Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-23
PR0DUCTl0NI0F G04Ds
Opinions as to the: Output Of the
Ysllox Metal.


fupply the ever increasing demand Of con-
gressional resolutions and individual CON
gressmen for knowledge. They arc inclined
10 optimistic views on gold production,
and 1t may be said generally that just at
present there Is an, apparently concerted
attempt to convince mankind that there is
lavish abundance Of gold, and that
within reach. Tho views Of every one from
the mining regions are sought, and con-
grcssfnep from those regions, as might be
expected, give somewhat contradictory
though very interesting accounts.
Congressman Sweets Opinion,
Mr.. Sweet of Idaho, In brief talk on
che subject, said: ''Idaho's gold output
has been about So, 0OO, 900 per year, and
undoubtedly the cessation OF silver mining
will stimulate the production Of gold for
little while. The men thrown out Of work
In silver will prospect thoroughly, and
many will WORK talings and low grade
pIacors which they would not have worked
a few years ago, because they must do
something and can at least make a living
at that till better prospect opens. But
on one point am well satisfletl-that all
the increase of gold thus caused will not
make up, or at any rate more than make
up, for the loss caused by stopping the
mining in those silver ores which contain
both silver and gold. 1t is too often for
gotten that n very large part Of our gold
comes out Of nominally silver ore. Stop
producing the silver and you stop rroduc-
ing the gold. Such il the opinion of the
best posted men in Idaho, and am salts
fed it is true. 1t is very plain to me that
there can be no great increase in the
worlds supply Of gold, and that in few
sumcd In arts and ornaments. Gold Is
steadily growing more valuable, and as it
docs so the wealthy will use still more for
ornaments. Tknow that wonderful stories
arc told about South Africa, and every few
days we see 1t announced in the papers
that there IL II wonderful revival in gold
mining, and that the product is to be rap
idly increased, but it is all rot. When you
take the yearly report, at the end you find
about the same old amount produced.
Gold In Washington.
Mr.. Hartman of Montana Endorses all
this and adds n few moro suggestions. He
Is satisfied that in his state also there will
he n considerable revival of placer mining,
and that some lodcs will be worked which
would not have paid few years ago be-
cause machinery is cheaper now and the
men must work at something, but the in
crease thereby in the long run will no
more than make up for the decrease due to
the cessation Of silver mining Mr.. Doc
little of Washington says: 'Gold docs not
rank high among the productions of our
state We have such enormous resources
I'm grain, lumber, fish, coal, almost every
thing, in fact, that the amount of gold pro-
duccd In some mining states would seem
to us too small an item to think much of.
and so do not remember the amount. 1t
Is II fact however, that in many sections
of Washington there is great activity in
gold mining of late. They arc putting in
all sorts of new and ingenious appliances
on the river bars for collecting the fine
gold, and the new processes of reduction
will make tho work more economical.
Still l am satisfied that the discourage
mcnt of silver mining will not perIna-
ncntly aid gold mining The two pursuits
must he harmonious. The gold supply
will increase of course, but have no facts
leading mo to think that the increase will
be very great, nor do just now reInem-
her any one in Washington who thinks
that the demonstration of silver can be
made up by an increase in the gold prod
uct. 1t seems to me that the depression in
agriculture and the general decline in
prices must go on for some time yet.
senator Jones' View.
The views of Mcssrs. Pence OF Colorado
and Ncwlands of Nevada are much more
radical In favor of silver, but neither pro-
fosscs to have any special knowledge as to
u possible increase in the gold supply. SEN
ator Teller, however has some rather hope
full views on the prospect and gives spcci-
flcations to show that the increase in Col
ormIo will he considerable this year At
tho mint the opinion is entertained that
the yield of that state may even reach SEQ,
600, 600 per annum before long Senator
Jones has nothing to add to his speech on
the repeal bill last October, which is the
great cyclopedia from which silverites now
draw their statistics and arguments. Ho
says, however, that rs practical man no
is trying to exploit gold mines because tho
world is now willing to pay high for gold.
The committee rooms where tho flnan
cial question is chiefly discussed are pretty
we'll supplied with documents from foreign
sources in which much Is made of the Won
dcrful prospects in South Africa, one re-
port going SO far as to say that in the great
Wittwatersrand district there are rising
above each other eight blanket beds Of gold
bearing quartz. as shown by government
borings, and that there Is certainly gold
enough there and easily obtainable to sup
ply the civilized world with $1,000 per
capita. At all this Senator Jones shifts
oonteinptuously and says it is simply the
work of London and South African papers,
which are booming the stock of the mining
companies. AS amatter Of fact, the yield
OF all Africa south of the equator has not
yet exceeded IS, 900, 900 per year The flg-
ures ore tcyiious--too tedious perhaps for a
dispatch like this--but the subject excites
so much interest here, and the interest is
increasing that tho whole country win
soon be invited to consider it, and every
scrap of information. as we'll as the views
of those best informed, is eagerly sought for.
The bribery Charges.
So far as there is any expression of feel
ing on the wholesale charges of bribery
against senators it Is of disgust and con-
tempt No one believes that either Scna-
tor Kyle. Hunton or anybody else would
listen to proposition to sell vote for
money, but back of this there is q real
question between the two parties, each al
leging that tho story was started by the
other to bring outside influence to bear
upon the senate, and that is really what
rs, inv tipy, inns mr. Holm q