Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-12-27

The great trans-Siberian railway
has opened up new continent to
civilizing influences, says the New
York Journal, and Thomas Smith,
United States consul at Moscow, who
has been making an investigation of
conditions in the great mo mans land"
belonging to the Russian empire, be-
lieyes that it has opened up vast pos
sibiiities for American talent and
American products.
Ten years ago. he says, in con-
sular report, the name Siberia called
up picture of wastes of snow and ice,
bounded by tundras and coasts white
with icebergs. Today the same ST.
IBERIA is land filled with thriving vii
lagos of peasant farmers, producing
grain and various vegetables. That
great compeller of civilization, the
railway, has broken down the bars be-
tween the world and Siberia.
1t is to the mineral resources of the
country that Mr.. Smith looks with
greatest hope. He says that it is full
of gold, iron, copper, manganese,
quicksilver, platinum and coal, none of
them at all adequately developed,
During the past three years Ameri-
can mining engineers have visited the
country and have been astounded by
the rich mineral deposits. Gold is by
far the most important, and, curiosuly
enough, the least developed of any Of
the mineral treasures.
The product of the Russian empire,
figured at s25,000,000, is comparative
ly insignificant. 1t places Russia fifth
among the gold producers, and only a
little ahead of the state of Colorado.
Most of the Russian gold comes from
Siberia, from the region to the north
of the Amur river, about the sources
of the Lena and Olekma rivers. 1t is
almost entirely placer gold, and the
quartz veins and original deposits OF
gold, though exposed to view in many
places. have been hitherto unworked
in any but the most inefficient manner.
Antiquated and expensive methods
are IN use by even the largest COM
panies These methods have not i'm
proved in fifty years. At numerous
mines in Siberia, Mr. Smith says, 1000
men and 500 horses are used on a
single property to produce gold not ex-
ceeding 100000 per aHnum.
In some places the above quota OF
men and horses is employed for an
output of 100000. Thousands of
miles of auriferous river beds await
the coming of the American miner
and his improved methods and will re-
pay him with golden harvest.
OF the quartz deposits in Siberia, it
may be said that they are entirely UNI
developed. There are probably today
not over a dozen stamp mills operat-
ing in the whole country, and it is
doubtful if over $50 stamps are drop
ping. OF the old type of roller gold
mills there are also few. 1t is sig
nificant comment on the quartz Lodges
of the country to say that even with
the makeshift contrivances in use, the
operations frequently pay large
profits.
Deep mining is unknown; it is
doubtful # there is a single shaft in
the limits of the Russian empire
which has penetrated precious metal
deposit to a depth greater than zoo
feet. At water level, where the free
milling are stops and sulphurets be-
gin, work is discontinued and, except
in two or three instances along the
Ural chain, the working of concen-
trates by cyaniding or chlorination is
unknown.
In the Onon river district, in the re-
gion of the trans aikal, quartz min
ing of immense masses of ore has
been carried ON in desultory and in
efficient manner for several years
The largest mill in the region is OF
twenty stamps, and, as described by
M. Levat, French mining engineer, in
an excellent published report on that
district, is just the reverse of what an
efficient gold mill should be.
In the Ural mountains, along the
River Serebrana, Mr.. Purington, while
examining placer depohit, discov
cred an immense low-grade lead OF
auriferous slate of over 500 feet in
width, which, on being sampled, gave
results in gold equal to those of the
celebrated Treadwell deposit in Alas
ka, on Douglas island.
1t cannot be doubted that numbers
of such deposits exist throughout 81
IBERIA, affording opportunities for the
installation of large stamp mills with
accompanying concentration and re
duction plants.
Labor in Russia and Siberia costs
from Is cents to $3.50 per day. The
laborers in every case feed them
selves out of their earnings. They
are strong and willing workers. In
central Siberia men are contracted fol
by the year at s15 month. The cost
of wood is only 81 cord.
The mining laws of Russia allow tn
taking up of claims by Russians or for
eigners, but there are severe restric
lions. It usually takes about TIVE
years 10 locate claim. Once located
the locator becomes owner of all min
erals on tie claim and must pay tai
of $50 year to the government. Man,
American engineers have received val
liable PATENTS from the government.