94 
GRAVEL AND PLACER MINING IN ALASKA. 
[bull. 263., 
method is inefficient in thawing the valuable ground. The method is 
worthy of the serious attention of the Fairbanks placer miners, how- 
ever, as will be pointed out in the discussion of that district (p. 97). 
HOISTING. 
For hoisting and conveying, say to a distance not exceeding 200 feet, 
the Dawson self -dumping carrier, with accompanying bucket, cables, 
etc., and steam hoist, must be used in order that the most economical 
work per man employed can be done. This device, which is shown icj 
fig. 18, is without doubt the best system of handling gravel from a 
shaft of shallow depth now in use in the Northwest. It is strong and 
compact, and is simple in operation. Those parts which by their posi- 
tion receive the most strain and iar can be made sufficiently durable tq 
withstand hard usage. 
Fig. 18. — Dawson self-dumping carrier. 
No springs are used in the construction, for the reason that at lo^ 
temperature, say of 40° F. below zero, metals are very brittle, anc 
the constant jar, a necessary accompaniment of the work of thif 
apparatus, renders springs and any light metallic member unsafe. 
As fig. 18 shows clearly the construction of the carrier, only a fev 
words need be said of its operations. 
It may be stated that three distinct operations are accomplished 
two of which are performed by the carrier, the third being effected bj 
an auxiliary rope used in dumping the bucket. The first consists ii 
engaging the bucket as it arrives from the shaft and carrying it to tb 
dump box, the second in returning the bucket to the head of the shaf 
and there dropping it to the bottom. As the carrier returns dowi 
