The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-22

Owing to the interruption of all nor
fornia. and particularly In San Fran
cisco. caused by the earthquake that
devasta that city last spring, the
report of the United States geological
survey on the production of gold and
silver during 1905, has been unavoid-
ably delayed. 1t is now, however,
available and will be of interest to the
whole mining world. as it contains
not merely the statistics of production
but minute and interesting data con-
corning the derivation Of the gold and
silver product from placers, from dry
or selicious ores, copper ores lead
ores, zinc ores, copper lead or copper
lead zinc ores, and lead zinc ores.
The author of the report is Waldo
mar Lindgren. the figures showing
the production of gold and silver, in
approximate distribution by states and
territories are the result of confer
ence and adjustment between the geo.
logical survey and the bureau of the
mint. and are accepted as final by two
bureaus. The total poduction of gold
was 4.265.742 fine ounces valued at
sSS.1SO,7OO; the total production of sill
yer was 56,1O1. 800 fine ounces valued
at s34,221,976, making an entire total
vaule of 1922. 402,676.
Increase During Year.
The production of gold in the Unit
ed States for 1905 represents an in
crease of s7,716,OOO in value over the
production of 1904. The rapid advance
in gold production which began in
1892. but temporarily halted from 1901
to 1903 was resumed in 1904. This in
crease in 1904 over the output of 1903
was. approximately 100000 and in
all probability the increase in 1906
over 1905 will be at least the same
amount. The chief sources of the
great increase are as follows: Alaska
added about s6.OOO,OOO to its output
Of $9160458 in 1904, and Colorado,
Nevada and Utah added about $1,000,
600 each to their product of the pre-
vious year. On the other hand, de-
creases are noted in Arizona, Idaho
and other states. The states prOduc-
ing over 100000 in gold rank at
present in the following order: Colo
RADIO. California. Alaska, South Dako-
ia, Nevada, Utah, Montana. Arizona.
Oregon and Idaho.
The production of silver in 1905 rep
reSents a decrease of 1.5S1.200 ounces
cents an ounce Cfrom 81 cents in
1904 to 81 cents in 1905) effected an
addition to the value in 1904 of $765,
$50. Two years of better prices for
silver have thus far failed to stimulate
the production. The record figures
We're attained in 1892, when the output
was 63,5O0.00O fine ounces. valued at
s55. 662, 500 a still further advance to
a maximum of somewhat over 20 cents
has taken place in 1906. but it is not
likely that the year will show star
Ting additions to the output for 1905.
The increase should be more marked
in 1907. and will probably be rather
derived from copper ores and dry sill
yer ores than from lead ores.
Decrease in Silver.
The decrease in the quantity of sill
Yer is specially noticeable in Colorado
and Utah: to slight degree also in
Montana On the other hand, Neva-
da and Idaho materially increased
their output. The states producing
over 100000 ounces rank at present
Colorado Utah
Idaho. Nevada. Arizona and Califor
mia.
The output of gold and silver in the
United States is ascertained by the
geological survey by the method OF
mines report" that is, by direct in
quiry from the producing mines. On
the other hand. the bureau of the mint
collects its data concerning the two
metals by recording the quantities and
sources Of bullion deposits of the Unit
ed States mint and assay offices and
by statements from the smelling and
refining establishments detailing the
quantities and ounces of the metals
produced. Statistics obtained by these
different methods agree strikingly in
the totals for the United States. but
differ more or less in detail. Reasons
for this are set forth in the report.
Washington.
An increase of $4,000 brought the
gold production of Washington up to
$4,000 This increase is mainly due
10 mines in the Pierre Lake district.
Stevens county. in the northeastern
corner Of the state. Republic district.
in Perry county, and the Mount Baker
district in Whatcom county in the
northwestern corner. furnished the
bulk of the remainder. Most of the
small silver production which is valued
at s12S34, was derived from the Che
welah district, in Stevens county.
Idaho.
An unfavorable water season as
well as diminished activity in deep
gold mining in Owyhee county, re-
duced the gold production of Idaho in
1905 by about 100000 to $1.075.6O
ON the other hand, the activity in the
Occur d'Alene lead mines in ShoShone