The Arizona sentinel., 1877-09-01
The Future of Gold.

The strongest argument that has yet been advanced against the universal establishment of the single gold money standard has just been given to the public by Herr Edward Suess, Professor of Geology at the University of Vienna, in a book entitled. "The Future of Gold" The author is no mere dabbler in finance, aud brings with his remarkable work upon this important subject, the weight of a brilliant record in scien- tific researches as a geologist, and mineralogist. We have not yet been able to secure copy of the book, but find in late number of the New York Tribune a review of the work, which gives many of the essential points advanced by the learned Professor. Herr Suess asserts positively that the total production of gold from the re- motest epoch known to the pre- sent time, has not been great enough to warrant the adoption of the single gold standard gen. orally in Europe: and that man. kind is in far greater danger of an ultimate gold famine than of the exhaustion of the coal beds of the earth, as was once considered pos sible. The existing stock of gold, coupled with that which may cDn- tinue to be extracted, taken at the maximum that may be reasonably anticipated, Professor Suess men, tions, is of so little magnitude re- latively as to excite the rational fear that there will not be enough gold for the exigences of the fu- ture generations. The total produc- tiOn of gold for the quarter of a century ending with 1875, Herr Suess estimates at 19,804, 100000 francs ($2, ,-249, ,000,00O, of which IA, 783, ,000, ,000 francs were supplied from the alluvial or placer mines, and the remainder, 2,021, 100000 francs ($391, ,000, ,O00,) was derived from all other sources. His con- clusion is this:
 From all geological revelations the reproduction of gold must es- sentialIy depend upon those parts of the earth where for a certain time the primitive formation was left exposed at the surface. If we mark upon a sphere all such spa ces, excluding the seas, oceans and lakes, the steppes, salt waterless deserts, and regions covered by Polar ice and eternal snow, and deduct the ground which has been exhausted, more or less, in the course of ages since the period when Rameses 1T. sunk shafts in the Akita, the gold-field of that epoch, we must necessarily reach the conclusion that up to the pre- sent time more than half of the quantity of gold which could pos sibly be extracted from the earth by any means as yet known has already come into the hands of man.
 Owing to the improved process es by which mining is carried on, there is reason for expecting this exaustion of the supply to be reach ed all the sooner. Consequently the period when the production Of gold shall diminish in a perma- nent manner and degree is rel ;- lively approaching; and it must unavoidably happen, according to 
 centuries. He maintains, there fore, that in proportion as gold .shali become rare, it will be i'm practicable for it to maintain it. self in the money function with which it has been invested, and it will have to be replaced. The'si yer supply, he confidently expects may extend forward with a remo- te future.-[ Oakland Tribune.