New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
SIBERIAN GOLD FIELDS.
DISCOVERIES AT CAPE NOME GIVE AN
IMPETUS TO RUSSIAN MINING
INTERESTS

St Petersburg June 19.-The discovery Of gold
at Cape Nome, Alaska, has given an impetus TO
Russian mining interests. and a number OF Eng
lish. American and French syndicates have made
efforts to secure concessions from the Russian
Government that would enable them to prospect
for gold on the eastern coast OF Siberia, opposite
Cape Nome on the T'ehring Sea, but so far as Is
known here none succeeded. The Russian Minis
ters stated frankly that it was first proposed 10
ascertain whether gold could be found in that
territory in sufficient quantities to for working
the same and II so Russia needed the gold and
Its peasants the work opening mines would fur-
nsh; but 81 is stated that the exclusive PRIV
iege for prospecting on the eastern coast line OF
Siberia for one thousand miles north OF Andahyr
River has been given TO Colonel Vladimir wan
arsky. prominent Russian who has had cohslueI-
able experience in mining matters, VINO with Two
directors OF the Venture Syndicate, OF Lohuoh'
George D. Roberts and Ford Rickatd' American
mining experts. and two Russian mining engineers
have already sailed from San Francisco for that
territory and there IS great anxiety here for early
information concerning the result Of their pros
pecting
Numerous complications of an obstructive nature
have existed since the reign of Peter the Great
which have prevented syndicates from prospecting
and working the Siberian gold fields. These con-
ditions were : severe that not a single oHer was
received for large concessions that were offered
for sale last fall, and a consequence the De-
r7artu7ent OF Trade and Manufactures is now dis
cussing what reforms necessary 10 invite Tor
eign and domestic companies TO develop the mining
interests IN Siberia. Heretofore royalty of from
10 to u per cent has been exacted. which mas
proved prohibitory n localities where the deposits
are poor and Il is proposed to substitute state
industrial tax moderately assessed, and While the
Russian Government will remain the sole buyer
Of all gold found in Russia, permission will be
granted foreign companies TO establish their own
laboratories and refneries instead of submitting
TO the assay Of the Russian officials, from which
there IS no appeal often waiting six months or
more for payment.
Two parties Of American miners have recently
passed through this city route for Siberia and
Manchuria. the largest being in charge Of James
Dedrick who is taking a trainload Of improved
American mining machinery to the Crown lands
in Mongolia, 80 miles south Of Chita. the present
terminus of the trans-Siberian road. where his
company has large concession. A portion Of
his party will go to Manchuria- Prince Hnkof
IS running this train through Irkutsk, dis
tance Of 699 miles, which is nine days from Mos
COW by Russia's fast express, ii being the first
special freight train that passed over the en-
tire length of the western end of the great ST.
berian road.
The second party was in charge Of William
Keating, an American mining expert, who has had
EerS Foson ~ VINO has spent
emerald mines. IS expected here in a, few days
the Cral Mountains in search of mining properties.
cargo Of American coal imported for the use of
Petersburg has large cargo for CronstadL Here
tofore only English coal has been used in this
Franklin Gaylord. the personal representative
Of James Stokes. Of New-York, through whose
has been permanently established in permanent
homes al PaTls, h9me a aho BeIlla mas S9Cceeaea
citation among the railway employees Of Russia,
ment of Young Men" This COMMITTEES viii send
four delegates to the international convention of
meets at Philadelphia in October next.