The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-23

Charles Buffers, an eminent Amerl-
can mining engineer. who has been IN
johannesburg, South Africa, for some
time. inspecting the workings of the
district and having charge of some of
the largest mines, is in Denver, and
will come to this city, after he has
looked over the gold resources Of the
Centennial state.
His visit to this country is chiefly for
the purpose OF examining into the gold
resources of the country, with a view
to their further development by Ameri-
can and European capital. Incidentally
il may be well to remark that he is one
of the seven Americans arrested, with
John Hays Hammond, by the Boer
government because of the reform
movement in the Transvaal, at the
time of the Jameson raid last year
He was released May 20, fined $4,000
and compelled to give a bond not 10
interfere with the affairs OF the Boef
government for period of three years:
Mr.. Buffers went to the IranSVaal
in the spring of 1891, at the instance
of Wehrner, Belt & Co. of London, the
largest mine operators in the world, his
mission being to assist in the treating
of ores. The firm had spent some
G6O00 in unsuccessful handling of re-
fractory ores before he went, but before
he had been there long he had demon
strated something new in the cyanide
process. the results obtained being of
highly satisfactory nature. Nearly $780,
00O tons are now being treated on the
Witwatersrand by the improved process
each month.
He afterward became connected with
the Rand Central Ore Reduction COM
electrical fornraSS for the
treatment OF refractory ore, and is now
managing director of the company.
There are millions OF tons. which before
this time had been considered untreat-
able, which his process will work. This
stuff is q sort of slime, or clayey ore,
or mud it should be called and all
was permitted to go to waste ere he
solved the problem.
According to his statements, made
in the eastern papers, gold mining is
better organized in the Transvaal than
anywhere in the world. The best en-
gineering ability is employed and
everything is worked according to the
best system obtainable. Capital in
large quantities was obtained and the
combination thus formed worked adj
mirably.
Investors having made a great deal
of money and finding the future less
golden in prospect. have turned their
GlAClllOll tlSEWuclf- II Appeals mat
values have risen IN the Transvaal in
the last year to point where the limit
of profit is reached. Hence men with
money are looking toward America.
and he is here in the interests of large
capitalists to see what can be done.
No such amount of capital has ever
been invested in America or Australia
as in the South African country, but
reductions in costs must now be had.
Cheaper railroad facilities must be
had, coal must go down in price and
cheaper labor must be obtained ere
capital can make any profit.
Many capitalists believe that less at
tention has been paid to the United
States than should be the case and
an organized effort VIII be made in this
direction. Foreign capitalists are send
ing men here and as a result slump
in Transvaal stocks may be looked for,
as this viii mean a withdrawal of con-
siderable money from Africa to Amer
lea.
Mr.. Buffers is reported as saying that
the United States holds first place as a
producer of gold and will never be
overtaken. He declares that gold pro-
duction is becoming the foremost in
dustry of the world and the great
financial houses of Europe are recog-
nizing this and are investing accord
ingly- He believes the capitalists of
the east will become interested, too,
and declares that the feeling against
engaging in mining is wearing Off
AS sooH as he finishes in Colorado
he wili ccme to Utah and viii examine
the Mercur district. In this connection
il may he said that his visit here has
much Importance inasmuch as the
process alluded TO can work some of
the ores which are taken from the Mer-
cur district very much cheaper than is
done at present. In the upper levels
Of the Sunshine. for instance. there are
stratas of ore which are mixed with
tale. the working of which is done with
the greatest of care and expense in or
der to save al the values. The tale
and clay hardens in the watts and does
not permit a free percolation by the
strata OF ore which are mixed with
quartz in order to obtain good results
Mr.. Buffers process viii avoid this and
VIII e..eapen the process a great deal.
His visit here is looked forward to
expectantly by the mining men and
great pains viii be taken to show him
the great ore bodies in the Camp Floyd
district.