Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-03-21
AS YET AN uNDEvELoPED GOLD
COUNTRY.
DECLARES AN AMERICAN
Labor and Fuel Cheap-Marve-
lous Development Certain-Minlng
Engineers Being Attracted to the
Region.

tana from his connection with various
enterprises in this state, has recently
returned from Siberia, where he has
been for the past two years. He came
over from Butte and between trains
gave an Anaconda Standard reporter
a lively description of mining condi-
tions in the czar's great province.
"Ten years ago the name Siberia
called up a picture of wastes of snow
and ice, boundless tupdras (steppes)
and coasts white with icebergs," said
Mr.. French. To-day the same Siberia
is land filled with thriving villages
Of peasant farmers. producing grain
and various vegetables. That great
compeller of civilization, the railway,
has broken down the bars between
the world and Siberia. Besides, its
countless resources of the soil, besides
its rivers filled with valuable fish and
it's forest inhabited by furbearing
animals, Siberia is now beginning TO
show to the world it's resources of
gold, iron, copper, manganese, quick
silver, platinum and coal, the yearly
output of which is but feeble index
of what it will be when the deposits
are developed.
"Of these resources, gold is by far
the most important, as it is, curiously
enough, the least developed. Taking
the product of the Russian empire
approximately at $25, 100000 In gold
per year, 1t seems comparatively in
significant. 1t places Russia fifth
among the gold producers, and is but
little more than the present annual
gold output of the state of Colorado.
Siberia" said Mr.. French, "is begin
ming to attract the attention of Amer
lean mining engineers and prospec-
tors, and as soon as we get enough of
them over there certainly will be a
great development in Siberia's mining
industry.
There are probably today not over
a dozen stamp mills operating in the
whole country, and 1t is doubtful IL
over $50 stamps are dropping. or the
old roller-type gold mills, there are
also few. Deep mining is unknown;
II is doubtful II there is q single shaft
in the limits of the Russian empire
which has penetrated a precious metal
deposit to depth greater than 700
feet. At water level, where the free
milling ore stops and sulphurets be-
gin, work is discontinued and, ex.
cept in two or three instances along
the Ural chain, the working of eoncen.
hU nj In nINI fr
unknown. So far as known, only one
operator mining in Kochtar and
southern Ural has installed thor
oughly up-to date mining, concentrat
ing and chlorination plants.
"In the districts along the Yenise
river quartz veins with visible IRE,
gold and uncovered for lengths vary
ing from a few to many thousands o
feet may be seen in the old placer
and penetrating the surrounding hills
In the Onon river district. in the res
ion of the Trans Baikal quartz mir
been carried on In a desultory and il
efficient manner for several years
One important feature in connectio
with the conducting of mining oper,
tons In Siberia is the aptitude of IN
Russian workman for the ak. Woo
Is SO plentiful in the country that I
no case will the price for fuel excee
81 per cord, and mining timbers ma
be figured on at corresponding lo'
rate.
The mining laws of Russia allo'
the taking up of mining claims indl
criminately by Russians or by 70
eigners. The only persons not a
lowed this are Jews, clergymen an
persons not in possession of the
civil rights in their own countr,
Claims consist of ESQ acres of lam
generally surveyed at the locator
option, with a length of about 2 an
one-half miles and 9 width of fro
200 TO 1000 feet. Several America
engineers, among them b. Il. Keatin
OF Providence and Mr. burlington
Boston, have recently received patent
to groups of placer claims in Siberi
where extensive dredging operation
are now being undertaken by Anne
ANdi SN uulNhttS. lJ is lmDOSSlnle
estimate the number of miles of gol
bearing creeks still free for locatio
in Siberia; but since IL is absolutel
impossible to work low-lying grave
by Siberian methods now in yogu
and since these gravels are in cons
quence deemed comparatively WORT
less by the Siberian gold miner III
amount OF free land must certainly b
enormous. In California at the DIR,
sent day gravels along the Fathe
river which contain but Is cents to IN
cubic yard in gold are being worke
at profit, and this with labor at fror
$3.50 to IS per day and fuel at from 5
TO 81 per cord. In Siberia river bed
Of similar character will carry on a
average not less than 90 cents in sol
TO the cubic yard of gravel. while. a
shown, in the statements above. IN
cost OF working should be MATERIAL
less.
THE climate in southern Siberia /
perfectly healthful. and, in some res
poets, most enjoyable. II is true. tina
for FIVE months in the year extrem