Evening star., 1898-10-26
THE PRECIOUS METALS
Production Of Gold and Silver During the
Last Calendar Year.
Interesting Facts Set Forth in the
Director of the Mints
Report.

George f. Roberts. director of the mint
in his annual report upon the production
of the precious metals during the calendar
year 1897, submitted to the Secretary
of the Treasury, deals not only with the
production of goIu and silver in the United
States, but in foreign countries as well, and
draws a comparison between the produc-
tions of the leading producing countries of
the world
The sources from which information has
been derived are the most authentic and re-
liable, and the figures are as nearly ac-
curate as it is possible to obtain
Production of Gold.
The value of the gold produced in the
United States during the calendar year 1897
was S57 ,;i63 ,o0o. This product, though
large. was not sufficient to maintain for the
United States the distinction of being the
leading god-producing country of the
world During the same period the South
African republic produced gold to the value
of SOL ,633,SGl. Australia $50, ,GS4 1S2 and
Russia s23 245, 1853.
Ihere was a notable increase in the pro-
duction of gold in the world during 1897
over 1896. In the United States the product
for 1877 exceeded that of 1896 by ST 275 900
The South African republic made the re-
markaole gain of Sl3S54 1872 over her prod
uct of the previous year. Australia in
creased her 1896 product by SO. 500 149 and
Russia by $1.109,970.
Production of Silver.
The United States produced during the.
year 80 $50 600 fine ounces of silver. During
the same period the silver product of Mexico
was 53 @o3 $50 fine ounces. The silver prod
uct of the United States during 1897 shows
Il decrease from of of 1
fine ounces, while Mexico shows an in
creased product of S.2JG, 756 fine ounces
Deposits and Purchascs
The total value of gold deposited at The
mlnts and assay Offices during the year
was ss7,924,2 ,232 consisting of ST.. .923 5:,5 do
mestic and s2o,0oU,59I foreign
The value OF silver GeDosited at the same
institutions, for returns in fine bars which
were used in the Industrial arts or export
ed, was ST., Ih7,12S, of which amount Sill
S4i ,33o was domestic and $500, ,59S foreign.
Coinage.
me United States coinage during the
year was: Gold, $76,O2s, ,4s5, and silver, s1S.-
4s1 .G?1, of which amount ST., COL 731 were in
standard silver dollars, coined from silver
purchased under act of July H. 1890, prior
to November ], 1893, the date of the repeal
of the purchasing clause of said act.
Inc world coinage during the year, in
Guiding recoinages, was: Gold, S437 719 $40:
silver, s1i2, S0,5SS, or total of $3.50, ,O99 :
$50.
Market for Silver.
The highest London price for silver 925
fine, British standard, during the year was
~ 1916 pence; the lowest, 23a4 pence, and
the Average price. 27 4-16 pence, equivalent
to S0.GOi49 in Unite1 States money, per
ounce fine.
AT the average price of silver for the year
the bullion value of the silver dollar was
s0467
The value of the net gold exports for the
year was $512, 600. and the value of the net
silver exports for the same period was
s26, ,2S7 ,6l2.
Industrial Arts.
There was consumed in the industr |
arts in the United States during the cal
endaf year 1897 gold to the value of s1l,-
S,02'1, and silver to the value of $11 POI
$50
The worlds cOnsumI ton of the precious
metals in the industrial arts during the
same period was: Gold, $50 UC5, $50; silver,
$40, ,435, ,5T.
On January /, 1898. the metallic stock Of
the United States consisted of: Gold, $745,-
245,953: silver, S6353lO,O64, or a total Of
$50 JIf OF