The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-17
MINING IN SIBERIA.
REPORT OF CONSUL GENERAL HoL-
LOwAY AT ST. PETERSBURG.
Russian Government Taking steps
to Ascertain Mining Values and
UntiI Report Is Made Permits Cam

This consulate Is in receipt OF a num-
Der OF letters by each American mail from
all parts Of the United States, inclo7iny
newspaper articles which say that d Rus
san engineer has recently made a report
10 MS government, stating that he same
gold belt which has proved so rich at Cape
Nome. Alaska, extends across the Bering
sea into Siberia. and that there are enor-
mously ricn quartz lodes in gold mines all
over Russia, which are easy to work at
a great profit, are owned by the govern
ment, and win be sold to the highest bid
der II is also stated that the emperor Gas
issued ukase permitting Americans to
prospect for gold on the west coast of 81.
IBERIA, and that preference is given n
American miners and capital TO explore
the mineral wealth.
These letters inquire az to the truth NJ
these statements, for copies of Russian
mining laws and permits to prospect for
gold In Russia, as numerous parties are
or this opportunity.
II called on N. A. Denissoff. the director
Of the mining department, yesterday,
stated the substance OF the articles and
he replied that although the government
was taking steps to ascertain the cpndi-
lions on the west coast Of Siberia. the EN-
subject, nor was 1t probable that he would
do so. He said that petitions might be
made to the emperor for permission TO
prospect for minerals in any part Of Rus
STA, which should be accompanied by rec
concentrations as to the character Of the
applicant. his experience as a mining en-
gfUeer, capital to be employed. etc. and
II would be considered but the best in
formed people here do not believe permits
could be obtained to prospect for gold on
the west coast of Siberia until after the
Russian government has fully investigat-
ed its conditions. Were II ready to con-
slider such applications. the probabilt les
ere that II would require from two or
three years before the same would he
finally decided. Russian officials place no
value on time. and Il requires from two
TO twelve weeks to receive an answer 20
an official communication from the various
departments, according TO the work in
volved I'm the reply
'Frhe value of Russian gold mines has
been exaggerated. Several experiences
mitted TO be the best In the world. lave
visited Siberia, in the interests OF Englsh
as well as American capitalists, during
the past three years and made extensive
examinations Of the conditions and I have
rot heard of single company being or
ganized az n result Of their reports. The
mining is almost ell Placer. there being
but two small quartz mines in the Oral
mountains, which are owned by French
capitalists and are said to he losing monev
There ia very little foreign capital in
Siberia No advantages are offered to or
determinations made In favor of Ameri-
cans engaging In any kind of business in
Russia"
Canada shingles.
Manufacturers Of shingles in Washing
ton state will be interested in a report
Just received at the state department
from Charles a; Bos G,aia c9m 1In,
province of Quebec. Mr.. Boardman
writes:
by hand with draw knife. Those used
in Maine. New Hampshire and part OF
Massachusetts were pine or shaved cedar.
l6 inches long. In other states. ls-inch
shingles were used. In the shingle ma
chimes then made. the saw struck the bolt
az the end. saving lengthwise OF the
"a
the shingles which was said to hold the
water and make them rot quickly. In
chimes made at Gardiner and Bangor. Me-.
which cut the block on the stde instead of
the end. The shingles sawed in this way
had a surface almost as smooth as II
These machines caused revolution In
tho manufacture Of shingles. AZ the de-
mand increased and cedar became scarce
In Southern Maine, manufacturers began
to move toward the great northern for
ests: - ~,
Brunswick, was changed from "a long
lumber mill, and sixteen machines were
put In that cyt sst0oo shingles per day.
OF an American eompany from Calais,
which erected a mil az Etmunston, New
Brunswick, with seven machines. The
logs for III. Phoenix mill are cut IN
down the 81 John river In May. 1885.
the hrst shingle mill in Northern New
ssss o6 for @ A bs6Sn
sic. The owner now has mills az Cahano
and Notre Dame du Lac. IN Quebec.
THE cedar forests remaining In this
county. Maine, the northern counties ~
New bruns"io6 and the counties Of
and Gaspe, IN Quebec. Here cedar grows
large and there are more trees to the
acre than farther south. Il Is found on
the high land a. We'll as in the swamps
In n
southern New Brunswick there Is not
enough left 20 supply ties for the local
railroads The locations named are the
last az the cedar forests. and these are
being rapidlv dcuuded 90 supply shingles
and railroad ties. and in "a few years all
viii be cut Good cedar lands should
soon become very valuable. As the area
in iSSs. tho FIRST quality ~ shingles
sold ~ Boston Tor w" per 1000; In ls'e,
The single. cleared through the
United states consulate a ST. John New
brunswick are sawed from logs cut IN
northern New Brunswick and Aroo@took
county, Maine The largest amount o.
shingles are probably manUtacturel Ia
New pruuswtck The manufs rture is
increasing here. and during 1,so there
were cleared through ths caNoe for the
Vnit.,e,d S'ates -l ls' .t> ,.a shingles, valued
tho year rrt mill With eight machines. al
'ahano end another one az Notrs pawc
uN h.rc ana several were set up On the
Noada tn saw u winter o0lv
Tho low price - 'S-lnch shingles has
caused trsm 90 D. unrT m Vermont Com
rrctlr4t sni northern New York -here
farmfFiv only IA-ineh ones were sotd
"A1 tha l3rE~ willis f1 'fls district OK
rert me new ONE at gataro. arc owned
hp Americas"
The Famine Tn India.
Mt William T Zee. Amegesn cenra,,
State a. ev-st3ioEY toter~sVrx report
concerning the faIui7a In India. lie
SAWS
Tie roopir NJ India are now face 20
face With a famine ~ water foot AMI
cattle whieh tn feo particular areas AZ
footed IS unprecedented ir charAeter and
tntrUsltv.
The number 81 people in receipt ~ r..
lief has already swollen tO quite aA~r~vla a.
proportions. -ousl3eri1E thst rs,s season
q Hcute iisirr~s has rRr3iv -o1- n tu-sf
The RETURNS far -NgsF3 those recorded
during she militia. stage - the famine
three wears aEn
As this 1oriod az the famine ~ lsi-s-s-.
only T. H1a 80 persons were rstttsirg gov
eminent RELIEF ia All India; to-day the
Metal estimate places the number nt
q 80 fo and trs daily expenditure 81
e.