Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1882-01-14
BULLION PRODUCERS.

have the great drawback of discount
to contend against; a serious amount
to be considered Tin connection with
other items hereafter mentioned) in
the working of ores and tailings, me-
cessitating reduction of expenses In
every way to make the industry at
all profitable. The wholesale mer-
chant suffering loss of IA per cent.
ON his goods would be ruined when
the cost to him would be no less than
it was before. Numberless mines are
now lying idle, also thousands OF
tailings remain unworked on account
of discount. We have to suffer sore
ly, but still might hold our own if it
were not for the contemptuous treat
ment of the bullion producers by the
government. They are not protected
in any way but all kinds Of advant-
ages are taken to mulct them of their
hard earnings. Our government, in
order that iron, wooden, cotton, wine
and other industries may thrive, caus-
es tariff to be placed on importa-
tons OF these materials, thereby al
lowing the manufact to make a
living. and not only a living but
enormous profits, the silver producer
having indirectly to assist in the
higher prices he has to pay in this
result. But the government takes
another course when silver is consid
cred. AS coon as any is required for
coinage enquiry is made, where can
We get it the cheapest? A telegram
across the Atlantic informs them it
can be bought at certain price in
England or Germany the American
producer has to sell at the same price
and our own money is sent away to
be returned in silver bullion-nO
tariff here, not a bit of tive have
to stand the competition and sell at
foreign prices; the iron, wooden and
cotton manufacturer does not; the |
tariff is added to his price and he
10 secure in his profits and can calcu
late accordingly.
The market rate is now IA
per cent. discount, $1,12 per ounce is
paid for it, and the silver is paid for
in silver and the gold in gold.
Charges are made for parting, melt
ing. etc, and after these are deducted
then our consistent government pays
us in a dehased coin of 412 grains
weight, ON which is stamped one
dollar, containing rctually only 371
and eighty. five one hundrsdths grains
in silver, the balance being copper.
Is there any other government under
the sun that takes such contemplate
advantages of certain one industry
of the country2 Look at the profits
it makes off the silver producer. A
in an evening paper lately
stated "during the two fiscal years
ending June 30th, 1881 the Carson
Mint made a profit of $2S4,757S9
on the coinage of silver" This is
and a disgrace to our
Mr.. Burchsrd in bis
report of the "Production of Gold
and Silver of the United States"
after giving an account of the amount
of silver bullion purchased worth
pes. 232, $40 coming value states that
the domestic bullion exported was
$6,912,864 commercial value which
should be computed at coming value
of $3.50, 1854, profit on this lot ia
little more than one third of the
production) of $967,790, or in round
numbers for the total of $2.217, 500.
The government will say the cost of
coinage is considerable, and the above
does not show the true profits. We
admit that, but taking the cost of
these simultaneously. s. MINIS
as run by the government (and they
can be carried on by private individ-
uals at less than half the cost the
profit is still large where there should
be none, and which profit ought to
go into the pockets of the silver
producer to assist him in paying
other pulls on the purse in the shape
of taxes on net proceeds Of mines,
his bullion in hand and other gov.
eminent taxes too numerous to men,
ten. 1t is a wonder the miner is
able to live at all, and it is doubtful
If he could if outside assistance was