Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-05-11
The Production OF Gold

Someone, whose name II Ia not stated, bt
who is spoken Of by an eastern paper as an
experienced minor operator. Is reported As
saying; III don't fear that you and will ever
suffer from famine OF gold, but unless the
North American deposits are richer than Is
expected someone will suffer" He thinks
that nine -tenths Of all the gold obtained by
man has been taken from placer deposits.
The proportion now taken from such depos-
its Is comparatively small, and he thinks II
will be smaller hereafter, because the world
has been so thoroughly explored that the dis
covery OF rich deposits Is hardly 10 be expect
ed. He thinks II probable that in the north
western eItens ion OF our western mountain
range there are important deposits OF gold,
but that the supply from that source will be
only moderade perennial stream, because OF
the cold, long winters and the difficulty OF
transporting supplies. We can not expect
more than 81, 900, 900 year from Mexico. s..
900, 900 from South America, and SIC, 900, 0O0
from Australia. This, with possibly $35, 100
900 from this continent north OF Mexico,
would make total OF $4,000, 900. in his es.
Innate the possibility OF proftsbly working
the large deposits in the Allegheny belt 10
considered.
Such estimates by experienced men possese
a certain interest, but they are really not OF
much practical value. II is by no means i'm.
possible that there will be an important In.
crease In the output OF placer mines even IN
parts Of this country that are popularity sup
posed to have been very thoroughly explored.
In The american Banker OF the cath inst IL is
stated that placer operations on a gigantic
scale, like those which have been almost sole
~ confined to California, will be feature Of
the coming summers mining operations In
Colorado. The result will probably be 10
double the gold product OF the state" The
Bdnk'r goes on TO show that pacer-mining
was at one time very productive IN Colorado,
and that 1t was abandoned not because the
placcrs were exhausted or ceased to yield
profitable returns but because they were neg
lected IN the craze after the new thing In sill
yer and smelling plants. THE fact is" says
The BMker, that only those placers have been
worked which lie In guich bottoms, where
water can be easily obtained. There are in
the state many high bars and mesas which are
rich In gold, and can be made exceedingly
profitable II worked on an extensive hydraulic
llan. The operations OF the San Miguel are
the first Of The kind in the state. They will
furnish model which future operators will
copy, and they are the beginning Of new
mining era in Colorado
IL there are known and rich deposits in
this country that have not been worked for
years II Is not unreasonable TO suppose that
there are msny unknown ones in both North
and South America aud In other parts OF the
world as well. There Is the great African
continent, OF which the civilized world as vet
knows comparatively little. II surely Is not
impossible that fields as rich as those OF Cali
fornia and Australia will be discovered ia the
dark continent. II Is also true that the great
er part OF Arabis Is now known only TO
wandering Bedouins Even In China, when
II comes 10 be thoroughly explored BY
Europeans and Americans, NAV be found
fields as rich as any that have hitherto been
discovered. IL IL indeed true that no great
finds may be made hereafter, but We need not
borrow trouble about that possibility while
there is so vast q territory that has not been
thoroughly and intelligently explored.
But even II the production OF Gold should
gradually decrease and finally cease alto
gether In the course OF a century or so there
need not necessarily be any great suffering In
consequence. Gold is not pershsble, like
most other products Ii is not transmitted
and IS but slowly consumed in the using. The
annual product Ia not more than about per
cent. Of the total stock. II production should
entirely cease the coin supply would be the 4
same AZ first and ii would decrease by loss y
and abrasion very slowly. Besides the use OF
coin is more and more economical Improve
meDts I'm the mechanism OF exchange are
more widely introduced from year 10 year,
and there Is reason 10 believe that this move
meDt has thus far more than compensate for
the decrease In the gold product.-Ch Chicago