New-York tribune., 1901-10-14
THE PASSING THRONG.

W. j. Howard, formerly OF Colorado one OF the
best known OF the American mine managers who
have invaded foreign countries
THE MINES and now general manager OF the
ON THE Adjah BippO mines OF Ashantee
GOLD COAST. on the Gold Coast OF West Africa.
in speaking last night at the Wal
oorr-Astora OF the increasing investments OF English
and Continental capitalists in the Jungle mines
aS a the % God Coast properties are now designated
surprising that the treasures OF Ashantes have re
jungle in the fullest meaning OF the term Immense
mahoganies, cottonwOods. and other trees bearing
are so thicky. surrounded by and wrapped up in
normally is well nigh impassable Many of tbs
trees are Of a diameter great ten feet, and
twisted vines and brush growth. much Of it as
thlek as mans arm, climb and creep in many
products OF the forest. For many years the ma
tyes worked the gold reefs, which now be-
the increasing amount of metal brought to the
native was lollng about a virtual bed Of gold.
Caucasian begin TO realize its undisclosed wealth.
3n expoed b wfy boT bn @ woTge OF Tess 45 % %
OF 500 feet, not dissimilar in mode of occurrence
from the Transvaal gold deposits. but of greater
value per ton. is known 70 exist. And there is
now general rush 10 develop the discoveries thus
far made Besides this. the general scramble for
the yet unknown mines. common to all mining
camps. now going on Is bound 70 disclose more
wealth pertinent index OF this Is seen in the
great number of companies which have already
been formed to develop the various mine COnceS-
sions IN this district and the eagerness Win Whlch
the shares Of these companies purchased by the
and on the Continent The Adiah Bippo mines
alone working with imperfect appliances and en-
daVeenment Of new coT5frv sent q SY ounces
of gold 10 England in the last four years valued
his Kind The Quality Of labor Is not Of the best
Transportation facilities are neither adequate
cheap and the administration Of the government
over there is yet that competition among
merchants and other pioneers to properly and
in a mining camp
Most of the labor Is black" continued Mr.. How
ard. "and 1t consists mainly OF natives from Ii
IBERIA. though the coast natives
TRANS from Ashantee are gradually be-
PORTATION ing broken into service While 1t
FACILITIES is better than the labor OF British
BAD. India. it is not good as the
Kafir labor Of the Transvaal but
this is to be expected. There Is such profusion
Of vegetable food growth. such pawpaws, pine
apples bananas and sweet potatoes IN the coun-
ny and the rivers abound in fish that the ma
tive. having particular desire in life except the
easily gratihed one Of filling his stomach has not
uous pleasures OF pounding drills and shoveuing
incidentaIIv increase the prots Of t6e mines Ma
tive wages. when the native works IS nlnepence
an additional allowance OF threepence day. White
labor averages f25. or s120 month Steamers ply
tee and Liverpool and Southampton. and. though
the passage is slow, the service 10 good. A rail-
road of gauge is in process OF construction
from Sekondi toward the mines which are about
seventyfve miles inland 1t is imperfectly equipped
for forty miles and is slow in building. CnfOrtu-
natey il is a government enterprise. and the cli-
mate seems to have direful effect all govern
ment employees. in that even the most abstemious
of men find themselves seized upon arrival in
Ashantee with horrible thirsts. requiring unending
spirituous relief. with the consequence that the
railroad service thus far has not been much OF an
Improvement upon the primitive method OF convey
ance. which consists Of packing everything on the
heads of the natives; This want Of proper trans
portation restricts the quantity and impairs the
quality OF supplies that the country's gold can
amply afford to paw for. Fresh meat and eggs are
a luxury Some time ago sent some natives 70
the coast for some sheep and chickens. Upon their
return three months later. 1 thought they had
been to Iiniput The sheep were about the size or
iaCkra bbits and not wholly unlike them in flavor.
and the chickens, aged ones, were In size. but IN
no other respect about like squads OF course. II
Is onlv question of time when discOmforts OF this
TYNE will be overcome now that the existence Of
immense mineral treasures in this out or the way
place is becoming known abroad.