New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-02
GOLD AND SlLVER.

Mr. Burchard's annual report OF the produc-
ton OF gold and silver is in one respect more
praiseworthy than other excellent reports which
have preceded IT, The coming value OF silver
il clearly distinguished from the CONNIE rclal
value so that the meaning of the report cannot
be misunderstood it means that gold of the
market value of $50, 100000 aud silver of the
market value Of Sl2O00.0O0 were produced
from the mines of this country during the year
1854. The annual statement of Mr.. Valentine,
Of Wells, Fargo & Co., which appears much
earlier and is regarded with great confidence in
commercial circles placed the production west
Of the Missouri River ut $25. 567 gold,
Sl3. ,925 silver. $6,S3l,09l lead and
SO. 0S6.252 copper. Hence the discrepancy
between the Mint statements and those OF MIR.
Valentine which had for some years been Ill
minishing, seeins to grow wider this year; instead
of difference Of $2,200,000 as to the yield of
1883 there is difference of about $l,2OO,OOO
allowing 5000, 900 for the yield east OF the
Missouri Riyer-as to the yield of 1884.
It has been stated OF late that the fanatical
advocates of silver coinage were preparing a
violent attack upon Mr.. Burchard, and hoped
10 peIsuale the President 10 turn him out, not
as n rascal" for no one has Questioned bis
fidelity, but Oh the ground that he has become
@gold bug" lie does not dlstOrt and falslfy
his reports ia such a manner as to SUIT some OIL
tho silyer-rlaniacs, and they charge that he
makes the yield of gold too small, and the yield
or silver too large, in order TO please the money
sharks of Wall Street. The absurdity OF this
charge may be Judged from the fact that Mr..
Burchard's latest report, like all others for
tha al IF lnrOpr 4
onpears to be from the returns of Mr. Valentino,
which are iu Wall Street commonly accepted as
likely to be the more correct of the two, and
makes the yield of silver smaller than tho
report of Mr.. Valentine. There is no reason to
suppose that the discrepancy il due to bad faith
or either side. Apparently it springs wholly or
mainly from a difference in the estimate OF the
comparative value of gold AMI silver obtained
from ores which contain both. Mr.. Valentines
methods Of computation on that point are In
some respects preferable to any Others yet en-
Moved. but he may nevertheless be less
accurate in respect to tho proportion OF silver
taken from other ores than i'll respect to the
yield of the Comstock lode.
According to any report or computation, there
appoars To be great shrinkage in the amount
Of gold produced within tho past SIX years
The Mint reports made the yield over $50, O00,-
900 for the fiscal year 1873, and nov make it
only about $50, OO0,O Mr.. Valentino made
the Weld of gold $44,sS0,000 in tho calendar
wear 1877, aud now makes it only about
S25 500, 600 for the calendar year 1884. On
the other hand, Mr.. BurcIlarPs report makes
the Weld of silver about So, AGO. 900 larger than
that of last year. If these facts are inconven-
lent 10 the advocates of silver coinage, it is
nevertheless for che interest of the whole people
that they should DO clearly and authoritativcly
stated. Tho truth that the supply OF gold is
falling short of the worlds requirements is
much too important to be hidden because it
does not fit the theories of some people.