Rock and a Hard Place — Independent gold miners fear extinction as a new wave hits the hills
(Aug. 30, 2007) Salmon River (Mining) District. This district, the largest in Siskiyou County, comprises its entire southwestern corner, and includes the drainage area of the Salmon River and its tributaries. Topographically, it is a tangle of mountain ridges separated by precipitous canyons and river gorges. … The main gold-bearing rock belt of the county crosses through the middle of this section.
— from a 1916 report by Fletcher Hamilton, State Mineralogist, on the Mines and Mineral Resources of Siskiyou County.
THE BEER TREE
FORKS OF SALMON, Calif.— Someone plunks a couple packs of Keystone Ice and some Coronas on the picnic table under the huge English walnut tree that anchors this rare flat spot in the canyon, and lays a bag of ice on top. It’s a sleepy, hot Friday noon in mid-August. Drivers on the skinny road that hugs the crumbling canyon walls through this remote region near the Humboldt County border holler greetings as they slow to make the sharp curve past the half-dozen miners hunkered at the table and in stray chairs. In an expanse next to the walnut tree, several kids and a mom race around laughing, chased by an overgrown puppy. Across the road a tiny makeshift store gets steady business from the “beer tree” crowd and the passing cars. Nearby is the Forks of Salmon School and a post office.
Noon wanes into afternoon; hands reach for fresh beer, others snap open soda pops. Someone lights a joint and the gab intensifies. Old mining. New mining. The rollicking past. The uncertain future.
“They want to clear out all the small-scale miners,” says Chad Stanford, halfway down the afternoon’s conversation.
“And they won’t come at you face on,” says his dad, Bill. The two have claims a few miles from here. “They’ll use law, paperwork, rules, regulations and police to run people outta here.”
It seems to be a preoccupying fear in this crowd — eviction.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 NEXT PAGE >SHARE
→ post a comment
on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent on the cover
May 17
Ring of Fire
Sun and moon will perform a rare pas de deux in Humboldt skies on Sunday
May 10
District Soup
Racing for the top county seat in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts
May 3
A Place in the Woods
As park closure deadline nears, a scramble to save what we can
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
More →
0 Comments