OLD WALDO LANDMARK FALLING INTO RUINS
The
Illinois Valley
News
4th
ANNIVERSARY
NUMBER
Mines-Timber
Edition
SECTION 2
Cave Junction, Oregon
May 9th, 1940
Geologist Reviews Mining
Industry In Illinois Valley
BY RAY C. TREASHER
Field Geologist, State Department
of Geology & Mineral Industries
Mining is an important industry
of the Illinois Valley region, amount­
ing to approximately $100,000 annu­
ally in value of production. Gold is
the principal metal mined, of which
99 percent comes from placer mines.
The latest figures that are avail­
able for the individual mining dis­
tricts of Oregon show that the min­
eral production of the Illinois River
and Waldo mining districts for 1937
was valued at $42,542 and for 1938
at $82,945. This is practically 100
percent increase for 1938 over 1937.
It is expected that figures for 1939
will show a marked increase over ’38
and with several new placer opera­
tions the 1940 production should in­
crease materially over preceding
years.
The Oregon State Department of
Geology and Mineral Industries is
preparing a catalog of mines of Jos­
ephine and Jackson counties and at
present their records show some thir­
ty operating placer and lode mines.
Of these, there is an impressive list
of “firsts” of which the Illinois Val­
ley justly may be proud.
The famous Esterly placer mine
east of O'Brien, operated by C. R.
Stout, is the leading hydraulic oper­
ation in the state of Oregon. U. S.
Bureau of Mines figures show that
in 1937, the Esterly produced 592
ounces of gold from 50,000 yards of
material, and in 1938, 517 ounces
from 100,000 yards. Placer ground
is below creek level, and use is made
of hydraulic elevators to lift the
hydraulicked material to a level suf­
ficient for tailings disposed and to
provide for slope of sluices for gold
recovery.
At present, operations are in Fry
Gulch. Not only is the Esterly the
leading hydraulic gold-producer in
the state, but it produces more plat­
inum than any other one property in
the state.
The Plataurica Company, a placer
operated by Fred Galeno, is located
in the same general area east of O’­
Brien. This company is hydraulick­
ing gravel that represents the old
early Tertiary or late Cretaceous
channels that have proven so rich
in many instances. U. S. Bureau of
Mines figures show that the Plataur­
ica produced 119 ounces of gold from
80,000 yards of material in 1938.
The leading drag-line placer in
Southern Oregon is operated by the
Atlas Gold Dredging Corporation
which has leased ground on Althouse
Creek. At present they are mining
the old Leonard place.
Their out­
fit consists of a Link-Belt dragline
with a 2 Vi yard, heavy duty mining
bucket, and a Bodinson washing
plant. This company has a well
equipped machine and blacksmith
shop with welding equipment, cater­
pillar bulldozer, trucks and other mis­
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Throughout the west stand the ruins of many ghost towns—towns around
the discovery of some source of wealth such as mines, timber, or saw mills.
After the need for the community had passed men left and the buildings were
left to moulder in ruins. Such was the case of Waldo. The gold discovery in
1852 at Sailors Gulch gave rise to the need of a source of supplies and a de­
pository for gold waiting shipment to the government. So the town flour­
ished. Here the first county records were made and kept.
Today the need for the community has passed. All that is left is the ruins
of four buildings. Chief among them is the old store building shown in the
picture. This is the first fire proof building in Oregon. Over its counters were
sold many tons of miners supplies, from its doors pack trains made deliveries
into the mountains as far as Happy Camp in California; and in its safe many
thousand ounces of gold rested in safety.
The store was built by the Weimers of the Weimer mine. Mr. C. Decker
ran the store for many years. The last to keep store there was Mr. George El­
der.
Some little effort has been made toward setting aside the building as an
historic land mark.
As yet nothing has been done.
We feel that it is a
worthy thought.
Illinois Valley Forests
Huge Source of Wealth
BY HAROLD BOWERMAN
District Ranger
The people of the Illinois Valley
are fortunate in being abundantly
supplied with many forest resources.
The resources of these forests are
many and varied. Their conserva­
tion depends upon the unified coop­
eration of all, and this may be stimu­
lated by bringing to mind a few of
the major values.
Before reviewing these values, the
United States Forest Service policies
of management should be considered.
The primary objective of all policies
is that of “the greatest good for the
greatest number in the long run".
This course may temporarily incon­
venience a few individuals, but it is
the only sure way of guaranteeing
present and future prosperity for the
community and the nation.
The second, but no less important,
objective is that of conservation of
our natural resources. By “conser­
vation” is meant the proper manage­
ment and use of our renewable re­
sources, such as timber, cattle ranges,
wildlife, and the basic soil resources
within the forests, so that we may
have a perpetual supply of all of
them. But in order to accomplish
this, we must not use our resources
faster than they are growing or are
being replaced.
Josephine County benefits directly
from the sale of forest products on
the Siskiyou National Forest within
the county. 25% of the gross Nation­
al Forest. In other words, Josephine
est products within the county is
returned to the county for use on
county roads and schools.
An addi­
tional 10% of the same income is used
on roads and trails within the Nation­
al Forest, nl other words, Josephine
County receives 35% of the gross in­
come by which schools, roads and
trails are bettered, land values in­
creased, payrolls created, extensive
bodies of timber made accessible, and
outside capital and population
brought in.
The National Forest policy on
“multiple use’’ as contrasted with
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