Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sumpter miner. (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 1900)
Wednesday, November 28, 1 -oo THE SUMPTER MINER THIS THE GOLDEN AGE Enormous Increase in Produc tion of Yellow Metal. It Is only when one looks Into it In a statistical way that the enormity of the increase of gold production can be realized. Through the 49 years represented In 1851 1899 the gold mines of all countries added to the wealth of the world the enormous sum of 6,665,6)1,000. This is more than double the total amount of the world's gold production from the beginning of the year 1501 to the end of 1850. The pro duction of gold during these three and a half centuries aggregated 1 3,129,720,000, according'to the statement Issued by the bureau of statistics at Washington, D. C, and approved by the director of the mint. California has contributed to the world's stock of precious metals since Marshall discovered gold In the Sutter mill race at Colomo, over 1,400,000,000. This 1st qua! to one fourth of the total production of the half century from all sources, and is nearly one half of the amount ot yellow metal mined between 1501 and 1850. California thus holds a supreme position as a gold producer, In not only the record of the latter half of the 19th (entury, but also in the record of the hist four centuries. During the past four years the ratio of the world's gold production has increased inarvelously. Tills period shows an ag gregate yield of 1 ,043,41; 1, 000, mid repre stents nearly one-sixth of the half cen tury's contribution to the world's wealth. Of this amount $247,414,000 was extract ed from the ulacer and quartz mines of the United States, which lie chiefly in the territory west of the Missouri river. From this region the world is at present drawing one fourth of its supply, another fourth having been obtained In 1898 from the Transvaal. The mines of the Rand would have even made a better record last year and the present one had it not been for the war In South Africa. They will make a very small showing, if any at all, In the world's record this year, as there is now absolutely no prospect of an early resumption of operations in them. This Is truly a golueu age. The world has never seen its equal before. But the increase in the production of the precious metal in recent years has been so extraor dinarily disproportionated to that of any other corresponding period of which we have a record, that a u ide Held lor specu lation is opened up for political econo mists. Mining methods have been so simplified and reduced to such economical basis that the area ol production has been immeasurably enlarged, while the pro cesses of extraction are so perfect that all factors of waste have been virtually elim inated. The prospect is, therefore, for a much greater increase in the ratio of gold pro duction of the world during the next half century than has occurred during the one now closing. The question may conse quently be asked, with some concern as to the answer, is the time approaching when there will be an overproduction of gold in the world? Western Mining World. Samples From the Tammany. On Wednesday of this week the officers of the Tammany Gold Mining company received ten sacks of ore containing sam ples from as many different places on the ledge that extends through the two claims belonging to the company. Similar sam ples had previously been assayed and the value was known. t It is the intention of the company to have all of the samples as sayed very soon and if they make as good a showing as is anticipated, the stockhold ers have several fortunes hidden away in the mountain, and only capital to develop the property is needed to make it a divi dend payer at once. The samples were sent by Peter Olson, who has a contract with the company to extend the present too-foot tunnel, $00 feet further Into the ledge. The property is situated in the Cracker Creek district, near Sumpter, Oregon. Seattle Times. SUPPLY OF COPPER. Foreign Demand Increasing, Our Produc tion Falling Off. We have been selling over a million pounds of copper a day nil this year to foreign consumers. The foreign demand has been Increasing, while our production has not quite held Its own. It is said that our mines are prepared to increase their output to a considerable extent, but there is little prospect that the supply will be so far enhanced as to diminish the price. In proportion to the world's supply no metal is now in so great demand as cop per. The market for It Is very active, be cause, though the United States and all the leading nations of Europe are great consumers, none of them produce it in large quantities except this country. The United Kingdom, Prance and Germany are by far the largest buyers of copper ingots, bars and plates in Europe, but none of them produces the metal except Germany, and the German output is only from f 7,000 to 20,000 tons a year. Great Britain can buy copper In no part of her vast empire except in Australia and Can ada, and the receipts from these sources are only a small part of the metal she consumes. But we have plenty of copper and to spare. The United States produce more than one-half, and Spain and Portugal one-fourth ot the world's supply. We sell about one-half of the copper we mine, though we lead the world In the amount of copper consumed. Great Britain, Prance and Germany buy nearly all of the United States' product that is sold abroad; and about one-fourth as much copper as we sell to foreign lauds is brought to this country, not for consump tion here, but for conversion at our At lantic coast refineries into plates and wire for foreign use. The world's production lias increased about one-third since 1804, and it has in creased more rapidly in this country than in any other large producing region. But still the supply has scarcely kept pace with the demand, swollen constantly by the expansion of electrical Industries. Next to silver, copper Is the best con ductor of heat and electricity; and with the vast development of the telegraph and telephone services, and the new use of electricity to transmit power and thus sup plant the horse and steam engine, the de mand for the metal steadily grows. Ger many's consumption of copper, for ex ample, increased 80 per cent in eight years, owing to her greater use of elec tricity. In addition to the, large use of the metal for electrical purposes, enormous quantities are also alloyed with zinc in the production of brass, which, next to iron, is the most Important metal used in the arts. And copper goes with tin to make bronze. Fortunate is the country that is able to supply most of the raw material as well as the manufactured articles it needs. No wonder the United States excite the as tonishment of other nations when they practically supply 76,000,000 people with all the breads'uffs, metals, minerals and fibers they require and have an enormous surplus to distribute to the world. New York Sun. Prompt attention to orders for cut flow ers and floral pieces. City Green House, Baker City, Oregon. Flvequait bottles of Olympla beer for t.oo at Henry Finger's. Beware of, but ask for it Giant Powde FIRE I R E e FIRE! pVTJR Saw Mill and Dry Kiln were totally destroyed by fire, but we still have a large stook of Lumber and General Merchandise so we can fill all orders promptly. Sumpter Lumber Company t J. B. STODDARD, Mgr. I K Delmonico Hotel M. SI'ANdl CI. I'iiilrlir A First-Class New Utilise, Well Furnished and Superior Table L vice. Tr.'iiiscieiit Kates Reasonable. Sped. il Rates In Local Put- A s by the Week. Located One Block Fast of Uepot, Corner Co- 7 Serv runs lumbia and Auburn Street. SUMPTER. OREGON Avenarius Carbolineum KI:(ilSTI:KI:l) BEWARE OF IMITATIONS The world famed Wood Preserver for mining tim bers, fence posts, house props, shingle roofs. A radial remedy against Chicken Lice and all insects that prey upon timber. Fekkubkon Paint (anti rust). A permanent coating for ipon roofs. Fire proof for stacks. Send tor circulars. Basche Hardware Company Agents UMPTER AKIN CITY, OREGON GRANSTROM'S i.vi C. AND OYSTER HOUSE Baker City, Ore. NOTHING IN EASTERN OREGON TO SURPASS IT ... ALL KINDS SHELL FISH A SPECIALTY ni:vi:h a.osn DNDIK AN DIMS IIUTIX $ l'- ''''' George W. Weigand... HIGH GRADE LIQUORS AND CIGARS .-.-- A a mining mens neauquaricrs BOURNE, OREGON u t''- Next Door to Wonder Store 5 J 0 0 r