Evening journal., 1898-11-05
SIBERIAN GOLD MINES
4 Country That May Become a
Second California.
nany of the Richest Miners Are Po-
liticnI Exiles-The LAW OF Russia
Drawback TO the Devel-
opment of Riches.
"Keen vonr eve on Siberla."

keep your eye on Siberia"
That is what a scientific writer on
The old problem wrote only six months
i ago. and those who have visited that
supposedly bleak, cold and dismal
coAntry may fairly echo his words.
Siberia has been misunderstood. Fer
10 wears now mines have been opened
all over the country. In Tomsk a min
ster of mines is permanently resident,
IS we'll 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 a 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
De the case, and in order o facilitate
the importation 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
nay have a great effect upon the cap
Il talist, backed up as it is by the ex-
n traordinary prejudice which still ex-
q lists in civilized Europe against every
N thing Russian.
Il In many respects Siberia resembles
the Klondike district. Many of the
81 mines are situated in places equally
as inaccessible in winter, and which
have the same characteristics in sum
Il mer. The alluvial deposits are free
and in some cases rich. Quartz there
is, but with the exception of one or
NJ two places this has never yet been
8 tapped, and In the whole of Siberia
at the present time there is not a single
# efficient battery for quartz crushing
81 this statement on the authority of Mr..
81 Shostok, the minister of mines for Si-
IBERIA. Nor is there any machinery
for the proper washing of alluvial gold,
and yet millionaire gold miners, free
& men or exiles, may be found by tie
"a dozen In Tomsk. Irkutsk and Krasno-
airsk. The practiced miner, fresh
rom the fields of western Australia,
British Columbia or California. would
81 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
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
4 lowed more than five versts, or ga
miles of land in any one particular
spot. but be 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
20 TO any part of Siberia, and If he
knows his business andis 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 a
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
10 guard the precious metal. and. in
short, when one thoroughly under
stands the conditions. there can be nC
better way of pursuing the fasciuat
ing hunt for gold than under the 81
berian regime.
One of the most astonishing fea
lures OF Siberian gold mining is tha'
many Of the richest miners are eXilei
sent to Siberia years ago for some po
litical or criminal offense, and al
though they have wealth in abundance
they cannot leave that land of snow
of steppes and mountains until thl
great white czar should be pleased t'
grant his gracious pardon.
Now that the great Siberian rail
M way is slowly but surely forging 1T
way through the heart of Asia, il i
hoped that in its wake will follow
steady tide of western civilization.
goes without saying that wherever tn
railway engine snorts its way civliza
tion mus follow. Already the Zine ha
IeucHeu Nithih iheusuItaDie uistahc
Of Irkutsk, the capital of Siberia.
q The large cost and the great discom
fort Of a journey to central Siberi
have prohibited foreign enterprise n
till now. but the future will be dii
ferent. Dispatch and comfort will b
the order of the new railway, an
when this has Seen completed the
NAV Siberia be the new Klondike hu
with many less disadvantages.-N. \
Herald.