Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30
GOLD
ASD PLATINUM SANDS

The United Sta,ce Geological Sur
vcy Department Of the Interior, has
received during the last few months
a number Of letters asking about sup
posed gold and platinum sands IN the
Adirondack Mountains. Il appears that
the falsity OF tho statements concern
ing tho possibility or working these
sands commercially has not been mad.
clear even after thirty years OF effort.
In 1919 Dr. J. NJ. Clarke. the state
reolosist OF New York. said. the
traces Of gold found there Gn the
Adirondack do not afford any ndc-
quate basis FOR mining enterprise"
This statement was reiterated in let
ter from Dr. Clarke to tho National
Research Council. dated July Is. 1917.
from which the following extract IL
made:
platinum has been known to exist
IN small quantities IN tho sand: OF
Hcrthcrn Sow York, but :he amount is
:mpcrcepl.blc and det"rninablc only
"i'h cilhruity. The platinum story is
Il Ncrita5l" chestnut which has grown
exceedingly unpalatable with III.
years. II has had a new birth this
year, and have already sent out no.
ticcs 10 various investors advising
caution in regard 10 the matter. In
fact, within the last two months
have sent a carefully prepared state
the State Of New York urging that
no attention be given 10 the present
reports as to the alleged new processes
OF winning gold and platinum from
the sands OF Northern New York.
Philadelphia has been tho hotbed OF
some OF the wors, propa ganda regard
ing gold and silver in New York that
this country has known. and am
speaking within limitations in saying
that millions 'of dollar, have been
wasted upon investment projects in
New York, noated by crooked COM
panies claiming 10 carry on their
demonstrations right under the eve OF
the intending investor. The story OF
these gold craZcs'-onc after another
first Oh the east side OF the Adiron-
dacks, then on the west side: at the
present time in Iierkim"r and St Law
renee Counties, while the Lewis County
craze Is not even yet dead---is a per
fcctiy wicked one. have on nv
flies the whole history OF the trans
actions--sworn afiidavits and confes
sions or copartncrs in these gold and
platinum proraganda-and have been
going through this thing for the last
thirty years. so am speaking with
some knowledge
The following is a COPY OF the press
bulletin mentioned by Dr Clarke is
sued by tho state & biological Survey OF
New York May 80. 1917:
Another effort to arouse interest in
the alleged gold mining operations in
THIS State has been brought to the at
tention OF the state geologist who on
several occasions has warned the pub
nc against entering into schemes OF
th's sort. The latest venture has its
HEADQUARTERS in Ilcrkimer County, but
nearly all sections OF the Adirondacks
ana various other parts OF the state
nave beon exploited by promoters OF
these ii-foundcd enterprises, which In
several instances have cntailed very
serious financial losses to the deceived
investors AS an additional lure IN.
promoters arc now advcrtisins that thn
sands contain platinum, whose value
exceeds many times that OF gold. The
once OF tho State seoloSist has been
IN touch with this matter from tho
first, and lis records show that there
has never been any success attained
In such workings. which. at best, con.
tain only mere traces Of the precious
metals"