The indicator., 1897-01-30

In our number for January we
gave the figures for the production of
gold in this country and for the world
in 1896. These figures show that
point has been reached in excess oil
any ever before attained, and while
the Increase over 1888 is not eXtraor-
dlnary, II is nevertheless marked ad-
vance, though less than had been an
ticipatcd in many quarters. The force
of the upward wave of gold produc-
tion during the last few years has
been 50 great as to produce general
anticipation that it would Increase,
and there will perhaps bc some dlsap-
pointmcnt expressed over the result.
This result Is not extraordinary, now
ever and it may be of interest 10 trace
the causes which have affected the
production: considering them with es-
pccial reference to the probabilities oil
the future.
Those who have followed our previ-
Gus annual statements, with the artl-
cles in the Mineral Industry Will re
member that there are in the world
four countries which are the leading
gold producers. and that of the entire
output of the yellow metal usually
from so to 81 per cent. comes from
thcs four couutries-the United
States. Australia. the Transvanl ana
Russia An examination of the table
given last week ON page I VIII show
that three of these four countries re
maincd practically stationary in 1SH.
and that the United States alone
showed Il considerable advance. of
the minor producing countries Mexico
is the only one which shows any CON
siderable change. and ii Is to Mexico
and the United States almost entirely
that the gain in the world's production
in 1886 is due Canada shows Il large
propurtionatc gain. but the total
amount of its output Is still compara-
tivcly small.
\ question which presents the great
est interest mt the present time is. will
the gold production Of the world rise
much higher: and If SO from what
sourccs are additions TO come?
We can best estimate the probahili-
ties of future production perhaps by
taking up the different countries in
succession. and for that purpose we
will begin with our own. Within the
last three years the United States has
shown remarkable capacities for
growth. and Ibis has been due only in
Il minor degree to the discovery of
new fields The only gold districts
opened in recent years whose produc-
tion has been at all remarkable are
the Cripple Creek district in Colorado,
and the MrTCur in Utah: these gold
fields. by the way, are radically differ
cnt in formation, Cripple Creek being
a region of comparatively small veins
of high grade ores. while tile Mercur
is an extensive and unusual form of
deposit of low grade. Other additions
TO the United States production have
come from old and we'll known dis
trictS where new locations have been
made and mines opened, where old
mines have had their workings en-
tended and where. in many eases. es-
pccially in California. many old mines
abandoned wears ago have been re
opened: improvements in mcfIllur"i-
cal processes and economics in mining
having enabled Us TO work ores from
which no profit could he earned fifteen
or twenty years ago. In fact in this
country the advance in metallurcical
work which has enabled us TO treat
refractory ores by smelling. teaching
and other processes. and the continued
improvements which have enabled our
mining engineers to work low grade
deposits mt n remarkably low cost.
will continue TO. increase our gold
product for years TO come.
In Canada no great or rapid add
tion Is TO be expected 10 the present
output of the Nova Scotia and Ontario
mines. It is reasonably certain, how
ever. that there will he an important
increase for some years in the output
of British Columbia. where work is
going on with great activity on the
large bodies of ore and the large plac-
er deposits which have been discov-
cred and are now being developed in
that province. So far the greater part
of the ores discovered can best he
treated by smelling and most of them
come TO the United States for treat
ment. This will probably continue to
be the case. although il is quite likely
that some smcltcrs will he established
in British Columbia by American and
British capital. At present by far the
greater part of the mining is conduct
ed by Americans. and this will proba-
hly continue TO be the case.
The recent developments in Mexico
have been remarkable in extent. and
there is every probability that the
gold supply from that country will
continue 10 increase. For centuries
Mexico has been looked upon as a sill
yer mining country entirely. and until
within n comparatively short time the
gold mines have been neglected This
is no longer the case. however, and we
look TO that country as one of the
great producers in the future.
South America presents great posi-
hilities. In Brazil, in Columbia. in Rn-
livia especially. great gold deposits |
are known TO exist, and from time to
time efforts are made to develop them.
chiefly by foreign capital. 1t is posi-. |
bic that some of these may succeed:
hut tllc fact that the mineral riches
of the continent have been known for
many years, and that their develop- |
ment has proceeded on so slow n scale |
does not lead MS to anticipate any very
great output in the immediate future. |
While the possibilities exist. the prob |
ability is that the gold of South Amer |
lea may he counted as part of the re |
serve of the future rather than as n
source of present supply for n good |
while TO come.
In Europe. outside of Russia. the
gold production is not large and there |
is little probability of any substantial |
increase. The greater part of that
produced is obtained in connection |
win other metals. and the opportunf |
ties for new discovery and deyeIon. |
ments are very small
Russia. including Siberia. is the
fourth of the great gold producers
ana more than any other country. pcr
haps. presents opportunities for an in
c"case. The great placcrs of Eastern
Siberia are hardly touched as vet. and |
the large quantity of gold which has
hcen obtained from them under all the |
of remotcncss. dihicuI
ties in TRANSFORMATION, climate and i'm.
ncrfcct methods of working. show
their capabilities. Quartz mining enst
OF the oural can hardly he said TO ey
ist rs yet. There are enormous possl |
hlItIes Tor development TO follow the
pNtpnStpu pf iIrnuIs int, tL.,