® Garnet, Oregon "jade" Metal minerals, ores 0 \ A -antimony Al -aluminum C -copper Cb-cobalt Ch -chromium G -gold I -iron L -lead M -mercury Md-molybdenum N -nickel
s -silver i______. ! T -tungsten l i U -uranium i i z -zinc I i 0 i & i I
AND WHERE TO FIND THEM · · · _: __ :1 __ .L_ .LL_ I I AND WHERE TO FIND THEM ... similar to t he "wonderstone" of Utah-in thunder eggs n SOUTHERN OREGON BEACHES-Gem quality provides easy access to the creek bed .. . the Medford ... directions may be obtained at the Prineville Chamber ag ate, jasper, petrified wood, serpentine, Oregon "jade" Chamber of Commerce has a listing of other locations. of Commerce. (grossularite garnet) ... Merchant's Beach and Whiskey El GREEN SPRINGS MOUNTA IN-Banded blue Bl GLASS BUTTES-Obsidian ... this site is found Run produce agatized myrtle and other woods, blue and grey agate, crystal-lined geodes ... best locations are on on 'Rrghway 20 between Bend and Burns ... black, whii·e banded agates, flower jaspers: located off Seven Highway 66 about nine miles east of Ashland . .. nodules variegated and silver sheen volcanic glass is found just Devils Road, between Bandon and Charleston ... Oregon are found in place in a basalt seam exposed by a highway short of mile post 79, south of the highway ... red and "jade" and serpentine are found in the gravel bars of cut, on the left side of the road going uphill ... various gold sheen material in great abundance may be located 1, the Rogue and Illinois rivers, and on the beaches near road cuts near Ashland contain fossil shells of Cretaceous by continuing east to mile post 8 turning south toward Gold Beach . .. Eocene marine fossi ls are found in the ma rine life. cinnabar mine and driving two to three miles on the right sea cliffs at Cape Arago State Park, near Coos Bay ... 1.J CLACKAMAS RIVER-Cinnabar, petrified wood, hand fork of the road ... prized rainbow and double Pliocene-Pleistocene fossils are found in the cliffs south of jaspers ... the river bed above Estacada produces gem flow obsidians also are found. the Cape Blanco lighthouse, near Port Orford. quality cinnabar, a variety of petrified woods and dark Bl LAKEVIEW-Thunder eggs, agate, jasper, nod D CENTRAL OREGON BEACHES-Quality agate, green bloodstone, often associated with common opal ules, agatized wood ... Bullard Canyo n and parallel jasper, Oregon "jade", petrified wood ... beach at ... good to fair roads parallel the river for many miles. Deadman Canyon, on the east outskirts of town, produce Road 's End produces colorful jaspers . . . excellent ml SUN FLOW ER FLATS-Banded agate, crystal blue and purple agate, agatized wood, jasp-agate and t umbling material is found from Oceanlake south to New lineag eodes, jaspers ... area is located on the Wapinitia orbicular jasper ... highly prized blue agate is found port prized sagenitic agates (containing needle-like cut-off so utheast of Bear Springs Forest Camp, between near U.S. Hig hway 395, from two to five miles south of ... \ inclusions), bloodstones, and other jaspers and agates are the Maupin road and the Warm Springs Indian Reserva Lakeview ... the Crane Creek area south of town con - picked up on the beaches between Yachats and Heceta tion ... hillsides and creek beds produce fine material ... tains agate-filled thunder eggs . .. Kelly Creek produces Head- especially near the mouths of Big, China, Cum digging is necessary in, most spots. agate , jasper and thunder eggs ... agates are found in mings, Tenmi le and Squaw creeks ... Miocene marine m CLARNO- Fossi l nuts, leaves and prehistoric qua ntity in the vast Dry Creek area west of town ... fossils, including shel ls and the bones of wha les and sea mammals, blue agate nodules, petrified wood , jaspers, directions at Davis' Rock Shop in Lakeview. lions, are found in t he cliffs at Beverly Beach State Park, zeolites, barite crystals .. . the world-famous Clarno fossi l m HART MO UNTAINS-Qua lity agate nodules, near Newport. beds are located a few miles east of the John Day River, fire opal, crystals of various kinds, sunstones, jasp-a gate . ID NORTHERN OREGON BEACHES-Variety of off the road between Antelope and Fossil . .. amateurs simila r to Mo rrisonite .. . sunstone locations are on the jaspers and agates, petrified wood, O regon "jade" ... may collect specimens in the vicinity of the Oregon desert flats west of the mountains ... nodu les and jasp- beaches near Oceanside contain fine material, including Museum of Science and Industry's Camp Hancock, but agate are found in mountain canyons ... fire opal is colorful jaspers and sagenitic agates ... large specimens the mammal beds are rese rved for scientific exploration found on the high peaks of the west rim ... inquire at are found on Tillamook County beaches ... cliffs border- . an outcrop behind the high school at Fossil contains Plush or at Davis' Rock Shop in Lakeview . ing Tillamook-Bayocean road contain Miocene fossil shel ls. excellent imprints of cones, leaves and Metasequoia m OPAL BUTTE- Opal-filled nodules .. . area is II CLEAR CREEK-Carnelian and plume agates, needles. locatecl about 35 miles south of Heppner, via State High jaspers ... Clear Creek is located near the Nehalem If.I ANTELOPE- Moss agate , jasp-agate, massive way 207 and forest roads. River southwest of Vernonia ... fine material is found botryo1dal agate, geodes, agatized woods ... the Ante ID GREENHORN-Foss ils, variety of gem. material in t he gravel bars of the creek bed and on the hillsides lope area is one of th e best known producers of gem ... sections and fragments of fossil Cretaceous fern above the creek. grade agate in Oregon . .. large boulders of moss agate "trunks" (Temf=i skya) may be uncovered about a mile north g W ILLAM ETTE RIVER-Gem quality agates ... in vivid shades of red, blue, green and yellow are found in east of the ghost town of Greenhorn- several miles north the o est material comes from river bars and gravel the creek bed at the east edge of town ... agatized of U.S. Highway 26 from Austin ... best location is company dredgings, especially from north of Salem to wood is found fo ur miles east of town on the hillside to east of t he abandoned IXL mine, toward Olive Creek ... south of Corvallis ... agates ma y be found even in the the right of the road ... obtain permissioo1 to collect on clearly defined fossils are usually golden in color, some metropolitan Portland area. private land. times red ... Greenhorn fern is jasper-hard and polishes • SWEET HO ME-P etrified wood, banded agate, Ill PRIDAY RANCH (COMMERCIAL)-Thunder well . . . agate and other gem material is found in creek carne.1an agate, jasper, crystal-lined geodes ... th e area eggs containing blue agate, plume agate, green and red beds and gold dredge trailings down river from Bates around Sweet Home was the location of a vast prehistoric moss agate, opals; polkadot ... this famed location is to Susanville .. . digging is necessary in most areas. forest, and an abundance of silicified fossil wood- some reached by driving approximately 15 miles northeast of 1ml WARM SPRINGS RESERVOIR-Black dendritic beautifully colored with clearly marked grain and ring Madras on U.S. Highway 97, turning right on the old ancfwli'ite plume agate ... gem material is found along structure- is found here ... places to look include Ames Highway 97 and driving for two miles to junction of road the west shore of the reservoir, located 18 miles south of Creek and the Calapooya River south of town, Crabtree to As hwood , and following this road for almost nine U.S. Highway 20 from mile post 171 ... best time to , Creek and the hills north of town ... the fields, woods miles ... attendants will direct you to the diggings, and hunt here is when the water is low, from late August into and streams of the area hold banded agates , crystal- a per-pound fee is charged for gem material. winter ... fossils of Pliocene plants are found in a road lined geodes and fire-engine red jasper ... Chandler m PRINEVILLE-Thunder eggs, plume, carnelian and cut on U.S. 20 about eight miles west of Juntura ... ~,fountain is the location of large carnelians ... prized moss agate, nodules, petrified wood ... t he Eag le Rock Pliocene animal fossils are found on the north side of the Holley purple or Calapooya blue agates are found near area 15 miles southeast of Prineville produces outstanding highway just west of Drinkwater Pass. Holley, southwest of town ... fossil leaves may be taken red and black plume agate ... t he Maury Mountain area . m SUCKER CREEK-Thunder eggs, jaspers, petri from the rai lroad cut on the hill above town. beyond Eagle Rock produces green, red, brown and fied woods ... the area south of Adrian along Sucker IU MEDFORD- Moss and dendritic agate, jaspers, golden moss agate and white plume agate, both "float" Creek to Rockville is an extremely productive rock hunting milky chalcedony . .. many square miles of land in the and "in place" ... the Bear Creek area south of town location ... thunder eggs may contain Pastelite or agate area of Camp White and Eag le Point produce an a produces red and green moss agate , nodules and agatized with inclusions of black dendrites, green moss or golden bundance of gem material ... a county road crosses wood sections . . . the Wildcat Mountain area northeast plume ... excellent site is 19 miles south of Adrian , Antelope Creek a short distance east of Eag le Point and of town produces Morri so nite-a hard jasper-like material where the road and t he creek converge. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY4, 1981 DAILY COURIER, Grants Pass, Oregon - D
An Ounce of Gold For a Ton of Ore
\ And Using His Ancient Mill, 82-year-old Miner Tiaman Hatcher is Determined to Get His Ounce
ROGUE RIVER - Tiaman Hatcher says he never takes a Three tons is the amount Hatcher likes to have before the job unless he knows he is a big enough man to finish it. mill is fired up. The 135-poundman has never turned one down. He has, in Recently the men cut a rough road so the ore can be hauled fact, taken on a bigger job than most men would da.re attempt. by tractor and trailer over half the way, but there is still a long Hatcher, 82, is a gold miner, but he is not panning creekside, haul uphill. The conviction that the. ore is rich keeps them go using giant streams of water to wash away hillsides or dredg ing, Hatcher said. ing with a gasoline-powered motor. He and two workers are Hatcher himself needs a lot less to keep going. In his lifetime taking ore out of mine shafts with picks and shovels, hauling it he has been a carpenter, a roadbuilder, a painter, an oxen on their backs over rugged hillsides, and milling it in Hat driver, a farmer, a mechanic and a miner. "There ain't any cher's 50-year-old mill. dern thing I can't do," Hatcher proclaimed with a little slap on They are sure that any day, they are going to strike it rich. his leg. Maybe they already have. The old shaft they are working contains ore that puts a glint in a gold miner's eye. HATCHERDOES NOT ask anyone for anything. He keeps "Should work out to around an ounce a ton," Hatcher said healthy with home remedies and tends machinery, buildings optimistically. That does not sound like much but to a hard and animals on his own. rock miner, the ratio is n:otbad. The old mill can handle about "When my big diesel (the one that provides power to run the three tons of ore a day, and three ounces of gold are worth over mill) broke down and the gears was stripped, I took the dern $1,500.The rub is getting the ore from the mine to the mill. thing apart and put it back together and it hasn't needed a repair for·20 years," he said. Hatcher's disdain for mechanics HATCHERHAS MINED a 20-acre claim near Rogue River other than himself is just about as rigorous as his distaste for for 20 years. He is never really made much off of it. When he doctors. started gold was only bringing $35 an ounce and the original "I wouldn't take any of those medicines," he said. His back shaft near his house was full of low grade ore. "Not worth grin was broken in three places after a car fell on him in 1952. ding up," Hatcher says. Still, the tenacious 61-year-old man "Those dern doctors said I'd never walk again, but I didn't , held on to his dream of striking a rich vein, and he picked, believe nothin' they tried to tell me," Hatcher related. shoveled, hauled and milled tons of it. In the early 1960s Hatcher heard that a mill he had set up Often he would trek off through the woods with his cast iron near Rogue River was being sold for back taxes. He bought it mortar and pestal in his backpack to test the rocks around his for $1,450.He had done some mining near Crescent City, Calif., claim. Trekking on Hatcher's claim is no easy matter. It is and had worked a poor claim on the Umpqua River but had not heavily wooded and straight 11pand down. Hatcher's almost gone all out on hard rock mining before. daily examination of it over the past 20 years may explain his vitality. He walks l,IPsteep grades, leaving less stalwart reporters in WHEN HE AND his now-deceased wife moved onto the his dust. On one of his hikes Hatcher discovered a shaft that an claim, the small cabin was occupied by goats and deer, and the earlier miner had covered over with tons of debris. Less than a mill had not been worked in some time. year ago he got around to uncovering it. "I'd have taken a lot The rickety but functional mill is built on a hillside and uses of gold out of this claim if I could get some good help," Hatcher gravity to aid the mining process. Ore is fed into the top, complained. "The men I get up here to help me usually go out ground fine by a ball grinder and dropped onto tables where in the woods and drink and don't do no good." the gold is shaken to the bottom and the lighter sand washed away. HIS CURRENT HELPERS are exceptions, he said. Hatcher mined for more than 20 years, but when his wife "They're good. They're working hard," he said. "Hard" is an died four years ago he only had $1.35 after paying hospital understatement. . bills. He gets $180a month in social security and together with The two men and Hatcher removed the debris from in front his mining receipts it is enough to eat and keep his 1965' of the abandoned mine. It took them 11 days. Then they cut 100 Chrysler ru1µ1ing.It buys gas for his mining equipment and small trees to bolster the entrance to the mine. Now they chip feeds his chickens and cat. ore from the back of the 250-footshaft, cart it out in wheelbar But in the best tradition of gold miners, Hatcher is sure that rows, load it into five-gallon pails mounted on wooden riches are just around the corner. One day a load of ore is go backboards and pack it up and down over three-quarters of a ing to come over the hill that is going to make his gold miner's mile of hills to the mill. It takes a while to pile up three tons. heart palpitate. He is not slowing down until it happens. A MAGNIFYING GLASS is helpful in determin be ext.racts so laboriously from bis 20-acre claim ing the amount of gold in a sample of ore. Here · near Rogue River. Tiaman Hatcher examines bits of e ore and gold GOLDEN NUGGETS, here displayed in the palm of Hatcher's hand, are what keep the old miner and his helpers working hard day after day. HATCHER STEPS carefully as he walks down the stairs of his ram shackle but functional mill.
A FLASHLIGHT in one hand, Hat ing mill (right) which sits on Hat cher prepares to enter his mine shaft cher's property. When the load of (above). The 82-year-old Rogue ore gets big enough to make it wor River miner and his helpers labor thwhile, the mill is fired up, daily in the shaft. When they have a separating the gold from the rocks load of ore, they haul it to the rambl- and sand.
Story and photos
by May KorbJ/ic, Courier correspondent GE'o . w. L ~n-: e Sr. brc u 6bt Cbine se cal::l.ed Ch 1nee L)ck, from WE1nVE'rVille wit h b :i.m. Ghi.nee lock was his overseer,ma,naging Ch :.;_'.l GP G lnb ,.:,r er s ,,;110 \,;or ke cJ for h i m. 'rhe ,7 mined betwe,3n Rock :r:c) '.on t brid r:,r:1 a ri d Foot o Creek, a lon s RQgu e Rive .r. · .Also r~iriea n EJin-- forl z::s of Fo ots CrGok:, and up Gold Gulch, r' ahout 1:2 r:iile
:fr om --:-o int ·dher e Fnot :::-.C r e Ek runs into Ro cue · River.
Ch'.Lt1e se Loclc: wae an exce1:>tional Chinese .in that he did not steal l!01d from d:l.gg 1os as oth(3r Cblnese did. Mr. Lance , trusted him. ·, 11 11 Ch i ne 88 Loe '.\ make Cl:1ine ::ie worters Ch:l.ok g ang take off shoes, br,o t r::, clotheR, and snarched them for nugp:ets each day before t h eJ le ft pl rice rs, or wh en they le ft p lacers. I \-. I \ I :t!fJrn:b~ Mr. citv :.1 Mr s. MB'litt,si b1Jrte a at s:tght of the ixixvtecx: 'Sl f:',be rmesen g ra v i,. m.ebe r j_e sAn wns a man who 11v .ea with them. \ \
Nc1·i York En g:t neorj_n r.; Co " buL Lt trrn drea p;e managed by D. H. Ferry f( , :J: r-i stock corn nany. Mr. L~rnce (I<'loyd)-h r lped eat the dred g e · lJ"r) ( 1 l' F'oot fl 1fJreek in ]9;2e. . I
(}1r . La.nee 1.mcl ':l L Gr .',H1ts Pass n:=imed Henry Miller~? , \
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BY LILLIIAN KNOTEK NOSiK The bulge of rusty metal, partially cover happy faced, bright-eyed Leslie, knew pre ed with moss, bellied out of the ground. The cisely the year the dredge was first built and convex clump of iron, about tvventy-four operated on the creek. Mr. Cook's response inches in circumference, rose to a rounded recalling the year 1903 as the birth of the peak, about six inches above the surface. It dredge, made it apparent the early settler was surrounded by brush and woods, not was aware of the boat, but with minimal more than fifteen feet from the creek. Over a curiosity to its function. He had very littl~ period of years, the small hill of iron ap information to add, indicating the eiarly resi peared to emerge temporarily, then retreat dents were too preoccupied with their own again into the earth, like a ghost in a grave search for gold. yard. It was during one such period of its showing, the iron was excavated. Records show the first successful dredge in Oregon was built and opHrated on Three buckets, which were part of a Foots Creek in 1903. dredge, were removed. The buckets repre sm1ted a time in the history of Foots Creek. After purchasing property on lower Foots Creek, the Champlin Electric Gold In an attempt to walk in the time of the Dredging Company built a steam powered first dredges, a few surviving settlers were bucket-line dredge. In; 1905 electric power visited. The laq~e monster-like machine, from the Ray plant near Gold Hill, was with its long steel cables reaching out like obtained. The operating cost was reduced arms to steady itself, could not have gone its to one half. The electric-operated dredge way slowly up Foots Creel< without being was equipped with 36, 8 foot buckets. The noticed. capacity of this dredge was 2000 yards Did it mal CLARK'S INSURANCE AGENCY Independent Agency Service "SEE ONE OF THE SINCE MANY FINE PEOPLE 1930 AT CLAHKS INSURANCE" JIM 620 S.W. Sixth St. + 476-7715 Page 34 SOUTHERN OREGON SUNRISE - - -- #j~LGY-?.fjf.v~) In 1911, clue to a problem, recorded only generation to another. Often a newcomer to as an accident, a dredge was lost. Another the creek would accept the story of a lost immediately took its place. Parts of the dredge as more myth than fact. disabled dredge were salvaged, but much of it was abandoned. Stories of a lost When the three buckets, which were dredge had been passed down from one part of the dredge, were exhumed by Robert Quality American & Mexican Food 'The KASHMIR ROOM' FOR YOUR DANCING & LISTENING PLEASURE 515 S.E. ROGUE RIVER HWY. SOUTHERN OREGON SUNRISE . Page35 Joe Nosik recently, the tale of a lost dredge became very real. Mc GREGOR'S Elizabeth (Dolly) Harrison, in an inter ~i view was asked what her memory revealed, involving the lost dredge. The gracious and lovely Mrs. Harrison was born on Foots ~ Creek in 1896. She had, she said, worked for SHOP various Champlin employees as a domestic aid at a very early age, but her recollection CARDS • GIFTS of the incident was not clear. WEDDING ACCESSOFHES Her son Buster, born in 19121 on F;oots 211 S. E. 6th St. 479-5101 Creek, was more reminiscent. Laughingly Buster Harrison recalled the many hours he and a friend spent on the inoperable boat. The imaginary sea voyages to distant lands Old Fashioned provided satisfying entertainmEmt in his Friendly Fountain childhood. II Unique Gift'!, In the years that followed the remains of II the dredge slowly vanished into the earth, Free Prescription but other dredges continued their invasion Delivery of the creek for a time. GRANTS PA.SS PHARMACY The Rogue River Gold Mining Company, sometime referred to as the Ferry Dredge, Phone 476-4262 + 414 S. W. Sixth dredged about two miles on both forks of Quality Prescriptions llll Old Fashioned Service Foots Creek for seven years. In 1935, the 1000-ton boat halted operation. Mike Maffett Tom Lucas The last dredge to operate on Foots Creek was brought, unassembled, by rail road in 1939. In less than'three months the elegant boat was assembled and on its way up the middle fork. This dredge was owned by the Murphy Murray Dredging Company. the 67 buckets, which dug 20 feet below the water line, boasted 4000 yards daily. Twelve men operated and maintained the boat. It had a steel hull 81 by 37 by 6 feet, gantries and superstructure. The barge had a screening and washing plant, conveyor belts for stacking tailings. ,111 PANELU\JG In March 1941, the dredge was dis mantled and moved to another location. • SIDING The mounds and walls of rock parallel ing the creek are the cold visible signs of • PAHTICLE BOAHD another era, a yesteryear on Foots Creek. • CONSTRUCTION PLYWOOD "IT REALLY WORKS" Corner of S.E. 10th & "G" Streets BY JAMES E. BUSSELL JR. Grants Pass, Oregon 'Tis when you shoo your dreams away Phone (503) 479-7571 Of being someone new, You'll find when you're at work or play The joy of being you. Page 36 SOUTHERN OREGON SUNRISE \ . .. ,· ... ' f ~ - I '/ • 1; t l I :,u~~--1-/l,~~_Q.;'L ti ~ "' ~Jk ~/\/ ~~h'YL • ' l ,,- .~ , ~ .J \ J' ! )( LIS- _/ /?oo ,. .\ '~"' J .. ~.J,f . ,,:. ~.:- . ..·- -· _, --' _, ':. i L. • ,,. . 7 0 l\ R / l.. l - l:. t'WoodvdL df1u.u•m. fine. !:P.O !BolC .:/?"'Ju",d(;.,.,, L LL '-L LLLLLLLI..LL1..Li_L U _IL'l+L ? "