Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-03-21

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 ar Anaconda Standard reporter
a lively description of mining condi-
lions in the czar's great province.
Ten years ago the name Siberia
called up a picture of wastes of snow
Y and ice, boundless tundras (steppes)
-, nd coasts white with icebergs,' said
Mr.. French. To-day the same Siberia
is a 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
its forest inhabited by fur-bearing
animals. Siberia is now beginning TO
show to the world its 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.
1 "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 $4,000 900 in gold
per year, it 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, lis 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 Sibaria's mining
industry.
There are probably today not over
a dozen stamp mills operating in the
whole country, and it is doubtful il
i over $50 stamps are dropping. OF the
old roller-type gold mills, there are
also a few. Deep mining is unknown;
it is doubtful if there Is a single shaft
in the limits of the Russian empire
which has penetrated precious metal
deposit to a 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 Concen-
trates by cyaniding or chlorination is
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 Yenisei
river quartz veins with visible free
gold and uncovered for lengths vary
ing FROM a few to many thousands of
feet may be seen in the old placers
and penetrating the surrounding hills
. In the OnOn river district, in the reg
ion of the Trans-Bakal, quartz min
ing of immense masses of ore has
been carried on in a desultory and in
efficient manner for several years.
One important feature in connection
/ with the conducting of mining opera.
tions in Siberia is the aptitude of the
Russian workman for the AK. Wood
is so plentiful in the country that in
no case will the price for fuel exceed
81 per cord and mining timbers may
be figured on at a corresponding low
rate.
The mining laws of Russia allow
| the taking up Of mining claims inds-
criminately by Russians or by for.
/. eigners. The only persons not al
| lowed this are Jews, Clergymen and
| persons not in possession of their
civil rights in their own country.
Claims consist Of $50 acres Of land.
| generally surveyed at the locator's
option, with a length of about and
one-half miles and a width of from
TOO to 900 feet. Several American
engineers among them B. f. Heating
of Providence and Mr. burlington of
Boston, have recently received patents
to groups of placer claims in Siberia.
| where extensive dredging operations
are now being undertaken by Amer
lean syndcates 1t is impossible to
estimate the number of miles of gold
| bearing creeks still free for location
in Siberia; but since it is absolutely
| impossible to work lCw-lying gravels
by Siberian methods now in vogue.
and since these gravels are in conse-
quence deemed comparatively worth
less by the Siberian gold miner. the
amount of free land must certainly be
enormous. In California at the pre-.
sent day gravels along the Father
river which contain but ] ; cents to the
cubic yard in gold are being worked
at profit and this with labor at from
$3.50 to SO per day and fuel at from Sc
to IS per cord. In Siberia river beds
Of similar character will carry on an
average not less than "a cents in gold
to the cubic yard Of gravel while. as
shown in the statements above. the
cost Of working should be materially
less
The climate in southern Siberia IS
perfectly healthfm. and. in some res