Tomah Wisconsin GPAA Chapter – March, 2015

Welcome

Welcome to the 2015 GOLD FEVER Newsletter.  Another year, another gold prospecting opportunity.   

Do not forget the Newsletter and pictures can always be found at:

President’s Message

  Hi all I would like to thank Barb Bublitz for filling in for Dean Race at the last meeting. Dean call on the morning of the meeting to say he was too sore from his recent back surgery to make the trip that day. He can maybe make the April meeting but is leaving sometime in April for his Alaskan claims and is not sure of the exact date yet. He is going to be at the Gold Show in Coon Rapids MN. on march 14^th if you are interested in seeing him try and attend the show. I know many of you were disappointed that he was not there as you were looking forward to purchasing some paydirt. I was too! If he can't make the April meeting I will see if he can get some of his paydirt bags to the meeting with someone else.

    I will be at the Gold Show on the 14^th in MN. The club will have a booth stop and say hi. It’s snowing lightly as I type this, summer seems a long way off, but we have outings to plan for. South Dakota in June, and Nugget Lake in August. I may not make it to Dakotas as I am trying to line up a trip to Dean Race's camp that same week, it was the only time I could get two weeks of vacation together all summer, and I am the vacation scheduler in my department. If only I would have panned for two trips at the beginning of February I could have gotten them both. Probably couldn't have afforded two trips anyway. I will see you at some of the other trips this summer. Wausau has outings planned for Parrish in April and Snyder Park in June on the 11-12 and in September on the 25-26-27. Be sure to reserve your camping site early if you plan to camp, especially for Nugget Lake it fills up fast for the weekends. I will be in site #51 in august.

  I can't make the March meeting do to a conflict with the K of C state bowling tournament. Bob Mandoli will be in Tomah to talk about copper hunting in the UP. I talked to him for a half hour on the phone the first time I talked to him. He seems very interesting, I wish I could make the meeting.

                                                                        See you next month Mike Fait

Upcoming Events

 Mar 7, 2015 – Wausau Prospector Meeting – NO MEETING – Klondike Days in Eagle River, Wi.

Mar 21, 2015 - Tomah Club Meeting at Town of LaGrange Town Hall – at 1:00 pm – Program: Bob Mandoli will be in to talk about copper hunting in the U.P.

April 4, 2015 – Wausau Prospector Meeting – Program:  Gold Panning & Rock Collecting in South Dakota

May 16, 2015– Tomah Club Spring Outing – Metal Detecting – metal detecting hunt no meeting in Tomah.

June 5, 6, 7, 2015 – South Dakota Husker #1 GPAA Claim Outing by Wausau GPAA Chapter.

June 20, 2015 – Tomah Club Meeting – NO MEETING

July 18, 2015 - Tomah Club Meeting at Town of LaGrange Town Hall – at 1:00 pm

August 15, 2015 – Nugget Lake County Park Outing.

Officers  

President – Michael Fait (mgfait@charter.net) 715-384-9265

Vice-President – Gary Morrison 715-316-2160

Secretary – Jeanne Morrison 715-316-2160

Newsletter Editor - Diane North (dbnorth@centurytel.net) 608-635-7031

Treasure – Gayle Fait (mgfait@charter.net) 715-384-9265

Outing Chairman – Richard Niemyjski (richnski@frontiernet.net) 608-637-3295

Claims Director – Richard Niemyjski (richnski@frontiernet.net) 608-637-3295

State Director – Open

Tomah Wisconsin GPAA Chapter Minutes February, 2015

Old Business:       Meeting notes taken by Jeanne Morison, Thank you.                                                                                                                                                       

The February meeting was held at the Town Hall at the Town of Lagrange, 22731 Flint Ave. on Route #21 west of Tomah Wisconsin on February 21^st , 35 members and guests attended the February meeting.

Dean Race couldn't make the meeting due to having back surgery on the Thursday before our meeting and was still in a great deal of pain. Get well Dean from all of us at Tomah. His website is goldfeverprospecting.net Dean will try to get to another meeting if he con before he leaves for Alaska this year.

  A special thanks to Barb Bublitz for being the guest speaker! I think she has convinced all of us to visit the claim in Alaska. Barb Does the cooking and transports the guests from the airport in Fairbanks to Chicken.

Congratulations to Dan Koehler and Kim Mickelson on your wedding! We wish you joy and happiness!

  Kim brought her 5 puppies into visit - anyone interested in her puppies should call her (715)937-2012

 New Business:

March’s meeting will be on the 3^rd Saturday of March on the 21^st at 1:00 pm at the Town Hall at the Town of Lagrange, 22731 Flint Ave. on Route #21 west of Tomah Wisconsin.   Please bring a dish to pass for lunch.    

Discussed upcoming Minnesota Gold show of March 14. Club will have a booth there.  

Speaker will be Bob Mandoli will be in to talk about copper hunting in the U.P.

Raffles: 

Donations to the raffle were from:   Bev and Dave Bender, Larry Bender, Gary ,Jennie, Jacob and Emily Morrison, Gayle Fait, Rich Powell, Dan Koehler, Jeff Hastings, Wayne Ellefson, and Barb Bublitz - hope I didn't miss anyone.

Raffles: 

50/50 raffle winner – Dan Koehler

Gold raffle winners: Barb Bublitz - Chicken Alaska bag, Dan Koehler - gold nugget, Ron Rick - gold bag, & Richard Powell- gem bag

For Sale:   

Bob Mandoli has a Minelab SD2300 for sale with 10hrs of use with charger for $2800 (920)843-1727

Gold Price on 3/1/15 was $1,213.70                Silver Price on 3/1/15 was $16.57

 Respectfully submitted by Diane North – Newsletter Editor

Wisconsin Area Clubs

Greenbush Wisconsin GPAA Chapter – holds their meetings on the 2^nd Saturday of each month at 3:00 pm in the Greenbush Town Hall, N644 Sugarbush Rd, Greenbush Wi. – Contact: Ron Smith 920-207-4092

Midstate Metal Detecting Club – meets every 3^rd Wednesday at 7:00 pm at Shooters Bar and Restaurant at the intersection of Hwy 39 and 54, next to the Shell Station.  Contact: Steve Miller 715-572-1845

Wausau Prospectors – meets the 1^st Saturday of the month at 11:00 am in the community room at Cedar Creek Mall next to I-39 just north of Gander Mountain.  Take I-39 exit 185.  Contact:  Kurt Bublitz 715-340-2831 or e-mail lizzy101@charter.net

 Wisconsin Northwoods Adventures GPAA Chapter – holds their meetings on the 2 nd Saturday of every month at 11:00 am, at the Cameron Community Center, 512 W. Main Street, Cameron, WI. Contact Dave “Wire” Heinsohn (715) 353-2261

Upper Midwest Gold and Treasure Show Date:  March 14th 10 am to 4 pm.

Twin Cities Gold Prospectors will be hosting the Upper Midwest Gold and Treasure Show! Bering Sea Gold and Discovery channels biggest dredger, Steve Pomrenke, will be making a guest appearance and a meet and greet. Also, pick up a hat or shirt to support the Christine Rose from Steve's Booth!

Pan for real gold!! Test out the latest equipment our vendors have to offer! There will be gold and gems available to purchase, prospecting equipment, and metal detectors.... Purchase your Raffle and door prizes tickets including a 50/50 raffle drawing.

$5 admission, Kids are FREE! (16 and under)

American Legion, 11640 Crooked Lake Boulevard Northwest, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

Program: vendor setup 8-10am, show starts at 10, goes until 4, during that time Steve will be introduced and talk about his experiences, equipment demonstrations will run throughout the day, kids and adults can enjoy the panning booths all day long. raffle and 50/50 drawing will be at 3pm. Show ends at 4pm followed by the tear down.

A whole lunch and dinner menu will be offered from the American Legion along with all types of beverages.

All of the proceeds from this event go into securing land for our local chapters to enjoy. Also, we enjoy hosting outings, BBQs, trips and local educational events!

Interested in a table or a booth?   Vendors table $30  Club table $20

Please contact

Rick Bottolfson   Phone: 715-494-0021   Email: bottolfsonr@gmail.com   Twincitiesprospectors.com

Diary of a 49er, Part I: July 5^th & 6^th , 1849, Salmon Falls, South Fork of the American River

July 5th. My share to-day is $1.25. These details may appear dull and uninteresting; but the reader will bear in mind that it is the writer's object to give a full and true description of a miner's life. He might pass by all the days and months of profitless labor, and record only the days of success; but those who have friends at the mines, and those who purpose going there, will certainly wish to know what are the trials and discouragements of such a life. They wish to know the truth.

July 6th. We have to-day removed to the opposite side of the river. This, with pitching our tent, has occupied most of the day. Still, we have made $4 each. I have been seated for several hours by the river side, rocking a heavy cradle filled with dirt and stones. The working of a cradle requires from three to five persons, according to the character of the diggings. If there is much of the auriferous dirt, and it is easily obtained, three are sufficient; but if there is little soil, and this found in crevices, so as only to be obtained with the knife, five or more can be employed in keeping the cradle in operation. One of these gives his whole attention to working the cradle, and another takes the dirt to be washed, in pans or buckets, from the hole to the cradle, while one or two others supply the buckets.

The cradle, so called from its general resemblance to that article of furniture, has two rockers, which move easily back and forth in two grooves of a frame, which is laid down firmly on the edge of or over the water, so that the person working it may at the same time dip up the water. It must be inclined a few degrees forward, that the dirt may be washed gradually out, and must be so placed that the mud may be carried off with the stream. Gleets are nailed across the bottom of the body, over which the loose dirt passes with the water, and behind which the magnetic sand and gold settle. An apron is placed beneath the hopper, and conducts the water, dirt, &c., from that to the body below — a construction similar to that of the common fanning-mill. The hopper, which is placed at the top of the cradle behind, is a box, the bottom of which is a sheet of tin, zinc, or sheet iron, perforated with holes from the size of a gold dollar up to that of a quarter eagle.

Through these the dirt, gravel, and  gold are all carried by the water upon the apron and into the body below, leaving only the pebbles, too large to be passed through, in the hopper, which are thrown out by raising it in the hands, and by a sudden forward, then backward motion, depositing them on one side in a heap. To facilitate this operation, the hopper is sometimes made with hinges, by which means, by the raising the forward end, the dirt falls over behind. There is generally a handle, so placed on one side that the cradle may be rocked with the left hand, leaving it to the choice of the person rocking: whether to stand or sit while at work. The dirt taken from the hole is turned into the hopper at the top. The person, rocking the cradle with his left hand, at the same time uses his right in dipping up continually ladles of water, which he dashes upon the dirt in the hopper. Twenty-five buckets of dirt are generally washed through, the mass in the body of the cradle being occasionally stirred up to prevent its hardening, and thus causing the gold to slide over it and be lost. It is then drawn off into a pan through holes at the bottom of the cradle, and “panned out," or washed, in the same way as in prospecting.

While this is being done by one of the company, it is common for the others to spend the ten minutes' interval in resting themselves. Seated upon the rocks about their companion, they watch the ridge of gold as it dimples brightly up amid the black sand, seeming to me always the smile of hope, while many enlivening remarks and the cheering laugh go round. At length, the washing completed, the pan passes from one to another, while each one gives his opinion as to the quantity. The holes in the bottom of the cradle are stopped, more dirt is thrown into the hopper, and again the grating, scraping sounds are heard which are peculiar to the rocking of the cradle, and which, years hence, will accompany our dreams of the mines.

http://nevada-outback-gems.com/gold_rush_tales/california_gold_rush1.htm

To Be Continued.

MAY THERE BE GOLD IN EVERY PAN !!!!