Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-12-10
GOLD MINING IN AMERICA.
Charles gntters Expresses Himself Tn
 Regard to It

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 Regard to #.
 NEW YoRK. Dec. 10.-The Herald has a long interview with Charles Buffers, the American mining engineer and an expert of the highest reputation, whose fame is as well known in Europe as in this country, and who has arrived here from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he has been for about six years in charge of some of the largest mining interests in the Transyaal
 Mir. Buffers visit to the United States is chiefly for the purpose of examining into the gold resources of the country with view to their further develop ment by American and European cap italists. He is one of the seven Ameri- cans who, with John Hays Hammond, were arrested by the Boer government because of their taking part i'll the re- form movement last year at the time of Dr. Jameson,s raid, MT Buffers was released on May 20, fined $l0,000 and obliged to give bond to not interfere in the affairs of the Boer government for three years. In an interview MT. Butters said
 'The Transvaal government is now settling down to assist the mining in- terests. The government feels that this is absolutely necessary. A large portion of the capital that has been made there if now going to Australia or to New Zealand, or else is coming to this coun- try. Many capitalists think that less attention has been paid to the gold re- sources of the United States by organ ized effort than should be the case. For eign as well as American capitalists are now turning their attention to this country and are sending engineers di- rectly into the field. so that the slump in values in the Transvaal is really bene- fit to other goIdproducing countries.
 ''The United States holds first place as a producer of gold. ,, said 1Ir. Butters, and don't think it will ever be over taken. The business of gold production has really become one of the most im- portant in the world The great fnan- ciaI houses of Europe are beginning to recognize that fact, and many of them are organizing mining department ill connection with their business
 Mir. Butters said that as far as his observations went, 1t was not consid- cred proper here ill the eastern states for frstclass financial house to be in- terested in goldminlng This feeling will wear away as the businessmen of the United States become more fully acquainted with those who are making the investments and carrying on the work The confidence which has been placed iu the mining engineers, who have carried out the practical part of the work, by foreign investors. and the money that has been made by skilled ability of those who are developing the investments, with the end to gradually give eastern investors confidence in such enterprises.
 "0ne thing that prevents the enlist ment of foreign capital in United States gold mining is that there is no inter- national exchange for gold mining stocks here, he observed No Euro. pean investor would think of buying shares i'll an American gold mining company whose shares are quoted at a few cents each, as is case for instance, { with certain Cripple Creek stocks. Some of these days when the best business elements in toe United States begin to realize that Europeans are forging ahead of us in gold mining, these ele- ments will combine and organize ill a 1 first class mining exchange, which will have on its committee the ablest men, who are known at home and abroad and whose name will be a guarantee of the standing of the exchange. Such an enterprise will have the support of many financial houses in Europe and will give gold mining shares dealt in here a chance to be dealt in abroad. '
 Mir. Butters, accompanied by his family, will leave New York on Friday for the west. He will look at the diff ferent gold sections of the country and will go as far west as the Pacific coast. He will then sail for Cape Town by way of England. He expects to re- turn to the United States in about one year to remain permanently. :"
 
 Arrest Causes an Assignment.
 CHICAGO, Dec. 1o.-Ex-Alderman F.