Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-10-16
GoLDFIELDs OF GUIANA.

The Romance OF Frenchman's Discovery
Placer Mining About over.
Thomas Dalgleish, an old Arizona
miner, has written an account OF his
own personal adventures among The
Goldfelds Of Guiana" for The Century
Mr.. Dalgleish says:
The first fine placer on the Cuyuni
was found in 1898 by Frenchman
named Jacobs His outfit was furnished
bv two Portuguese named Carrara and
Rosa. They took out from 200 to 300
nounds a month for two or three years,
the gold being worth $195 pound.
When 1 reached there, in 1898, the
placer was in full working order. ia
cobs is said to have disposed OF his
gains at Monte Carlo. Carrara died in
solvent. Rosa left a few thousands
That is, in brief, the history OF the
owners Of one Of the richest placer
mines in that country. The mine was
sold in 1895 for 81, 500, and Jacobs is
now simply an employee in the placer
The Barnard syndicate has taken out a
great deal Of gold from placers situated
on the Potaro river, but it is my i'm
pression that placer mining is about
over unless new territory is opened up.
Quartz mining is still in its infancy.
There are at present two quartz mines
in operation on the Barima river with
a good showing, but they are in the
disputed territory, and, 1 think, have
been obliged to shut down. Quartz on
the Cuyuni is finely defined, although
there is not a quartz mine on the river
at present, but in all probability good
quartz mines will yet be worked In
British Guiana.
At present it is impossible for poor
man to prospect to advantage in thai
country. He must purchase all his pro
visions at Georgetown, buy or hire
boat, pay big wages to his captain anc
bowman and give security for the wagel
of his men and pay for their food.
have known only one or two poor mel
who have made stake out there.
After prospecting three or foui
months, which is very fatiguing anC
trying to the constitution Of the strong
est, man may find nothing, but h
will have learned good deal. Then h
may take a notion, if he has few hun
dreds left, to buy another outfit Thi
time he may find creek that will pa.
him one or two ounces day in the ton
When that much is got in the ton
sluices are soon put in, which yield tw
or three times as much gold. If he ha
the good fortune to keep his health an
to find gold, he has to carry his yield .
Bartaca Grove, where he passes throug
the gold station. Here every man, bot
laborer and master, is searched. Som
think this very disagreeable, but Sc
nothing Objectionable in the law, who
is a great protection to the placer owner
the object being TO prevent laborers an
others from stealing gold. AT deorg'
town he must carry his gold TO the com
] missioner's Office, where he gets a pei
: NIT to pay the royalty at another gov
ernment office, after which he may se
it to the banks.
Miners are not allowed to sell gold
the bush or in Georgetown. Each day
miner must enter his find In his gol'
book, and if an inspector should CON
along and find gold that was not entere
r he might confscate it. This Is why
miner must buy his entire outfit
Georgetown and have money enous
TO see himself through before he start
All the British colonial officials, at lea
all that l came in contact with, are ?
lite and gentlemanly. have met 10
eieners who think their laws are vel
= stringent, but would rather be whe
there is some law than on the othor SIC
of the Uruan, where there IL none.