Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-11-12
The Gold and Silver Production.

|
silver for the last calendar year, has
never been made plain to the public,
Presumably, however, the director pre-
fers to hold the information for publ
cation in his annual report. which us
ually appears about the last Of October.
Still. while, somewhat late, the figures
for 1902 are interesting. From a synop.
sis of the report made up by Brad
took first place in the production of
gold, with an output valued at $751;
SIS, 500, thus putting the United States
in second place. The total for this
country is placed at sS0,OO0.00O.
This, it is pleasing to note, is great
or than the production of 1901. when
the United States held first place. 1t
is not so important. after all, whether
the United States holds first place so
long as our annual production is in
creased. In the production of silver,
Mexico held first place last year. with
the United States not far behind. in
second place. Africa, the third on the
list of gold producers, is credited with
only $39 1929, 200. while Canada, which
was third in 1901. moved down to fifth
place last year with a total of OIL
2C0 Russia remained in fourth place
with value amounting to s22, 533, 400.
which was less by little over $780,
COO than its record in 1901. The only
other country with production in ex-
cess of $4,000, 900 was Mexico. though
British India was not far behind with
total of 1855, 100. Among the silver
producers Bolivia took the third place
with a ccining value of SIC. 79S,600, and
Australasia, which was third the year
before. fell into fourth place with
production of s1O,377,1O After Aus
tralasia followed in order Germany,
Canada. Peru, Spain and Chile. The
total production of gold for the world,
estimated at 1896, $50 800. was some
thing over s32, 500, 900 in excess of that
for the preceding year. This repre-
scented an increase of 1.572,914 ounces,
whereas the production of silver fell off
S, O42. 1874 ounces as compared with the
preceding year.
Among the tables in the report is one
to show the value of gold
and silver produced by each state and |
territory. Arizona's output of gold is |
placed at s4,112. 800; silver, s3,954,513 AS
The Republican has had to point out |
more than once in the past. the reports |
If the director of the mint, while close
Y approximating the aggregate pro-
luction of gold and silver in the United
States, invariably do an injustice to
Arizona by making the value of the
jutput of precious metals in this terri
DRY much less than it is. 1t cannot be
air. but he must rely upon the most
eliable data that ne finds at hand.
however faulty it may be. One reason
Why the output of gold from Arizona is
liked at much lower figure than the
ctual production is found in the fact
hat nearly all the base ores are ship
ed to smelters outside the territory.
There is good reason to believe that
considerable percentage of the gold
'alue assigned to Colorado's output be-
ongs to Arizona. Also, a great guam
lty of Arizona ores goes to the FL
'aso smelters. Not little of this gold
) credited to Mexico. In addition to I
his, there is no reliable way of arriv
ng at the value of the gold contained
\ the copper bullion and matte ship
cd from this territory. That it runs
ITO the millions cannot be doubted. 1t
; a fact, therefore, that the s4,112,9O0
4 gold credited to Arizona by the di
ector of the mint would be covered by +,
he output of the stamp mills in this !
arritory alone. 1t would be a very
Onservative estimate to place the
alue of Arizonas gold output in 1902
{ twice the figures estimated by the :.
irector !
Analysing the report further it APP
ears that Colorado led, as it did the g
ear before, in gold production, with
alifornia second, Alaska third. South :
akota fourth, Arizona fifth and Utah ;
Xth. Montana, which was fifth in I
old production in 1901 fell to eleventh c
lace in 1902. Among the silver-produc- c
.g states Colorado led, as it did among !.
re producers of gold. with Montana :
ct distant second. Utah continued in $
lird place, with Idaho fourth and Ne
ada and Arizona in fifth and sixth j
laees, respectively. the latter two hav-
,g exchanged places as compared with
jo1. The gold produced in the United q.
tates as a whole amounted to $780, ,
% fine ounces, an increase of $4,000 /
1nces as compared with the preceding
ear and of s1.3333 300 in value The pro-
uction of silver, amounting to 81. $780, :
10 ounces. showed an increase of 1885, I
70 ounces. but the commercial value t
I'll off SO, 713, 400 owing to the decline I
the value of silver in the year COW
red by the report as compared with !
lie preceding year. 2
At the Guild hall banquet given by '