The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-18

are issued. The locations and publications
of the departments are advertised with invi-
tations to call. Annual reports are hustled
ont three or four months after the close of the
year.
The new Department of Mines-onc year
old-of British Columbia proposes TO add to
its present operations student laboratories and
plant for metallurgically testing ores.
In the booming province ofWest Australia the
gold mining industry has been hustled along
quite well, but now we read of the Govern
ment proposition to equip school OF mines,
metallurgical works and public assay Office.
to subsidize smelling works, esta blish pubic
stamp mills and SO on.
An interesting publication on the mining
industry of Victoria is just at hand. 1t is a
sixteen-page supplement- TO The Leader, and is
being sent throughout the world with the in
dorsement and compliments of Hon. Harry
Foster, Minister of Mines. 1t is valuable
history, exposition and prophecy OF Victoria's
gold production. We read: 1T is no idle brag
of the Minister of Mines when he AYERS that
the promises of Victoria's gold supply are far
and away better than those of any other col
ony OF the Australian group" We find that
the present mining development act allows
the Minister to advance to pioneer mining
companies this year total OF ESQ, 900 under
stringent conditions. No company may re-
ceive more than 100000 For mining roads
SIS, 900 year is provided.
For advances to miners for prospecting
$4,000 year is given. Four or more persons
may form combination for prospecting and
borrow up to $3.50 of the Minister If they cal
satisfy his many inquiries and put up as much
themselves. The Minister has $500 a year
for a metallurg ical plant and $500 a year
for races to convey water for sluicing. The
III
of mining machinery and appliances
which has just closed at Victoria, anu
empowered him to send to England lecturer
TO convince the British public that Victoria is
the star gold field to put money into The act
provides f140.000 to run the depar tment this
way for three years and the Leader says that
it is very small thing for a colony that has
spent fS00.O00 in the encouragement of the
mining industry in the past few years.
Since 1851 the colony of Victoria has pro-
duced nearly one and quarter billion dollars
worth of gold, within $1,000 900 or so of
California's production. The product for 1896
was f3.220.34 little less than California's
product The increase has been steady since
low-water mark was reached in 1891.
Victoria is far ahead of any of the other COLO
MES as a producer as California is of rival
States and provinces, and like California has
and lodes rich at great depths. So while Vic
toria Keeps up and increases its total product
by reason of its large producers and Its con-
siderable development, 1t is suffering loss of
population by reason of the dazzling re ports
from rival reg ions, with their mad rushes and
the magic of u boom.
To return TO the less exciting operations of
the California Mining Bureau, it may bs s tated
that Mr.. Cooper has decided to publish by
counties the mining map, the planning Of
which was announced last week. The field
deputies will locate existing mines of ell sorts
on county maps. together with water power,
plants, etc.
The Sierra Railroad from Oakdale through
the mining regions OF Amador and Mar.
iposa counties, which Prince Poniatowski
and associates have begun to build, is a signiti-
cant and encouraging enterprise. The mining
regions of California have suffered tremen
donsly through lack of transportation facili-
ties, and one reason of it has been the
absence OF ompeing lines III the State.
Competition has started the trunk
lines OF the Northwest into prompt
prompt racing TO the new British Cofum bis
districts, and the presence of the Valley road
and the coming of other rival trunk lines will
hasten the building of feeders to many mining
districts.
During the past winter the mining regions
few miles from railroad stations have been
awaiting everywhere the opportunity to hauI
which developm ent OF mines or Operation Of
them has depended. The ives tern slope of the
Sierra Nevada Mountains has been dotted
from Mariposa to Plumas County with stamp
mills, boilers, engines, electrical apparatus
water pipe, and mining appliances and sun.
plies OF every description, which, when ths
rains and SHOWS OF early winter came, were en-
route to mines. The bad mountain roais q :
once became next to impassa Bile. and these
materials for activity rested to await the drv
roads of spring. "''
Many mines shut down because fuel could
not be economically transported.
The Sierra Pacific will make the director Of
tne mint write the bigger figures in stating
the gold prod uction AID so will every one ~
the needed branch lines into the mining