Daily camera., 1898-11-12
SIBERIAN GOLD MINES
A Country That May Become a
Second California.
Many of the Richest Miners Are Po-
Htical E1iles-The Law of Russia
q Drawback to the Devel-
Opment OF Riches.
Keep your eye on Siberia y

Keep your eye on Siberia
That is what a scientific writer on
the old problem wrote only six months
ago. and those who have visited that
supposedly bleak, cold and dismal
country may fairly echo his words.
Siberia has been misunderstood. For
40 years now mines have been opened
all over the country. In Tomsk a min
lister of mines is permanently resident,
as well as at Irkutsk, while the num-
Der of people employed in the mining
industry is considerably in excess of
100000.
Yet in spite of the marvellous rich
ness of the country, which has been
described by more than one writer as
likely to become second California,
little or no attempt has been made by
foreigners to enter and to take up the
industry of gold mining. Yet the gov
ernment is anxious that such should
the importatio of foreign energy and
brain to the great Siberian gold fields
special concessions are held out to
foreigners which the native does not
enjoy.
Russian law is peculiar, complicated
and little awe-inspiring, and this
may have a great effect upon the cap
italist, backed up as it is by the eN
traordirary prejudice which still eX-
lists in civilized Europe against every
thing Russian.
In many respects Siberia resembles
the Klondike district. Many of the
mines are situated in places equally
as inaccessible in winter, and which
have the same characteristics in sum-
mer. The alluvial deposits are free
and in some cases rich. Quartz there
is, but with the exception of one or
two places this has never yet been
tapped. and in the whole of Siberia
at the present time there is not single
efficient battery for quartz crushing
Ills statement on the authority of Mr.,
Shostok, the minister of mines for ST.
IBERIA. Nor is there any machinery
for the proper washing Of alluvial gold,
and yet millionaire gold miners, free
men or eNiles, may be found by TIE
dozen in Tomsk, Irkutsk and Krasno-
airsk. The practicCd miner, fresh
rom the fields of western Australia,
British Columbia or California. would
doubtless laugh hugely at the primi-
tive arrangements in use in Siberia.
The foreigner desiring to become a
mine owner in Siberia must first have
a letter of recommendation from his
ambassador or consul, and then he
can either rent or buy existing mines
or prospect for himself. He is not al
lowed more than five versts, or 3A
miles of land in any one particular
spot, but he can have as many mines
as he likes, provided they are not on
one run. All the gold he obtains he
hands over to the government. which
assays and smelts it for him. crediting
him with its value, less three or five
per cent. according to the district,
which is tax money. Once In posses
sion Of the concession, the miner may
90 to any part of Siberia, and if he
knows his business and is careful there
is every prospect of him becoming a
rich man, for, if anything, the protec-
tive laws of Russia are more severe
than in any other country. Such
thing as claim jumping is unknown,
robbery or murder almost unheard of,
and food is astonishingly cheap, as
also is labor. The government pro-
vides each mine owner with Cossacks
to guard the precious metal, and. in
short, when one thoroughly under
stands the conditions, there can be no
better way of pursuing the fascinat-
ing hunt for gold than under the ST.
berian regime,
One of the most astonishing rea-
lures of Siberian gold mining is that
many Of the richest miners are exiles
sent to Siberia years ago for some po-
.iitical or criminal offense, and al
though they have wealth in abundance,
they cannot leave that land of snow,
Of steppes and mountains until the
great white czar should be pleased to
grant his gracious pardon.
Now that the great Siberian rail-
way IS slowly but surely forging it's
way through the heart of Asia, it is
hoped that in its wake will follow a
steady tide of western civilization It
goes without saying that wherever the
railway engine snorts its way civiliza-
ton must follow. Already the line has
reached within measurea BILE distance
cf Irkutsk, the capital of Siberia.
The large cost and the great discom.
fort of a journey to central Siberia
have prohibited foreign enterprise up
till now, but the future will be diff
ferent. Dispatch and comfort will be
the order of the new railway, and
when this has been completed then
may Siberia be the new Klondike, but
with many less disadvautages.-N. Y.
Herald.