SNAKE
RIVER GOLD
by Lawrence L. Dee, Geologist
From Exploring Idaho Geology by Terry Maley
Gold Dredges On the Snake
Several large dredges were built and operated on the Snake in attempts
to economically recover the fine gold. The first, the Burroughs Dredge,
was reportedly built about 1892 and operated from the mouth of the Raft
River down to the Starrhs Ferry Ganyon. The dredge consisted of a boiler,
engine, and six-inch sand pump. The richest gravel it found was at the
mouth of the Raft River which ran 37 cents a cubic yard (gold at $20/ounce).
The Burroughs dredge was very modern for its time and was capable of washing
about 200 cubic yards of gravel per day. However, it suffered greatly from
downtime because of the large boulders that were caught up in its suction
pipe.
The second dredge was built by the Sweetser-Burroughs Mining Company
and operated in the river in the area from where the Raft River joins the
Snake to near Burley. This suction-type dredge operated for about ten years
and, because of its low operating costs, did return profits. The mining
company also built large water wheels in the river just below the present
site of Minidoka Dam, and raised water for sluicing the sand on 216 acres
of mining claims. This did not prove very successful and the wheels were
later used for irrigation. . . . The era of Snake River gold mining remains
an exciting part of Idaho's history. The Snake River deposits are certainly
one of the most interesting and unique gold deposits in North America.
Fine Gold of Snake River
and Lower Salmon River, Idaho
State
of Idaho Pamphlet ~ 1945
From available information it would appear that every conceivable kind
of apparatus has been tried - bucket dredges, suction dredges, dragline
scrapers, dragline shovels, picks, shovels, and wheelbarrows, etc. With
the exception of one instance, there is no record of the economic success
of any of the large-scale ventures.
In 1902 a report was written on the Sweetser-Burroughs Dredge. This
operation was successful to the extent of paying two $10,000 dividends.
This dredge ws of the suction type with a 10-inch diameter intake. The
hull was 30x90 feet and drew three feet of water. Bell states that the
actual daily capacity ws 2,500 cubic yards. He gives the cost (apparently
for 1902, which includes all charges) as 4 1/2 cents per cubic yard. The
material handled ran 10-20 cents per cubic yard. This operation proceeded
so successfully that a second dredge was built. This time a conventional
bucket dredge was selected. The capacity was 2,000 yards per day over a
twenty-months' period.
The numerous investigators of Snake River gold deposits are all unanimous
in stating that, at least up to the time of their investigation, the small
operation alone has paid a profit. An exception is the Sweetser-Burroughs
Suction Dredge (more scientifically known as the Hydraulic dredge).
No information concerning the dragline operation of the late 1930s and
early 1940s is at hand, so it is not known how successful such operations
may have been. A very considerable quantity of gold was produced during
this period.
Tables
and References
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