Seward daily gateway., 1931-10-12
INCREASED COLD OUTPUT AsCR|bED PLACER MINING
 BY MANY UNEMPLOYED

Despite the substantial reduction
 in the mining of complex ores, from
 which is derived a large part ot
 the gold output, the production of
 the yellow metal during 1880 was
 considerably greater in the United
 States than in the previous year
 due to the increased activities of
 individual prospectors working with
 DICK and shovel in placer deposits,
 according to oral information SUD-
 piled by the Department of Com
 merce.
 There has also been an increase ln the production of scrap or sec ondary gold which. together with the gain in new gold output, has made available the largest supply of the metal for currency purposes m many years. The following ad- ditional information was furnished by the Department:
 Gold production during 1880, based on arrivals at the United States hints and assay offices and at private refineries, was estimated at 2,285,603 ounces valued at SAT- 247,6OO, an increase of approxi- mately $1,000,0OO over 1929. These figures include the output in AL aska and the Philippine Islands.
 Economic conditions have stim- ulated gold prospecting in the United States during the last two years. Some months ago the Pres ldent's Emergency Committee for Employment issued a statement which told of the activities of un- employed miners in Nevada and other States in placer operations. It was estimated that hundreds of JoblesS had taken to the pick and shovel m in some cases machinery was supplied-in an effort to earn a few dollars in the pursuit of the precious metal. In some cases the owners of large claims had thrown their lands open to the unemployed
 III order to relieve unemployment.
 Being used principally for cur rency or currency reserve, the price Of gold remains stable. The aver age value of the metal in 1930 was S20.671835 per ounce and in 1929 It was exactly the same amount. Silver, on the contrary averaged 38.5 cents per ounce in 1880 and 53.3 cents in 1929. It is natural. therefore, that those deposits which are in any way promising be ex- plotted to the utmost.
 The major part of the domestic supply of gold has come from com plex ores in which the yellow metal frms an incidental but important proportion. It is found in combina- ton with silver, copper, lead and other metals, the proportion of gold varying with the nature of the ores.
 Because of the reduced demand for these other metals, and the consequent decreased production. there has necessarily been a de- cline in the gold output, as it does not often pay to treat tons of these ores solely for the gold they con- tain, although the gold is decided ly worth recovering during regular operations.
 Gold was produced in 1880 in 18 States, Alaska and the Philippines. produced more than $9,- 100000 worth, Alaska and South more than $8,0O,000 worth, Colorado and Utah more than $4,- 1oo,OOo worth. Next in importance were Philippine Islands, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, New Mexico, Ida 10 and Oregon. Small quantities 'Lso came from Alabama, Georgia, Worth Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ten ] lessee, Texas, Washington and 
 The Union of South Africa ! 'Iransvaal, Natal and Cape Col 'ny) prod duces about half the E worlds gold supply. Along with i. Australia, Canada and Russia. it's : 'roduction has been increasing ' chiIa the rest If thn ryor1~, l