The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28

new process of extracting gold from refractory
ores by ubjecting the ore to the action of
molten lead i'll reducing gas in which the
gold and lead unite
The mineral lands bill is dead, at least for
this session OF Congress
The Utah Legislature is considering the
creation of a State mine inspector.
Below the Comstock mines in Nevada
several placer claims have recently been made
along the course of the Washoe on Galena
Creek, below the Ophir, and several other
abandoned millsites.
salmon eggs constitute the latest practicaI
mining difficulty. Several dredgers are at
work on the Fraser River in British Columbia
with indifferent success. There is gold in pay
ing qualities, but successful schemes to get it
out attend the dredging operations there as
elsewhere. One of the troubles just now is
that the enormous quantities of salmon eggs
IN the water make things greasy and also
choke up the rifles.
The Provincial Secretary has reported on
the mineral output OF British Columbia, show
Ing that it has increased from So. .668, sos in
1880 and So, 1902 in 1895 10 81, LAG, ,425 in
1896. The total mineral production to date
has been over 800, ,OOO. 900, OF whic placer
gold has yielded $57. .704, S55: lode goid
1853, and coal and coke, $33 9344 427.
In 1896 the lode mines yielded Sd, ,257, JIG.
1t is said that the Clondyke pIacers, the lat
est big discovery in the Yukon region, are
found TO be over the line In Canadian terri
tory, and the American miners are as please d
! as are her Majesty's subjects because they
know that the fostering care of the Pro-
vincial Government will be promptly
shown, while Uncle Sam does nothing
LOT any part of the Territory. The
Alaska Sesrchlight says: "For years the
Yukon has been large gold-producing re-
glon, but not 81 has our Government expended
In building trails or assisting miners in any
way. All 1t has ever done has been to give
these people Deputy Collectors of In
| ternal Revenue and Customs, and a
poor mail service one season. Now there
is to be radical change. The Canadian Gov
| ernment Will doubtless pursue its wise and
liberal policy, build trails, provide courts,
etc. 1t is lamentable fact, but nevertheless
true, that the Yukoners, before another year
has rolled around, will sing God Save the
Queen more heartily than ever they sang MY
Country, 'Tis of Thee"
In January the copper product of the United
States was about 39,500,O0 pounds the same
amount as was produced in December, while
foreign mines produced only 14,7S4, 900
pounds, decrease of 2, 1864, 900 pounds.
The surveyor-GeneraI of Nevada, in his ALI
nual report, speaking of the question whether
Nevada is lot a gold rather than silver pro-
ducing State, says that the increase In produc-
tion OF gold and silver combined in 1896 over
1895 was 81, 12l ,499. This was all due to the
increase Ill gold production. for the silver pro-
ducton fell off from 81, ,O51 1892 in 1895 to
$685., ,555 in 1896.
Salt Lake capitalists are negotiating for the
purchase OF the onyx deposits recently dis
covered on the Brumeau. north of Elko
Nevada.
The river bed dredger will be a success if the
late persistent efforts to that end keep up.
One OF the latest tVnas is a steam dradper
which operates a scoop through big slot in
the middle of the vessel. On the Similkameen
River, Wash, stern wheel steamer pumps
gravel from the bed of the river al the rate OF
$50 cubic yards per hour. The material passes
through a grizzly.