Bingham Bulletin | 1930-03-27 | Page 2 | Desolation in Wake of Gigantic Gold Dredges

Desolation in Wake of Gigantic Gold Dredges Automobile tourists through th northern part of California are liable to hare their attention attracted to mountains of cobblestones frequently seen. 8ometIme these piles sre SO or GO feet high and several hundred feet long. Tbey are never beautiful and they add nothing to the landscape. In fact, tbey are eyesores, but ther is little prospect of their removal These pile are the sccumulatlon of th gold dredges, gigantic constructions which eat their way through th land and leave a trail of desolation. Farm lands and orchards are brought op by tb operators and left In ruin, for the land la useless for any purpose whatever after the passu g of the dredger. These machines cost about a quarter of a million dollar, but the cost of operation la very small. A large quantity quan-tity of the earth must b treated to recover a email quantity of th yellow metal, but at thut the business Is very profitable. The stones taken from th soil r oseful only to grind up for cement, but th pile standing today will offer crushed ston sufficient for th demands of th ntlr country for many years. Washington 8tar.