Evening journal., 1897-09-07
THE "FORTY-NINER" FEVER L
ECLIPSED

ECLIPSED.
Alleged discoveries Of new gold fields
are becoming so common these days OF
twentieth century enlightenment that il
seems as though prospecting has de-
veloped into a mineral craze. Indeed,
If all the reports OF rich finds turn out
to be correct, yellow nuggets have been
growing like potatoes in some parts OF
the world.
The long famous "forty-niner" fever,
which ragged in this country is totally
eclipsed by the present worldwide hunt
for gold. In some localities we are in
formed that prospecting is being car
ried on to such an extreme as to be
looked upon as a disease by men OF
science, who deplore the universal evil
dences Of its assuming general epidemi-
cal form, which in due course of time
they reason, is going to fill our lunatic
asylums with imbecile humanity.
Aside from the new American discov-
cries embracing the Alaska and Cana
dian finds in the far north, new Cali
fornian and Arizonian strikes in the
Southwest and others in the Northwest
and far South, which are too numerous
and questionable to mention with seri
GUS consideration, reports Of apparently
well authenticated revelations are rain
ing into newspaper Offices from foreign
parts with the unquenching persistency
of an exaggerated equinoctial disturb
ance.
According to these discoveries there
are new gold fields in China, Siberia
Peru, Korea, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mex
leo and Bolivia. The line OF placers
now picked up on an extensive scale
In Peru were discovered in Ecuador
about ten years ago by Americans, just
as the Yukon placers were discovered
more than ten years ago. What has
retarded development in South America
would make a long story, and perhaps
does not need to be gone into. At the
north end OF the series in Venezuela
the obstacle is just plain tropics; a eli
mate that is harder to resist than that
Of Alaska, and an exuberance on the
part OF nature that Is nearly as hard to
battle with as the destitutlon and nu-
dity Of the north. In Ecuador the In
dians were disposed to be hostile, and
as a mere handful Of men only have
been operating there, the discoveries
though presumably Of the highest sig
nifcance have been restricted. In Peru
Il is different. The Indians are amiable
enough, but there were immense diff
culties in transportation. The develop
ment Of the country has really waited
upon the creation OF facilities OF this
sort They have at last been furnished
by railroad extension.
There is now no difficulty Of a physi
cal nature in reaching the Peruvian
placers. The natives Of South America
are, as a rule, rather slow to move, bu
this cannot be said Of the Chilanos, de
scendants OF Biscayans and Galatians
The Peruvians are descendants Of An
dalusians, which accounts for thei
women sharing with the Cubans tn
distinction Of being the prettiest be
tween the American line and Cap
Horn. Neither can it be said that tn
largo foreign population in Argentine
is backward to seize opportunities. Il
short development OF the Soutl
American placer deposits may be ex
pected to proceed henceforward at
reasonable rate OF progress. They Wi
be followed up northwardly towar
Venezuela and southwardly to the BE
livian line, II not farther. Mining en-
terprise in all Spanish-American cour
tries is favored, for one thing, by thei
excellent mining regulations.