Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10
GOLD PRODUCTION
/. IN CANADA GAINING
Dominion's Output Is Stead
lily Approaching That of
United States.
BY JOHN r. sINCLAIR.

Columbus discovered America q billion
ounces of gold have been taken out of
the ground, and more than half Of
this-516, 273,000 ounces to be exact
was produced In the first ~ years Of
the present century.
Talking in ounces makes II look big,
but If the entire world production Of
the yellow metal since the discovery of
America UP to the present time was
cast into q cube. It's edges would
measure only 3s.5 feet.
The North American continent was
the largest producer Of gold from 1893
TO 1927-about 40 per cent Of the total.
cent of the total.
After this came Australia, with II
per cent; South America, with IL per
cent; Asia, with 11.03 per cent, and
Europe, with 4.
South Americas Position.
Up to 1880, South America was lead
ing, for during the eighteenth century
80 per cent Of the total world produc-
ton came from that continent. Africa,
at the beginning Of the period, was q
close second, but lost out. Then North
America, Europe and Asia moved to the
front in the first half Of the nineteenth
century
What about gold production at pres
ent? Since 1905, the United Statese
has been the second largest producer
Of gold in the world. But Canada Is
moving up and bids fair to sufpass the
United States shortly.
The TTansvaal in 1927 was at the
top, producing 1ve times as much as
the United States; while Canada pro-
duced about IS per cent Of the United
States output.
This information Is taken from .
Of the United States Bureau of Mines,
which is available to those interested
in this most intriguing subject.
EurOpe's Man Of Mystery.
An old man, one Of the worlds rich-
est. has found that money does not give
him the satisfaction which he Graves.
Sir Basil 1haroff, Eurcpe's man Of
mystery for 80 years, is that man. His
long fingers have reached into more
business organizations and Ia more
countries than any other European Of
modern times. He has sat On the
boards of more than 800 industrial con-
Germs, helped with his vast wealth q
score Of armies to win wars. That's
why 81 different governments have re-
warded him with special honors.
And yet with AL his money-prob-
ably the richest individual In European
histoTy-he sits and wcndeys about II
all-the pomp and power Of the world.
He has gradually dropped out Of the
European business picture. One by
one he has resigned the various direc-
torshtps in which he had 30 large q
part.
The Monte Carlo Casino was one of
his first ventures. In the prosperous
days he rolled his fortune with its
help into $25,000,00O.
When he met Hiram Maxim, the
American gun inventor, Sir Basil's real
wealth accumulation began. He sold
the Maxim guns TO every eivilizsd
nation, including the United States.
His career, full of romance, began as
hotel guide in his native country,
Greece. Then he became q fireman
with Greek hose company. Too slow
and uninteresting. He saved . little
money, became q money lender and
then dealer In woolens.
But the sinews Of war were the
basis Of hts great fortune. Even before
he met Maxim he sold cannon and
powder and shells TO his native colin-
try as well IS to Turkey.
Books and scores Of articles have
been written about him, but he has no
intimates. His wife's death in 1898,
after only l8 months Of married life,
seems to have broken hts spirit.
So at 90 he gazes out Of the window
in his French villa, fed up with life.
surrounded by q host Of servants, his
personal physicians, and awaits the end.
Tourists Are Returning.
Thousands Of tourists are returning
10 America. The break In stock prices
and the CONSEQUENT losses have been the
main reason for the return Of many
of those who have been joy riding In
Europe ON the great boom In stocks.
The bubble has burst.
Steamship companies report the
heaviest reservations in history. The
United States liner George Washing
ton, the lie de France, and the Levia-
than all entered New York filled to
overlooking. Other steamship COM
panies report the same crowded sitla-
ton.
A more healthy spirit viii be abroad
in the land as soon as these easy profits
have been forgotten and the losers have
gone 10 work.
In the meantime many Of those who
had planned on spending Winters
abroad will spend them in country
towns and In cities, tending strictly TO
business, Some even believe that this
condition viii aid, and not hurt, iegiti-
Yes. the big show is over. The morn
ing after has dawned-it's new work
day,
American Exports.
This year American foreign exports
broke all records for the first nine
months. The total is 32Sa 1000 900
higher than for the previous high Of
1927.
Exports for the period totaled
$3,849, 100000, while imports were
4S,a6I 100000. This Is 10 per cent
above the 1897 total. The gain In ex-
ports, on the other hand, is about per
cent.
Europe again sends in the largest
amount of new imports. They sent
$3.50 900 900 worth of goods for the first
eight months. gain of 8 per cent ever
the corresponding period Of last year.
The matter of gold import is always
interesting. For the first nine months
the net import of gold was S245. 000, 600.
This was greater than any year for the
same period since 1874. Contrast 1t, IL
you will, with the net gold exports at
this time of nearly half billion dol
lars for last year.
No, there's nothing wrong with
Americas foreign trade.
-