Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1892-01-29
AFRICA AS A MINING COUN-
TRY
Denver Mining Industry

Africa as a golden region has
been tabled in legend, song anc
story for centuries. Around the
name itself is centered the wlldes,
dreams of the most visionary OPP
timist. In the dawn of history
it was the golden store house OF the
world, and its lost mines have
formed the theme of many fascl-
mating novel. 1t has remained
For this generation to try TO find
and resurrect them; and there are
probably good many who are en-.
gagged in paying for the chase who
will wish that the time had been
postponed century or two.
The American reader knows
little of this dark and unknown
land. The English reader knows
more and 1t is proper that he
should, for he has paid for his
knowledge. What he has learned
is interesting, and worthy of con-
sideration from any standpoint.
The African gold mining craze
began IN London about ten years
ago. 1t reached its height about
two years ago, and is now on the
wane. In the ten years past there
have been enormous sums OF En- .
gllsh money invested in Sonth
African mining schemes. Good
authorities estimate the amount
at from $450,000,O00 to $780,
Q00,000. The human mind cannot
realize such a vast sum.
There are numberless African ex-
ploratlon companies organized IN
Great Britian and the shares are
said to be widely scattered, the
craze for such investments having
been quite general. The invest
ments have not been all fortunate
nor all unfortunate, nor have the
investments been lost. They are
only transferred from the pockets
of one class of men to another.
They are illustrating the law of
Capitalization. But these invest
ments from the British national
standpoint are wise. They give
Great Britain vast new and unex
plored regions and increase her
power. There is one company
alone-the British South African
company which has concession
of territory covering over half
million square miles, region five
times as large as Colorado, in which
they have vlce-regal powers under
the English flag. 1t is modelled
after the old East India company
which gave England her power in
India. added Hindoston to the
British empire and made untold
millions of profit for English in
vestors. This is only one of the
many companies operating there.
1t is hoped that it may do in Africa
what the East India company did
in India. 1t will be good thing
for civilization If it does.
The Dark Continent remains al
most the only unexplored region of
earth, and it is large enough and
furnishes field enough to suit any
one. 1t also offers difficulties to
the explorer that are far from in
viting. tbs cursed with summer
climate that is horrible Fevers of
the most deadly type lie In wait in
most regions. There are almost
impenetrable forests and jungles
aud long stretches of arid lands, or
deserts, to say nothing OF the
reptiles and wild beasts, that add,
at lsast to the inconvenience of
living, If not to the actual dangers. |
Summer begins in December or
January, and no unacclimated
European thinks of going there at |
that season. He waits until June,
when the winter begins and when
the least risk from fever is run.
If we can believe the accounts
that appear we'll authenticated.
gold is found almost everywhere in
Africa Certainly the product
under the stimulus of late prospect.
ing and mining is enough to be