The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1893-12-09
RFFECT or REPEAL.
Capt. J. B. DsIanar Gives His Views
on the Present Situation.

J. r. DeLamar. owner Of the DsLAmar
mine in Idaho, il Communication Of
grest Interest 10 the silver controversy.
Thus far in the discussion the silver
mine owners have he'd for their public
spokesmen only such men as Senators
Stewart and Jones. These gentlemen
have predicted ss result Of the prss-
ent situation, AbsoIuts ruin to the silver
industry, and disastrous contraction in
the national currency. Their state
menss have been accepted by men like
Senator Teller, Representative Bland
and Gov. Waite, Of Colorado. Captain
DeLamar's name commands a respect
and authority in the silver mining in
dustry far above any OF these. He is
known in the mining district as per-
haps the most scientific miuer and
shrewdest prospector now active in the
business His own mine he bough and
undertook to improve, in 1885, after
others had abandoned 1t as worthless,
and it now yields, net over expenses,
s8Oo,o0o:
"Will the price of silver decline fur
ther ?n
IL think not much, as am reliably
informed that the production in the
United States has fallen of to such an
extent that when the next annual sta
tistics are issued by the government
they will show decrease in the pro-
duction OF 40 to As per cent, possibly
more, and that this rate OF decrease will
be shared by the rest OF the world.
Therefore, as silver is entirely regulated
at present by supply and demand, and
as over production deprecated it's mar
ket value, decreased production should
act the REVERSE
"Will tho closing down of silver
mines result in . larger production of
gold ?u
''Undoubtsdly, as every miner who is
laid off on account of the depreciation
OF silver prefers to taks his pick, shovel
snd gold pan, some Blankets, provis-
ions and an old tent, strap them on bis
burro, select partner for his venture,
and start for anywhere that Offers what
he il in search Of, placer gold. Many
of them don't stop until they reach
Alaska, and when they can't get work
at So so per day, they will work on .
bar as long as they get 81 so So per day.
This production has already swelled the
production Of gold materially, most par
ceptibly in Helena, Mont. and Denver,
Col, where the United States assay of
fee now receive as much gold in one
month as they used to get in four to five
months, go am told.n
tWhat is the probable future of gold
production in the United States and the
world at large ?n
"Only ono result may be expected
that is much larger production. Gold
mining has extended itself to every
part Of the globe, viz: Australia, Brit
ish Columbia, China, Japan, India and
Africa, especially the two latter, which
already rank high in the production Of
gold. South Africa is doubling its pro-
duction annually, and as the area Of its
gold belt is extensive, its production
bids fair to snrpass expectations
"How has the fall in the price OF sil-
yer affected the wages of the silver
miners ?'
ITO some extent reductions have
taken place from time to time but not
commensurate with the drop in silver.
For instance, in Idaho and Montana,
when silver was quoted at par Il. Q.
$1.29 29-100), wages we're 81 per day.
When silver dropped to $l.l0 per sunce
wages were reduced to $3.50, although |
continued 10 pay for years afterwards S4
per day. Then, in 1890, silver fell to
81 per ounce. In 1891 it averaged 95
cents in 1892 it was 84.4 cents, and in
1893 assume that it may average "a
cents per ounce. But the same wages
are paid now in Idaho and Montana,
although the other mining states re-
duced wages to $3.50 and S2.75. The
result of this variance is that in Idaho
and Montana more mines have been
compelled to shut down that in the
states whore reasonable reductions were
inaugurated.n
"What will revive the silver mines OF
tho West ?"
1.-TWO things undoubtedly; the in
increase of production Of gold added to
the decreased production of silver which
would raise silver's price, and an agree