The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-02-01
GOLD MINES OF SIBERIA
QUEER MINING CUSTOMS
IMPRISONED FOR
UNDUE CURIOSITY IN FIND.
ING NUGGET OF GOLD.


OF honor OF the Mining society Of
the University of Arizona recently.
DIR. Payne Is known as one of the
greatest authorities upon recovery of
gold from frozen gravels of the Arctic
regions and was responsible for the
Introduction Of the present hot water
thawing devices now in use in the
klondyke. For the past few years he
has been in charge of the operations
of the Lena Goldfields company in ST.
IBERIA and acted as arbitrator for that
company in controversy with the Rus
sian government Later he was re-
tanned as consulting engineer by the
latter and Is still in it's employ in con-
neetlon with his other duties.
Tribute to Prospeetor.
Dr. Payne spoke to the Mining So
ciety on the recovery of gold from
frozen gravels. He paid a glowing
tribute to the prospector. He said "the
mining engineer L. apt to think him
SELF pioneer. In methods, perhaps.
ne Is. But the mining engineer passes
upon the development of the prospect.
while the prospeetor himself makes
possible the field for examination and
subsequent development along COM
nerelal lines. Without the prospect
Dr. few of our latest operations today
Would have been in existence. The
1rospector, always in search of the
Dol or gold at the end OF the rainbow
$ the worlds most striking example
II the adage, hope springs eternal in
he human breast His cabin, always
pen to the traveller; his endurance
ested to the utmost, the prospector
las always been and must always he
he advance guard of the great army
# mining men,"
Prospector Sent to Prison.
Describing Siberian mining condi-
ions, Dr. Payne said:
THE discovery of gold in Siberia is
cry interesting. About 1850 a peas
mt discovered gold in the site of the
resent Beresovsky mine in the north
rails. This was in the reign of the
Impress Katerina. The peasant was
Imprisoned for life, for undue Curl
sity.
In 1851 Roukholff propounded a
heory that no river flowing south
ould have gold in an east tributary
he Verni is an east tributary of the
'igri, A Tartar servant found a mug
ct and Roukholff gave him a beating
Or stealing. The Tartar then went TO
ne Vacielivsky working on the Hho-
iolhho, and Vacielisvsky staked the
laim' In a distance of less than two
lilies on this stream, there were sub
taken out $15,SSO 400 worth
gold.
Difficulties of Travel
Entrance to the gold fields of
rams Siberian railway from Irk,,tsk
n the west shore of Lake Baikal. For
10 miles from Irkutsk a fair auto
lobile road has been built From
ere on the trip may be made by a
'Wboat a distance of 80 miles. In
w water, a team of horses and ma
We wagon, or 'telega, is essential.
Food is secured at the various ma
We settlements en-. route, and men to
Nv the boat down stream or horses
tow it against the current are oh
ined at the government post sta
pms. When one considers the diff
llties of the trip today and then re-
lis that in the early eos prospectors
ended their way by sled over the ice
winter a distance of 5000 miles
om Petrograd. he can only feel
nazed at their energy.
About 5000 employees are on the di-
ct payroll of the mining company
d at least 10000 people are depend ,
directly or indirectly upon the
ming operations.
Not Wrong to Steal Nuggets.
The mining world first became in 6
'ested in this field when the rich g
agoveschensky claim was at its O
eatest production. In one year, by .
en- cutting, 100000 cubic Yards +
re taken out and $1S,00O,OOO re- 6
'erede=This averages about $12 per |,
iare foot of bed rock In a dis 4
ice of 20 miles the output of this n
ley has been almost 800, 100000 n
e total recorded output of the Ben r.
lie properties is in excess of gold
len and sold illicitly. In this con-
'tion. the attitude of the Russian q
'ernment towards the stealing of h
d is unique. The workmen do not D
slider it wrong to pick up nuggets =
the workings and to keep them, N
ling them 'Goment'
The government regulations re-
ding the hiring of laborers stipulate "
t the rate Of pay due to the work
n for gold so taken, is to be speci-
in the contract This undoubt- Dc
, gives the workmen a certain p,
It of ownership, and makes it diff ie
1t to sue him for picking up mug tn
!, and any agreements without this 10 10
Use are considered illegal. Any ef-
to cope with the evil is an un-
struggle of one honest man ~
INST several hundred expert thieves %
sc actions are sanctioned by es- &c
ihsed custom. and partly protected Nj
The governmental regulations. W W
Guard Over Each Miner.