The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-03-05
HOT FoR IDAHO GOLD AND SILVER
MIN m.

The present depressed condition Of the.busi.
ness aud financial interests of the country
has tendency TO enhance the Importance,
and increase the interest Of the public in the
production of the precious metals in our
Western States and Territories. And the
interest which q number of the citizens OF
Keokuk have in the mining regions, and the
amount Of money which is going from our
town under the charge of some of our citi>
gems, justify brief article, general and spe.
cial, on the subject.
The increase in tHe quantity Of the pre-
cious metals added to the circulation Of the
world during the present generation has
been enormous Prior to the discovery of
gold in California, the annual production of
the mines Of the world was about $50, 200, 900
per annum. The California gold seekers ad-
ded more than that sum TO the amount per
snnum from the very start. And for the last
six years we have the following estimate of
the yield of gold and silver from the mines OF
the Pacific coast:
1soi.........s5s,o oo, 600 1884 ss5, ooo, ocO
ls62.......... $4,000, 900 Ise5...., IS, 500, eoo
This shows . steady increase during the
last six years, while the war was raging in the
country. And now that the war i,
over, and men Of enterprise and OF
means are seeking profitable investments,
we may safely count on a large increase.
The Railroads are penetrating that region,
Forts are being established, for protection
against the Indians, settlers are rushing in,
end companies are being formed, all over the
country, who are sending forward machinery,
men and means, to develope the mines, I'm.
der more favorable auspices, and on more
j. enlarged and permanent plans.
i. The Idaho mines, in which some of our
citizens are interested, are mainly silver
mines, and those in the Owyhee and Flint
district, were undiscovered till 1868, since
which over ten millions of dollars have beer
reported. These districts contain the rich
est silver lodes in the world and the num-
Der and extent of the gold and silver bearing
lodes, seem inexhsustible. We have hereto
fore alluded to specimens, which we hav,
seen, from that region, r.Aa~g or -Li~L -
quite remarkable, from their richness. Blu
we had, yesterday, the opportunity of seeing
q collection Of specimens of silver ore from
che Poor Mans, Silver Monarch, Forest
Sherman, and other lodes, that surpss
anything in that line, which eve
came under our observation. These speci
mems we're shown us by Mr.. Jacobs, of Ne,
York City, who has been engaged in investi'
eating the mines and the processes of obtain
ing the metals for some years past, and VIII
is deeply interested In the Poorman's an,
other lodes in that section. He seems to b.
thoroughly posted, both scientifically ant
practically, in the mining business, the ms
chinery, and the mechanical and chemics
processes for obtaining the precious metal
from the mountain beds in the rocky lodges
and putting in shape for the United State
mintage. The Companies here congratuIai
themselves on their good fortune in having pro
cured the benefit of his experience and coun
sels IN selecting their machinery, and puttinl
IL into successful operation at their mines il
Idaho.
Col. Mcqueen and DR.. Ford, Representing
these two Companies, have already starte'
east to take the steamer TO California, an
Mr.. Perry and Mr.. Gsfford will start on tn
same mission, by the overland route, in fe'
days. And henceforth Keokuk will have
sufficient interest in Idaho to warrant ou
citizens in INDUCING an earnest desire 70
the rapid development and permanent pros
periy of that Territory.
The progress off the Pacific Railway is rap
idly bringing US, into close connection, and i
che course of . couple of years more, we sha
be able TO make the tripby Rail to with
ninety miles at the farthest of the Owyhe
and Flint District mines. This will not OIL
facilitate communication between Keokuk IN
our citizens in the mines, but will cheape
supplies at the mines, and facilitate the tran
portstion Of bullion, increase population
and add hundreds to the half score of quar-
mills "peggipg away in the lodges Of III
section.