Dredge No. 4 National Historic Site

During the early years of the Klondike Gold Rush, more than 30,000 miners hand mined for gold on the rich placer creeks. Much of the gold was simply too difficult and expensive to remove using hand mining techniques. While hand miners were working hard, promoters and investors were looking for long-term mining possibilities in the Yukon.

In September 1898, the first dredge began working the Yukon River. Promotion of the Klondike fields brought in two large companies, the Canadian Klondike Mining Company in 1905 and the Yukon Gold Company a few years later.

Large land holdings, called concessions had to be available to the corporations. Through negotiations with the Federal Government, the first concession was granted in 1900 to Joe Boyle. The corporations constructed hydroelectric power stations to supply a reliable and consistent supply of power to run the dredges. They constructed a system of dams and ditches to provide an adequate supply of water for the dredges.

Dawson City was the key to the success of the efforts of the large corporations. It could provide government administration and banking services. The transportation network, of rail and steamship, that ended in Dawson City, ensured that the companies could receive the supplies of machinery that were needed to operate. Dawson City also provided a large labour force and suppliers and services to meet the corporate mining needs.

Dredge N^o. 4 built in 1912 for the Canadian Klondike Mining Company, was the largest wooden hulled bucket lined dredge in North America. It worked in the Klondike Valley on the "Boyle Concession" until 1940 and then was relocated to Bonanza Creek and worked this valley until 1959.

At the peak of corporate mining, a dozen dredges, churned through the creeks. Dredging continued in the Klondike until 1966, when the last of the Yukon Consolidated Gold Company's dredges shut down. Dredge N^o. 4 represents the many decades of corporate mining in the Canadian mid-north through the 20th century.

Summary

Dredge No. 4 commenced operations in May of 1913, and dug its way upstream in the Klondike Valley into what was known as the "Boyle Concession," sinking there in 1924. In 1927, it was refloated and continued to operate from the Klondike Valley to Hunker Creek. The ground at the mouth of Hunker Creek was so rich the dredge produced as much as 800 ounces of gold in a single day on Claim 67 Below. It operated until 1940. The dredge was rebuilt on Bonanza Creek by the Yukon Consolidated Gold Corporation and from 1941 to 1959 worked the Bonanza Creek valley. One of the two dozen dredges that worked this area, Dredge No. 4 rests on Claim No. 17 Below Discovery on Bonanza Creek near the spot where it ceased operations in 1960.

Milestones

1898
The first dredge began operating in the Yukon.

1899
Promoters negotiated with the Canadian government for large tracts of land

1900
Joe Boyle from Woodstock Ontario, was granted 40 square miles of land.

1905
Canadian Klondike Mining Company managed by Joe Boyle, built their first dredge.

1906-1925
The Yukon Gold Corporation operated nine dredges.

1909
Yukon Gold Corporation built the Twelve Mile ditch to provide water for hydraulic mining.

1911
North Fork hydro power plant was in operation and supplying electricity to run all of the dredges.

1912
Canadian Klondike Mining Company Dredge N^o. 4 was built.

1921
Canadian Klondike Mining Company went bankrupt.

1923
The Yukon Consolidated Gold Corporation was formed and they were the only company until 1966.

1940
Dredge N^o. 4 was relocated to Bonanza Creek.

1959
Trapped by increasing labour costs, shrinking gravel reserves and the fixed price of gold, Yukon Consolidated Gold Corporation shuts Dredge N^o. 4 down.

1966
The last of the four operating dredges are shut down, ending Yukon Consolidated Gold Corporation's mining operations in the Klondike.

1970
Parks Canada acquired Dredge N^o. 4

1997
Dredge N^o. 4 was designated a national historic site

In brief

The dredge was electrically powered from the Company's hydro plant on the Klondike River 48 kilometres (29 miles) away, requiring 920 continuous horsepower during the digging operation. Extra horsepower was needed occasionally for such things as hoisting the "spud" (pivot) and the gangplank.

The dredge moved along on a pond of its own making, digging gold bearing gravel in front, recovering the gold through the revolving screen washing plant, then depositing the gravel out the stacker at the rear. A dredge pond could be 91 metres (300 feet) by as much as 500 feet (152 metres) wide, depending on the width of the valley in which the dredge was working. The operating season was on average about 200 days, starting in late April or early May and operating 24 hours a day until late November.

Specifications

Dredge No. 4 is 2/3 the size of a football field and 8 stories high. It has a displacement weight of over 2,722 tonnes (3,000 tons), with a .45 cubic metre (16 cubic foot) bucket capacity. The dredge could dig 17 metres (48 feet) below water level, and 5 metres (17 feet) above water level using hydraulic monitors and washing the gravel banks down.