The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-09-14

With tho exhaustion OF tho great bo-
nanza" Of the Constoek, and tho 70.
striction of hydraulic mining in Califor-
mia by legislation, the production Of
gold In tho United States had declined
10 S3O,0O0,OO0 In 1883. and during tho
six wears previous to 1903 fluctuated be-
tween So, 800, 900 and s3S, $4,000. This
regularity was due to the facts that but
little OF tho output was derived from ir'
regular alluvial deposits. and by far the
greater part came from well-developed
rroups OF lode mines in California, Col
orado, South Dakota and Montana,
which have given comparatively
steady yield. During this time there
were no new discoveries that added
largely to the output though
the mines OF Cripple Greek, Col,
wero opened in 1901 and were
productive in 1892. But in 1903 those
mines made an increase OF Sl,433-,
900, which alone accounts for about
one-half OF the increase In the United
States product over that OF the previous
year. The remainder Is to be at
tributod TO the greater attention d.
rected to gold mining in all parts oil the
country Especially in Colorado and
Montana, induced by the decline in
the value OF silver. Silver mines, which
can be worked successfully no longer,
have been closed down, and gold mines.
which had been neglected previously
on account Of the greater profit to be
derived from silver-mining, have now
been reopeued aud exploited with
Characteristic western sRorgy. Thus
Leadyille, COL, which formerly had
been the largest producer oil silver and
lead in tho United States. with hut Two
small gold mines, became advertised rs
a promising gold-mining district, and IN
one year It's output Of gold has increased
from SOC, 900 to SS97, $50.
Hydraulic mining was resumed In
California in 1893 under tho provisions
OF an act OF Congress permitting 1t
with certain limitations; but contrary
to the expectations Of the miners Of
that state, who struggled long and
hard for the repeal OF tho restrictive
law. there was not an important iu-
crease in its output Of gold. This, how
aver. was due doubtless to tho fact that
the commission to regulate this class oil
mining was not appointed until May,
and although twenty or thirty operators
took out licenses, they were not prepnr-
cd to begin work Immediately upon an
extenslyo scale; indeed, their
outnut Ia hardly likely 10 be
felt before tho end Of this year,
or perhaps 1895. II must be borne
in mind. moreover, that there can never
be a great increase in output from this
source. At the tImo placor-mininH IN
California was suspended tho yield oil
the alluyial diggings was only about
81, 900, 900 per annum, aud thls amount
may be taken as the maximum 10 10
won il work were resumed IN an OF tue
idle mines; this. however, Is improoa-
BILE. since, in order to reopen them un-
der the new law, It ia necessary to con-
struct imponnding dams for tho debris.
etc., involving largo expenditures OF
money, as q consequence OF which many
that were operated ten years ago may
not now DO profitable.
Tho mines OF Cripple Creek now give
every promise Of maintenance Of their
production, and the causes which leo 70
Tho iucroaso in 1893 on the part oil the
other mines OF this country are sun
lucrative. The improvements in the
chlorination and cyanide processes o.
gold extraction and tho methods oil
smelling pyritic ores that are continu.
alIy being made will add to tho output
Of gold, by making available many ores
which cannot be- treated economically
at present, but still moro important WIZ
be tho reduction in the cost oil mining
and milling that will result from TO-
adjustment Of tho wages Of labor IN the
Rocky Mountains, which surely cannot
be DELAYED much longer. These are
now disproportionnlly high In compari'
son with the cost OF living and the sup
ply OF labor, aud although changes
have been resisted successfully hitherto
By tho strength Of tho miners unions
and tho lawlcssnoss Of their menbers,
the latter will have to recognize soon
TINT tLe action oil economic laws cannot
he banked forever in such manner.
Tho prospect 10 strong. thcroIoro, Tor
s,oaiy increase In the production oil
gold In tho United States.
Summarizing these data it may DO
amid that all OF tho countries when
mado Increased outputs q gold in 1878
aro suro TO make n further increase ~
Isgi with Tho exception OF Russia, and
.S"h -, 10, MAILING thia aXcODs