170

but the average was much less, and after the old driftings were unwatered
the average flow was only about 560 gallons a minute or 806,400 gallons a
day. The amount pumped increased only slightly during the freshet, so
that it is probable the underground water is separated from the surface
water by an impervious stratum extending for a considerable distance up
the creek. The ground was drained for a short distance above the Eleven
of England upper shaft, but not up to Stanley. Drift mining was done
at many places along the channel, which was found to be over 150 feet wide
in places and to have an even and low gradient. The last work done was
somewhat above the mouth of Anderson creek and above the old driftings
from the Eleven of England upper shaft. The total amount of gold
recovered during the mining operations, which extended over nineteen
months, was 2,035 ounces having an approximate value of $37,450.1 The
average value per cubic yard was $3.11. In addition, 53 ounces were
recovered during the development work. The total underground cost of
the breasting, cleaning bedrock, timbering, tramming to the shaft, etc.,
averaged $1.65 per cubic yard of gravel mined, which is probably about the
lowest underground cost for drift mining in the district. But this cost did
not include the cost of pumping or the fixed charges. The development
work cost about $150,000 and the operating costs of the mine, not including
fixed charges, were possibly $4,500 a month. Before work was suspended
at the mine in April, 1907, it was reported that ground of much higher
value than the average of that mined had been found at the mouth of
Anderson creek. In any case this ground is only of small extent, and
apparently sufficient work was done in the main channel of Lightning creek
above the mouth of Anderson creek to prove that the gold values were not
sufficiently high to pay for drifting. One of the last pieces of work was a
crosscut (prospect drive) to the north side of the main channel, about 700
feet above the old Eleven of England shaft. In this crosscut the main
channel was about 120 feet wide and there was another channel about
30 feet on the north side and about 10 feet above the main channel. Water
from the end of the drive and the fact that the main channel contained little
gold led L. A. Bonner to believe that there was another side-hill channel on
the north side. Five borings (Figures 28 and 29), made in 1921 and 1922,
showed that there is a depression in the bedrock, but apparently no well-
defined stream channel was found, nor was any gold obtained from the
bore-holes. The cross-section of bore-holes 2 miles below La Fontaine
mine showed that the ground has a maximum depth of at least 200 feet.
The boring was done with an hydraulic jetting machine and, although the
method was not entirely satisfactory for determining the gold values, it
probably gave a fair estimate. Mr. Joseph Wendle, who was in charge of
the drilling, states that probably not more than 10 cents in gold was re-
covered from any of the holes.

The Ah Quay hydraulic mine is located fairly high up on the south
bank of Lightning creek, about one-half mile below Last Chance creek.
The property was worked for many years, but has not been operated for
some time past, except on a small scale by J. F. Williams, the present
owner. It was owned and operated from 1898 to 1903 by Cariboo Con-
solidated, Limited, and was later rented and operated for several years by

1Ann. Rept., Minister of Mines, B.C., 1906, p. 39.