The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-14
SIBERIAN Mine FIELDS
Wealth of the Viadiivostoek Region
Practically Untouched.
Agent Greencr Calls At
tention to the Significance of the
Cznr's Order SuspcndinE Import
Duty on ConI-MisIcadinE state
ments Published About Manchuria.

Mining industry in Siberia is the sub
ject of a report to the State Department
from Il. T. Greener. United States Com
mercial Agent at Vladivostock. Nh
| Greener says:
THE fact that the Car has orderet
the suspension of the import duty on Goa
for use on the railways of Russia unit
| September 1, 1900, has a special aignifi
| canoe for the United States In view o
the scarcity OF coal, which now seem!
world wide, except in our country. 1
arouses. Furthermore. an interest in tn,
Siberian coal mining industry, hitherto
| not sufficiently regarded. While some
| American coal has already been shipped
to Japan and China. none has as yet come
| this way, and probably will not, OWNS
to the greater demands nearer home.
Mining Of all kinds in Siberia has
hitherto been beset with so many diff
culties as to discourage operators. native
| or foreign. The concession to an Ameri-
can-D. NJ. Clarkson-to mine for gold
or coal on his own account, without the
! usual adjunct OF a Russian partner. seems
to point to a more liberal policy. Still
there are restrictions. Mr.. Clarkson and
Mr.. Emery, the latter the pioneer Ameri-
can merchant of Siberia-who has also
been granted special privilege by imperial
rescript-cannot enter into combination
with any existing company nor operate
any but new claims. and even then work
must be done under disadvantages which
would be hardly tolerable to ordinary
American prospectors. For example, one
must have special permits from local au-
fo,. oil Nd
roads, and there are certain rules to be
followed when minerals other than those
specified in the grant-as copper, iron,
etc.-are found. e5
Mineral Wealth UntoucRed.
The mineral wealth of this region has
been for years practically untouched. Chi
nese have worked the auriferous sand on
small scale. and even now they are thresh-
ing over the old material with minimum
success. The complaint has been that
there was no capital to develop the min
eral deposits; yet. within four years, Bel
gian. English. French. and American ex-
perts have visited Siberia, examined the
various districts. and advised the forma-
tion Of companies for the exploitation Of
mines; but prudent foreign companies
withheld the capital, mainly because Of the
governmental restrictions
Good specimens Of coal. anthracite and
bitumnous are shown. There are excel
lent auriferous exhibits, and much small
capital has been exhausted in simply dis
covering that there is mineral wealth.
There IS one coat mine at Nadishinsk,
about thirty-one miles from vladivostocK.
and only l2-4 miles from the Ussuri Rail-
road. The extent of this coal bed is 81
square miles, and Il Is semi- ex-
cellent quality, smokeless. 1t has attract
ed the attention OF the Naval Bureau as
available for battleships and also for the
naval works and factories here. When a
French company tried to buy this mine
and offered slii,750. S2s.950 deposit was
required. The French company retired.
Recently. it is said. a half interest in this
mine was sold s60.0ce. and it is now being
managed on strictly business principles,
the original owner being allowed si.0o0 per
year to superintend the werk..
There is another coal mine 15 miles
from Fladivostock and 2.6 miles from the
with coal bed OF IL square
miles. This coal is said to be suitable
and in some respects superior |
to Japanese coal, The French company |
referred 10 tried to buy this rni::e also, but |
no agreement could BE- reached. TIE |
Frenchmen said the more anxious t.ey |
were to close the deal the higher rcse the |
price. A number CT other coal mines have |
been recently discovered. Even before tn, |
present famine. coal was exps nsive in |
vladivostGck and 1t is new worth from Sc +
to $40 ton.
THE market is good. on account OF the |
number of steamers entering ard depart I
ing. Coal is also used fer betting purposes,
as wood is growing scarcer every year. A
Russian company owns TIE best-paying |
nine at St Olga's Bay. about 112 miles
rom vladivostcck. Messrs. Ciari,son & Co.
'wn two good coal mines. which have been
developed at much expense.
Iron Mines Opened
Several iron mines have been reported
within two years. There is also said to be
good iron at St Olga, as well as lead AMI
liver. Lead and zinc are frequently found.
Upper is also plentiful in large, separate
'ieces and broken veins. but no serious at
empts at surveys have been made.
AN American mining engine r. who has
pent two years in Siberia. is impressed
With the mineral resources Of all eastern
liberia. from Lake Baikal to the rev dig
ings opposite Cape Nome. and also in
iaIchuria.
THE quartz gold mines on Asked Island,
ear Vladivostoca. are owned by a Russian
i'm. and have been worked for two years
vas first discovered: in 1859 prospecting
vas begun; in the spring end summer OF
500. 500 tons were extracted with poor ma
hinery. the estimated value bei1g S2o,0 0. /
'ome thirty cdd tunnels have been e.
AIRED. and the managers hope to obtain
his year 3.OGO tons Of valuable quartz,
'orth perhaps s150.O00, and about 5000
ons of quartzite. They anticipate from
he prospecting of 1900 some $4,000 to
75. 0c0 clear profit. The gentlemen in
barge of this mine are Old residents.
len.
Either the announcement OF the con-
essions to Messrs. Emery and Ciarkson
r the stories emanating from travellers in I
iberia have caused many enquiries to be Z
emit to this agency as to the chances for q
lining in this locality. These enquiries
ONE from Cape Nome. the klondike, and
ne Pacific coast generally. and in most
ases could be answered only a. St Pc d
1t is true the Imperial Govern
tent invites all foreign capital to enter
S territory for mining or manufacturing .
urposes: but restrictions are severe.
with regard to gold-mining privileges.
ie applicant must make petition in per- {
On here. or he may go to st. Petersburg
more convenient. In the latter case ..
lie imperial authorities would refer the
after to the governor general here be-
IRE deciding the case. In no instance
ould such a permit be hastily granted,
I'D an applicant without reference as to :.
laracter and ability to carry out his
ans would undoubtedly be rejected. To
nd on the soil of the Maritime province
nd proceed on ones own account might
ibject the prospector to murder or rob-
Try on the part of wandering convicts or
,stile natives. The Government also ex
'cises strict espionage in matters of S
issports, permits, etc, and there is o
Oh tax ON melting and cnnYeYance from S