Wichita eagle., 1888-06-21
4 YANKEE IN RUSSIA.
A CLEVER AMERICAN GETS GOLD
FROM REFUSE SAND.

A CLEVER AMERICAN GETS GOLD
FROM REFUSE SAND.
The Natives Astonished Beyond Measure.
The So Called Crank Makes Contract
with Prominent Mine Owner-CapitaI
and Science Succeed.
Together with the great awe the average
Russian feels for the car. he cherishes a
like respect for,the clever Yankees In
1885 the city Of Ekaterinburg was visited
by two Strangers certain Russian CAPT
talist. Zelenkof, and an American chemist.
All efforts of the professional gossipers of
the town to learn anything about the
strangers were utterly useless Nothing
was known Of them save that during
their short stay they were frequently
seen around the mines in the suburbs of
tho city. in the adjoining forest, as
though engaged in some geological re-
search One fine morning, however.
they were gone and nothing was
heard of them until the spring
of 1885. when they appeared again
and at this time evidently fully
prepared for business. Almost the very
day of their arrival they were seen on the
outskirts of the city, and the number of
various apparatuses which they had along
soon exposed their secret. They were
testing and experimenting upon some of
the enormous quantities of iefel or sand
spread all over the field, which is re-
jected by the mine owners as useless
Such an apparent absurdity was enough
to arouse the whole town. The Jokes,
comments and general amusement at the
expense of the ''cranks" knew no bounds.
Zone may as well test the mud of the
street.-the result will be the same"
Such remarks were heard on all sides.
The "cranks." however, entertained diff
ferent opinion about the matter After
having completed all the necessary exper-
iments, they called upon Novikof, one Of
the most prominent mine owners in Ekat-
erinburg.
IF you remember" said Zelenkof, 1--WE
had the pleasure of meeting you a year
and a half ago, when, with your kind
permission, we filed a bag full Of your
iefel"
"Of course do. batiushka. Well, do
you wish to have some more of it7 You
nre perfectly welcome to all you can
gather and more" sneeringly added Novi-
kof
You are very kind. indeed. At the
same time we should prefer to sign con-
tract by which we bind ourselves to pay
you certain amount, say 400 roubles per
each pood of gold "a pood is equivalent to
forty pounds}, that we may obtain from
your iefel."
iHof CD -
as though scarcely able to realize his
whereabouts, and then remarked:
well, now. gentlemen, | do not wish
to be made fun Of.
Not at all. interposed Zelenkof We
mean business. We wish to pay you 400
roubles for each pood Of gold obtained
from your iefel. and to that effect we wish
to sign a contract"
MILLIONS IN THE SAND.
few more words brought Novikof to
terms. A similar contract was at the
same time obtained from another promi-
nent miner. The first step having been
accomplished the next was to break the
ground and erect large factory with all
the modern improvements Men. women
and children were frequently seen in
crowds viewing the greatest wonder of the
age-that OF manufacturing gold out Of
iefel. OF course. opinions as to the sue
cess OF the enterprise varied Novikof
himself thought. and he did not at all
hesitate to express his thoughts. that the
''cranks' would fail before long. He
changed his opinion, when In the course Of
year the strangers succeeded in produc-
ing eight pools GAO pounds) of the high
est grade Of gold. while be himself, after
expanding fortune and using what he
considered the best gold ore, produced only
ten pools.
This occurrence created quite sensa-
ton in Ekaterinburg. Millions in the
sandl Millions that no one ever thought
of Millions spread all over the feldl
What a discovery" Both Zelenkof and
his American companion. especially the
latter, became the heroes of the day.
They were frequently called upon by the
miners Of the surrounding towns and
villages, who in the most simple manner
urged them to disclose the secret"
Five hundred thousand roubles and q
written agreement to keep the secret to
yourself" was the dscouraging reply
which they received from the "heroes.
The successful enterprise of Zelenkof &
20. has undoubtedly proved to many of
tbs Russian capitalists that capital and
science combined go much further than
such an uncertainty as luck" The sue
cess that this firm met is waiting for
many. About five years ago poor Ger
man graduate from the mining school
leased a few desiatins of worthless"
land. He is said to be worth 200. coo
roubles now.
And still the car is in need of funds
and his sole advisers are devising all sorts
OF means to borrow money and to tax his
subjects. Times.