The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-14
GOldFields
--Of the
Philippines

- ~ w. W. 6~&&S
department at Washington from London
. pamphlet, written by Mr.. Frank Ka-
ruth, +. r. G. s., entitled "A New
Center of Gold Production" bearing
ON the mineral of Che Philip
pine islands. which is Of especial inter-
est at this time.
1T is not improbable that ere long
we may have to reckon with these is
lands in the far east as factors in the
worlds gold production, " says Mr.. Ka-
ruth. "That the precious metal is WIDE
ly distributed In the archipelago Is
known to all who know a little more of
1t than its name. but they are few in
number. Few also are the sources
whence information can be drawn. Not
five books in the English language are
worth consulting about them."
Turning to mining matters, Mr.. Ka-
ruth continues:
The tools which the natives use--a
washing board and a wooden bowl-are
OF great antiquity and form q promi-
nent feature in the household utensils
OF all native villages in the auriferous
regions. Bowlders and fragments of
quartz with visible gold occur In many
alluvial deposits in tho islands, and IL
is not likely that the natives would
have thrown them aside without en-
deavoring to extract the gold. This they
probably did, rs they do il even now,
by pulverixing tho quartz by hand and
washing 1t as they wash the auriferous
gravel and sand. The only improvement
on this rude process was the introduce
ton by the S~paniards in some districts
OF the Mexican arrastra, a block Of
rock moved by buffalo power like a
milestone on a neither block. The charge
of m arrastra is about 250 pounds.
Float gold and auriferous pyrites arc
lost In the process. II is doubtful wheth-
or to this day the natives are aware Of
the auriferous character of the pyrites,
which almost always accompany the IL
riferous quarts. sometimes in not incon-
siderable proportions.
THUS the production Of gold by
washing alluvial deposits and pounded
quartz Is an old time industry in the
Philippines. followed to these days by
nearly all In tho auriferous districts in
q desultory way when the sowing is
done or the rice harvest gathered or when
the overdue capitation tax, or an APP
preaching holiday, with its cocknghts,
makes tho possession Of q few dollars in
cash more than usually desirable. Mr..
James Hilton, M. f., who visited Luzon
in 1600-9l, and Mr.. George Simpson, q
veteran Ballarat gold mining captain,
who arrived there in 1892, give in their
Interesting detailsx regarding ma
two mining methods, some Of which are
worth meutioning.
Mr.. Hilton says: the occurrence of
valuable mineral deposits in the Philip
pine islands is well known, and II
be supposed that the colonists
would endeavor to profit by the wealth
nature has placed at their dis
posal, the more so as the mining laws
Of the land are liberal, the taxes the re-
verse Of onerous, and the conditions
generally favorable. Nevertheless as a
Of fact mining a. the skillfully
and intelligently conducted industry
that we know elsewhere does not exist
In tho Philippine islands. ] was taken
TO SEQ . vein Of gold quartz, but found
the SHIFT full of water and ascertained
the only means Of draining it was by q
posse OF IL natives, who, forming q
chain. handed palm leaf buckets from
water level to surface. The only means
crushing tho gold quartz was a pom.
derous stone moved by buffaloes. Anal
gamation IL not known. The stuff IL
washed In wooden bowls, and it takes
Rt least 400 Of them to deal with a ton
Describing tho working Of q mine at
in tho island Of Luzon, Mr..
Simpson observes: The Indian miners
mode of operations was based on sound
engineering principles, In 80 far as
draining is concerned, as shown by their
putting in tho to them very costly adit
lrom the creek at the foot Of the hills
pn which tho mines arc situated. They
the water out with small buckets.
holding from Q to 2lG gallons each, and
by literally filing tho various shafts
WIZ nicus WV PtSStNl euo puesActS iAv@a
pne to another, they managed without
sither powder or dynamite or any other
explosive to realize some thousands Of
ounces Of gold
Tho most serious impcdiment to
in the Philippines r. the utter
Absence Of practicable roads The natives
with their primitive ways OF working
10 not feel tho want of roads. They
contentcdly single flo. laden
with their simple implements, through
tho tracklcss primeynl forests, cutting
their way patiently through endless
lanelcs of lianas and swaying ~labyrinths
Of luxuriant grccncry. which would
make a botanist's heart swoll- In many
parts vehicles Of any kind arc unknown.
IN others their only representative Is
Ihc cracking country car, drawn by q
pair. of stolid buffaloes.
Tho miners live In isolated districts
md villages, with rare communication
between them, and the universal man
II business is the omniprcsent China
nan, now storckeeper with a fixed
abode, now porambulating poddler. who
GENERATES the most distant settlements,