Gilpin observer., 1908-01-23
DIRECTOR OF THE MINT ESTI
MATES Thirteen MILLION
DOLLARS INCREASE.
NEVADA TO The FRONT
eoUTH AFRICA THE GREATEST
GOLD PRODUCING REGION
IN THE WORLD.

United States mints. reviews the pro-
huction Of gold in 1907 as follows:
AS gold enters so largely into the
requirements of the financial and bust
ness interests of the world and as pro-
Huction plays SO prominent part in
establishing prices and fixing limita-
tions Of credits, In view of the recent
monetary disturbance in the United
States more than a passing interest
Is manifested in what the mines of the
world, and those Of the United States
in particular, are producing at this
time and what may be expected in the
Immediate future.
The aggregate of the worlds produc-
tion of precious metals has been in
creaslng rapidly for some years past,
IS shown by the annual reports and
statistics of yields obtained from the
various countries. The total annual
yield of gold passed the $30O,00O,O0O
mark in the year 1908, and the end of
each year since then has shown a
marked increase, until, at the close OF
1906, Mr.. Roberts. the former director
of the mint of the United States, esti
mated the total yield of gold from all
the mines of the world for that year
would reach the enormous amount Of
e400, ,000. 900 or more. The compilation
Of the gold and silver production sta
tistics for 1906 for the world has just
been completed, and review of. the
table given herewith will show Mr..
Roberts estimate to have been re-
markably accurate, the total yield Of
gold being given at $400,245,3 800.
An estimate of the production of gold
inc oIn in
creases the aggregate of 1906 by sew
eral million dollars. 1t will take some
months yet to secure the figures show
Ing the actual yield of all the mining
sections of the world and to check and
revise them before they can be made
ready for final publication, but suffi-
cient is known from complete and par
tial returns from the principal mining
districts to place the yield of gold for
the year 1907 at $413 900, 900.
Whether we have reached high wa
ter mark in production is a question.
1t is more than probable that the an
nual yield will be somewhat greater
than this for several years to come, al
though the conditions at the present
time do not promise any great in
crease. II the figures are materially
added to, however, South Africa and
the United States will undoubtedly be
the sources OF the increase, possibly
South Africa alone.
The bulk of the worlds production,
came from South Africa. the United
States, Australasia, Russia, Mexico,
Canada and India.
South Africa will show more than
one-third of the entire product of the
world. as the yield reported to Novem-
ber 1st warrants the total for the year
just closed to be placed at 1852. .600,-
900. as against $135,472,700 for the
year 1906.
The three principal districts of
South Africa are the Transvaal. West
Africa and Rhodesia. or course, the
'Transvaal is the principal and largest
source Of production of the precious
metals, the mines of which locality
have been described so often as to
make them familiar with all inter
ested in the subject of mining. The
output of this locality will be about
100000 more than the yield of last
year, Notwithstanding the labor trou-
bles which have interferred somewhat
with the production. The repatriation
of Chinese miners has been going on
for some time, several steamers, carry
ing in the neighborhood of 1000 Chin
ese at load. having left Durham since
the first of July for China. The min
ers have been replaced by natives,
chiefly from Cape Colony and Central
Africa.
The mines of West Africa are prin-
cipally quartz mines, carrying some of
the base metals. There is some
dredger work, the yield of which is
expected to reach the sum of $125,O00
this year. The production of this dis
trict will reach nearly $6.000.000 this
year. as against $4,670.572 last year.
Rhodesia is the third of the princi
pal districts, and the returns so far
indicate an approximate output of $12,-
100000 for the year. which will be a
gain Of little over $100O,O00. Copper,
lead, chromite, etc. coal and precious
stones are also mined in this district
Considering this immense output of
South Africa. It may be OF interest to
note that the product of that country
together with the product of Canada,
Australasia and British India, will ag-
gregate more than $25O.OOO, 900, or
more than half the entire output of
the world, and 1t is the product OF
countries all Of which are under the
British flag.
From the reports from the various
mining sections of Australasia II ap-
pears as II the product of that coun-
try will be smaller this year than last
probably falling below the $4,000, 900
mark, as against $S2,371 400 In 1906.
There has been a steady decrease In
production Of about 100000 a year
since 1908. when the product reached
the amount Of 1920. 100. The indica.
tions are that the shrinkage will prob
ably be even greater for 1907.
Canada's output Of gold is expected
to show a shrinkage. due to the grad
ual falling of Of the output Of the
Klondike. but considerable increase
In the production of fine silver is
looked for. The production for 1906.
as shown in the table. gives an In