The Portland daily press., 1896-01-11

silver has flowed thither. During the
thirty three years ended in 1892, India I'M
ported and Kept about 1926, 900, 600 in
gold. That is indeed a bottomless we'll
into which stream of treasure Eerpetu-
ally flows, draining all the rest of the
world.
| 1t is said that there is huge amount
of boarded gold at Peking. The Chinese
officials commonly make large fortunes
out OF their places, corruption in that
country being the almost universal rule.
They are afraid to put their money into
banks, because their superiors would dis
cover its existence and contiscate the
whole of it. So they buy gold bars and
secrete them. Consequently gold always
commands a considerable premium at
Peking
Meanwhile, thanks to newly discovered
fields and improved methods of mining,
the gold production of the world is stead
lily growing, and will progressively in
crease for some years to come Tho yield
for 1885 has been the greatest in history,
probably exceeding $780, 900, 600. The
United States alone produced about $780,
GOO, 600 OF this total-an increase Of S., 900,
900 over 1894. The new Cripple Greek
district, only four miles square, is ship
ping 81, 600, GOO worth of gold monthly.
This field is as yet in its infancy. In
South Africa are being developed tho
wonderful mines of the Rand, which
constitute the richest geld field ever
known. 1t has an extent of forty miles,
through which run number of gigantic
reefs of ore. These reefs consist mainly
of quartz pebbles embedded in a matrix
of sand and quartz. There is no gold in
the pebbles, but the material of the
matrix is full of it. The ore yields an
average Of fourteen dollars per ton.
1t is calculated that the output of the
Rand mines will have reached by the
year 1900 an annual value of 500, 200, 600,
and that within the next half century
the total production Of gold from these
deposits will not fall short Of So, 500, 600, s
600. In 1891 they yielded $1,000, OOo, and
in 1895 they have produced about $40, O00
600. Deep borings prove that the reefs
continue with equal richness as far down
as 2 800 feet, and it is believed that they
extend to the greatest depth accessible
to human labor Within two years the
annual output will exceed $50, 900. 600.
One reef is calculated to have a paying
length of 30, 900 feet, an average width of
five feet, and depth of at least 5, 200 feet.
This gives 100000, GOO tons of ore, of
which 1000, 900 have been taken out The
remaining 80, 100000 tons will yield co.
600, 600 ounces. worth 81, $50, COZ, 900. Five
years hence there will be 5000 stamps
running. At present 10000 laborers are
employed.
The total gold product Of Africa in 1894
was ,948, 100 ounces, worth $40. 271, OlO.
Probably it will be found to have risen
nearly to 500, 600, 0o0 for 1896 1t is GER
tain that great and rich gold fields in
various parts of tho Dark Continent re-
main as yet unbound, or at all events, un-
developed. Mashona.and and Matabeeland
are known to be very rich in gold, but
those territories have been opened TO the
whites only recently. All that part of
Africa as far north as the Zambesi River
is capable Of yielding gold, both alluvial
and quartz-reef. From Beira, on the east
coast. inland to Salisbury there are indi-
cations Of extensive mining performed
centuries ago. In some places old shafts
are still to be seen. 1t is believed that
Beira is the Ophir of the Bible.
Many tribes of natives in Africa mine
for gold in crude fashion, mostly by
washing the gravels of the streams The
yellow metal thus obtained is carried to
the coast and there disposed of in barrier
at the trading stations established by
various European countries The coast
of Guinea has furnished gold dust from
| time immemorial. The Ashantees and
frentees furnish about 100000 ounces OF
gold annually. valued at 81, 700. 600,
Considerable quantities of gold come
from Timbuctoo and other parts of the
interior, constituting. with elephants
tusks, the most valuable products of those
regions. Along the so-oalled gold coast
OF Africa there is no native family with
out it's ornaments of the purest gold and
often Of artistic workmanship. The in
sigma of the court officials Of a native
king are almost invariably covered with
beaten gold. and gold dust among the
people is common medium Of exchange.
Immense deposits of gold remain as yet
almost untouched in South America. In
Colombia and Ecuador are regions rich
in the yellow metal. Stories of great
'smother'' veins in the mountain ranges.
said to have been worked by the Incas,
and now jealousy hidden by the natives,
are frequently heard. Expeditions have
been undertaken many times to find al
legged lost mines, but they have BEEN uni
form!y unsuccessful. 1t is an undoubt
ed fact that the Incas at the date of Pig
arro's conquest did possess great stores of
gold, but it should be realized that these
treasures were prok ably the accumula-
| tlon of ages. When the miserable natives