Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-27
AS TO GOLD OUTPUTS.

The increasing yield of gold is being
| watched with more han ordinary inter-
est by oddities. Many affect to believe
there will be a glut of gold. followed by
an increase in gold prices, but there is no
evidence of this ~apprehendej condition,
nor will there be so long as gold is readily
absorbed as it has been during the past
ing the past five years, since the complete
decentralization of silver, the energies of
mining men nave been turned to the de-
%velopnlent OF gold propositions with the
result that within that time the worlds
yield of the yellow metal has doubled.
| The yield is now two and a half times as
great as it was ten years ago and nearly
three times as great as it was thirteen
years ago.
The method of treating low grade ores,
under current improvement, and the tine
| and capital devoted 30 gold mining, may
show a still greater yield for sometime to
come, but with the increase the gold out
put will fall far short o. keeping lace
with the requirements of a "apidly ad-
vancing and progressive age. A few fig
ures taken from government statistics
,-;l1 cl,-,. l,,,,- {1, .n1I a,tt M :,nNn in
creased during the past few decades But
at no time, be it remembered, could the
volume of gold at command, displace thu
office of silver. But let that pass, we arc
simply noting the great outputs of gold
during the not distant past.
From 1851 to 1855, inclusive, the average
annual gold yield of the world was $142,-
600, 900. These are the years during which
the outputs from California reached their
highest figures, one year, 1858, amounting
to s65, 900, 900. From 1881 to 1885 the annual
production decreased to s1O1, 900, 900, with
500. $50, 900 in 1882 for low water mark.
i Since then there have been a series of
rapid gains, until in 1898 when the yield of
gold was estimated by some statisticians
at $500, 600, 600. The director of the United
States mint places it at 1927, 500, 900.
Of the 1898 yield, it is estimated that
the United States absorbed fully 5000, 900,
900, including it's home production. This
amount with about $40, 900, 900 used in the
arts and sciences, accounts for a good
share of last years production. this
country being, in fact, the principa.
absorber. Previous to that year, and
for several years before. Russia
and Austria, Hungary We're the
principal factors in absorbing the worlds
surplus yield Of gold. If our export trade
, continue to bear the same relation to the
country's imports, that it has the pas
two years, the United States ear very
easily take care of the greater part of tht
!, gold surplus of the current year and prob
, ably for several years hereafter.
Owing to the condition of silver it's an
, nual yield cuts no figure with the produc'
> ton of gold further than the output of thu
latter is increased as a by-product Of thu
former. Last year it's yield is estimated
E at 10, OOO, 900 ounces, having a commercial
value of $1O4, 900, 900, about the same as il
, 1897. Owing to it's demonstration in 1878
and ~unfavorable legislation since enactet
4 against the metal, silver has declined
from par and above in 1850 to an averag
of "a cents in 1898. The value of the silve
yer, is now ASP cents, the result of advers
legislation. In 1850 the commercial rati'
: of silver to gold was $40, or nearly 16 t.
/. In 1898 it was 35.4O to 1. What it will
: be two years hence will be determined b!
: the attitude political parties many taxi
upon the question. The silver republican
party will always be right upon it ant
will be until it shall be settled and settlet
. right.
The inhabitants of Negros island, on
: of he Philippines, observed Washing
toms birthday to the extent of RAISING
d the American flag over that island OF