The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-24
THE WoRLp's GOLD.

According to a bulletin which has
recently been issued by the bureau OF
statistics in washington. D. c., the
worlds supply of gold during the past
decade has increased one-half--and the
amount OF the yellow metal-which
has been coined into money-has in
creased nearly rs per. cent.
But the document contains other in
teresting items OF information.
Prior to 100, the worlds gold pro-
duction averaged about s5,0Oo.oo0 a
year. From 100 to 1850 1t averaged
about 100000 a year-and from 1850
to 1850 it averaged about sl2.ooO,OOO a
year. ....
Then came the discovery Of the yel-
low metal in California-closely fol-
lowed by the announcement af fabu-
lous deposits in far-off Australia.
With this impetus, the worlds out
put OF gold from 1850 to 1890 averaged
100000 900 per annum.
Since then the miners pick has up
turned the precious ore in fresh locali-
ties. In 1898 the yearly output OF gold
reached S15o, 1000, 900. In 1894 1t reached
S1s1, ,O0O,o 900. In 1898 it reached $2o2,-
00O, 900.
But for the past few years the In
crease has been even more rapid still.
In 1905 the amount OF gold taken
from the mines aggregated S4oO, ,OOO.-
ooO In 1907 It totaled $41o, 600. 900.
In 1908 it reached $42s,o0o,oo0.
During the past ten years 1t is esti-
mated that the total output OF gold
has reached s,4OO,oOO,o0o.
This is almost one-ffth Of the total
amount of gold which has been mined
since the discovery OF America In 14s2,
To be precise-it is estimated that
the value Of the yellow metal which
has been coined during the past four
centuries is about s1S,ooo.oeO,o 900.
Gold Is the most carefully conserved
of sill the precious metals. But not
withstanding this fact--it is estimated
that about $4,000, ,ooO.ooo Of this total
amount is lost in commerce-malxing
the grand aggregate about s1l,eoo. .ooo,-
600.
Something like two-thirds of the
worlds stock OF gold exists in the form
Of coin.
This is valued at about 81, 600, coo, 900.
But Of this amount only $4,000, ooo. 600
is reported to be in circulation and
fully $4,000, 100000, is lying idle in
banks and in public treasures.
In the distribution of countries, the
United States heads the list. the figures
being: the United States. s1,e1s, ,ooo,-
600; Germany, $1.e44.ooo. goo: France
$s2e, ,o0o, 600; the United Kingdom, s5sS,
Ooo,oo0; Austria Hungary, $sos. 100000;
Italy, s25s, 100000; Australia. $I5s, ,o0o,- :
Ooe; Egypt s14o,ooo,ooo; Argentina,
sI4o. 100000; Turkey, sls2,eOo.ooO: In
iia, s1Is,00o.ooO; Japan. sos. 900:
and Brazil, s51, 100000.
The total amount OF gold reported
to be in this country ten years ago
was ss2s,ooo, 900.
This most interesting exhibit will
serve to explain in q large measure the
prosperous times which have succeeded
the panic OF 1898. The increased out
put of gold has expanded the circu-
lating medium and almost doubled the
per capita
Fully one fourth Of the total amount
Of gold in existence at the present time
is supposed to have come from the
mines of the United States.
But inst now this country occupies
the second place In the list OF the
worlds gold producers.
South Africa comes first. averaging
s16e. 100000 per annun: the United
states second, averaging si00.00o.00o
per annum; Australia third. averaging
sS0.0oo.ooo per annum; Russia fourth,
averaging s25.ooo,ooo per annum; and
Mexico firth. averaging sso.oOo.ooo per
annum.
II is estimated that the total amount
OF silver money in existence Is about
ss,5oe.oo0.ooo, or half the total amount
OF gold.
EMDefant of court processes for the
greater part OF his life Henry n
Ro9ersthe brains OF the OH trust