The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1904-12-31
PRODUCTION OF GOLD
AND SILVER IN 1908.

Under the heading Nevada Is
First" the SENTINEL last week pub
Iished a wild cat" from the advance
sheet of the United States Geological
Survey, relative to the production Of
gold and silver in 1908. Very nearly
all the papers in the State printed more
or less of the statistics issued in the ad-
vance sheet, each one anxious to herald
Nevada's wonderful mineral resources.
The Mining and Scientific Press, how
ever, keeps better posted on facts and
ieurest than do some of Nevada's pub
fishers, and it takes the Survey to task
for sending out such misleading state
ments as are contained in the advance
sheet. 1t says:
"An advance sheet of the statistics
of annual production of gold and silver
in the United States in 1908 has been
receiyed from tie United States Geo.
logical Survey, which contains the sur
prising statement that in that year Ne
vada's output of the precious metals,
due chiefly to the shipment OF rich ore
from Tonopah, made Nevada the lead
ing State in the Union in the produc-
ton of gold and silver in 1903. Accord
ing to the Mineral Resources OF the
United States for 1902, issued by the
United States Geological Survey, the
production of gold in Nevada in 1909
was q, S95, 300, and 81, 1885, 1876 CONNER
cial value) silver-a total of 1885, s6.
"As the advance sheet states that the
increa. Sc in production OF gold and silver
in Nevada during 1908 was s492, 700.
the total output for 1903 for that State
should have been about s5,373.OOO. As
there are several States which in 1902
are known to have produced considera-
bly in excess Of this amount, and in
which the falling off, If any, In mineral
production has been comparatively
slight. it is clearly evident that Nevada.
although increasing production rapidly,
is still far from leading in the output OF
precious metals.
In 1902 Alaska produced over $780,
600, which was increased in 1908 /; Call
fornia produced over 81, 0OO, 900 in 1902
and nearly the same in 1908 /; Colorado
over $36, 600, 900 in 1902 and about $780,
OO0, 900 in 1903 ; Montana produced over
s11, O0O, 600 in 1902 and nearly as much
in 1908 /; South Dakota in 1902 produced
over 81, OO0, 900 and nearly the same in
1908 Utah's production in 1902 was
over 90, 900, 900 and exceeded this in 1908,
and Arizona produced $5.725,143 in
1902 and showed an Increase over this
in 1908.
"These figures merely indicate that,
although Nevada is rapidly increasing
her output Of precious metals, and that
while the statistics for 1904 will prob
ably show a still further increase over
1908, that State is not in the lead as
stated by the bulletin of the United
States Survey. but really is number
seven in the list.
Naturally the United States Geolog-
ical Survey is looked to as a source OF
reliable information. but such state
ments as these, bearing the names OF
the Director of the Survey and of the
Director of the Mint, are not only mis-
leading, being absolutely incorrect. but
tend to throw a shadow of doubt
over all of the official figures OF
the Survey. These bulletins are
prepared in Washington and sent
throughout the world for the purpose
of giving advance information. Doubt,
less the official report will, when issued,
be found correct, but there seems nc
good excuse for the advance sheets con-
tanning SO fragrant an error as that
above referred to-"