WINNEMUCCA - This picture is of the Barber Canyon "land dredge," another of W.W. Fisk's rescued negatives. This was taken is in the early 1930s. A California company had taken up a thousand acres of claims and set up the dredge. They drilled wells to supply the large amount of water it took to float and operate that dredge. The shovel provided the gravel for the dredge to process.
From what I remember being told, the shovel would keep moving back up the canyon, the dredge working with it. (Again, mining people help me out here. I'm remembering this from my childhood!)
It seems odd to see pictures of dredges in the Nevada desert, but it was an efficient way, considering the technology, to placer mine. I am aware of several other locations where they used dredges: Squaw Creek, below the Esmeralda Mill near Newmont's Midas mine and at Spring Creek.
Now when you see these crescent waste piles out in the canyons, you'll know how they got there.
I'd been told, as a child, there had been a dredge in Barber Canyon. Looking through the old negatives gave me the photo, I already had the story, and a little research confirmed it.
I'm hopeful other people can similarly add to our history. Look at those old photos and negatives! Remember grandpa's stories! It's fun!
- Compiled by Barbara Powell
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