The herald., 1898-02-16

The foregoing is a list of metals, twenty
six Of which are worth more than gold,
some of them more than a hundred times
as much. There are other reasons besides
rarity which determine the value of GER
tain varieties, as when, for instance, they
only occur in combinations which make
their extraction highly expensive. Correc-
tions are also constantly being made, and
1t Is probable that several cited above are
'already to be had for discount upon the
published rate. Yet the list is no doubt sub
stantially correct, and it must be conceded
that while the most of these metals are
sure to depreciate, there is an enormous
margin through which they may fiuctuate
downward and yet be well worth the quest
of the seeker.
Some OF these metals are comparatively
recent discoveries, but 1t should be noted
that their discovery has usually been made
during the processes of the laboratory and
that laboratory experiments have demon
strated their qualities, their uses and their
consequent values. There are few pros
pectors in the field, the world over. who
include on the list of metals for which they
are searching any knowledge of these
precious substances
This opens a field for interesting and
profitable investigation. Any man who
Will make special study of the character
istics OF these rare metals. and go out into
California mountains and gulches ac-
quainted with their several properties and
equipped with a small working laboratory,
such as the most efficient prospectors carry
prepared to test the ores and rocks and
clays he finds for the presence of these
often elusive substances, will stand a fair
chance of making some notable and lu-
crative discoveries. Our California min
eral regions have so far played equal to
every demand made upon them. When gold
and silver were the two prizes desired
they gave of them in abundance. When
industrial materials were required, old
prospectors remembered the outcroppings
and exposures they had found in their
wanderings, and these too, were found
to exist In ample supply, and, remarks the
Chronicle, In the case of borax, literally
breaking the worlde market and estab-
fishing perpetual control of sale and sup
ply.
The possibilities of such a search, intel
who has paid attentic,, tc the past history
of the states Development of mineral riches.
o o o
blow to the people who so readily believe
the tales of taking mining promoters that
the Rothschilds are continually digging
down into their jeans for million or two
to invest in mines. to learn that they are
not the buyers of the Ingauran copper
property In Mexico. The purchasers are
French syndicate, all dispatches mixing
up the big London banking firm to the
contrary.
The Insurance Journal of Hartford,
Conn, In Its issue of Sd instant, has the
following to say upon the situation as to
rates.. There seems to be no doubt now
that the rates in fire insurance are going
TO be reduced all along the line. The un-
derwriters are not satisfied with the re-
duction recently made in New York, and
propose making still larger cut They
nave decided also to reduce rates in Bos-
ton. and at the recent meeting of the ex-
secutive committee of the Southwestern
Iarin association there was action to-
wards reducing rates through that asso-
ciation,s territory. The Western union will
unquestionabiy follow, and we may look
1or general reduction during the first
SIX months of 1898, and the underwriters
themselves must not only work, but pray
for continuance of the luck which has
followed them for the past three Years.