The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28
UP-To-DATE MINING METHODS.
They Have Opened = New Gold Era for the
Pacinc Coast.

The golden lining to the silver clouds that
hung over this country q year ago Is just be-
coming apparent. When this Government
ceased its purchases OF silver. and the minis Of
India were closed to the white metal, the
financial outlook was dark indeed. But ont Of
evil good often comes, and. whatever other
effect these measures may have had. they have
resulted bcnefcially in causing n greatly in
creased activity in gold mining. Never before
in the history OF this State have the prospects
been 50 fattering. The spectacular effect
that accompanied earlier mining excite
ments Is wanting. but there is in its place
an element Of greater stability and per-
manence. The romantic era. when the pop
~ulation. red -shirted and roughly clad, wandered
among the gulches and foothills OF the Sierras,
with pick and pan: searching for the precious
passed into history. The more intensely dra-
matte era, when the fever of speculation
coursed through the veins; when every %fiuctua-
tiOn in the prices OF stocks was watched with
eager interest by millionaire and pauper. by the
clerk in the. counting house and the serving
maid in the kitchen or nursery. when fortunes
were made and lost in a day. and when every
6snS.d vas sv rsh e ~nst@fa h,s , wes't Account wsr eT ar
by n scrap of worthless paper-this second and
more unwholesome era has also passed. TO re-
The mining of to-day, While IL lacks the ele-
ment OF wild excitement, IL on a more solid basis
and has a far more substantial prosperity. Min
ing methods are more scientific than they were,
wasteful and extravaganza processes have been
laid aside, new ana improved machinery has
been brought into use, and private companies,
operating quietly and snbcrly, are reaping n
harvest nndreamed, Of even III thedays when the
placer mines lave been diligently worked over.
There are still golden grains. and nuggets in the
river beds, but not In sufficient quantities gem
orally 10 pay corporations for working them. al
though individual miners can still make grub
But the placer mines at best held only the
overflow Of the richer original deposits, The
wealth in the hillsides poured over and the sur
plus was carried with the rain into the rivers.
From nprtl 10 sDuth. tlFDuRhOut Tho wbpln
stretch Of the Sierra range, are lodges laden
with their golden treasure as yet untouched.
Quartz mining IL still in its infancy despite the
vast stores OF wealth that have already been
wrested from the earth; DRIFT, mining will Yet
add untold millions 10 the wealth Of this state.
The output Of gold this year will far exceed any
thing Of recent years.
world, this same renewed activity Is seen: Colo
RADIO, Frustrated last year by the repeal of the
sherman law, stands to-day as one Of The wealth
fOrnis will be closely pushed for first position
among the gold bearing states Of the Union.
less !" y ysSn So s., 6 5oe SStr s q. as. o q SiSiE1S c %ns
fOrnia produced more than twice that amount.
The next year Colorado Increased its output six
ty-five per cent, while the increase in California
was only eight per cent. This year the difference
In Montana twice as many properties ard being
worked this year as last; in Australia there is
unusual activity. and the outpnto OF south Africa.
which a few years ago contributed practically
nothing 10 the worlds supply, is estimated for
this peat AT s4s, 900, OOn.
Hen thllioEnla, fustEhNe. eHh hureia hib
began, in the early tfties. their immense output
OF gold, prices were seriously affected. Prior 10
ls50 the annual product had never exceeded
$50, OOO, 900. or slightly more than will be pro-
duced in the two States of California and Col
Orado this year. During the next five years the
annual average was Sl31. OOO, 600. the highest
point reached being in 1881. when the output
was Si55. 900. 900. After that date there was a
decline in production, In 1879. twenty years
later, the output was 500. roo 900; in 1888 il
was SD4, 900, 600. Last year. however, the effect
OF the increased demand fOr gold was felt. and
the output reached and passed the figures of
1893. The most careful estimates place this
years production at 81 20, OOO,OOO For the four
years since 1890 the annual average exceeds
that of lS5O-55 by 81 IL. 900. 600.
What Is IN be the effect OF these immense adj
ditiOns To the worlds supply Of gold, The in
creased production Of lS5O-lS60 resulted in "a
decline in the purchasing power of gold. or, ex-
pressed differently, prices generally rose. The
same result should be seen at this time were IL
not for certain other factors that are at work.
creased demand. and that demand will alb
sOrb the surplus as IL Is produced. Again,
the worlds stock Of gold is far greater
now than, II was forty years ago. and adj
ditions that would materially affect the
mass then would not be felt now. IL Is therefore
probable that, unless continued for a number
OF years, the increased production will not affect
the business OF the world. The effect in Calf
fOrnia will, however, be different. The annual
addition OF fifteen 20, twenty millions 10 the
wealth OF this State is bound to affect all husi-
s%uficient 10 build the proposed railroad through
the San Joaquin valley. The cost Of = new trans
continental line would scarcely be felt II taken
out Of several years output.