Colorado.— The
noteworthy addition of over $1,000,000 to the previous year's gold
production in Colorado was mainly contributed by Teller (Cripple
Creek), Gilpin, and Ouray counties. The production aggregated
$25,701,100. The equally marked decrease in silver, by ounces, is
traced to Lake (Leadville), Mineral (Creede), Clear Creek, and San Juan
counties. The decrease was 1,388,500 ounces, and the total for 1905 was
12,942,800 ounces.
Idaho.—An
unfavorable water season, as well as diminished activity in deep gold
mining in Owyhee County, reduced the gold production of Idaho by about $500,000 to
$1,075,600. On the other hand, the activity in the Coeur d'Alene lead
mines in Shoshone County continued and resulted in a decided increase
in the silver production of the State, although the lead ores are
relatively poor in this metal. A decrease in the output of the Wood
River region in Blaine County partly offset this favorable development.
The total silver production was 8,125,600 ounces.
Montana.—The
great copper industry of Butte continued to develop in 1905. Over
$1,000,000 in gold and about 11,000,000 ounces of silver are won as
by-products from the copper, but the increase in silver from this
source was partly offset by the considerable decrease due to the
closing of the Bimetallic Mine in Granite County. The ores of the
Moccasin Mountains in Fergus County yielded by cyanide process almost
the same amount in gold as the copper ores in Silver Bow County.
Smaller amounts are contributed by the deep mines of Lewis and Clarke
and Madison Counties. A total of $4,889,300 in gold and of 13,454,700
ounces in silver was attained.
Nevada.—The
gold production of Nevada is now $5,359,100, of which total only
$1,883,000 was derived from Goldfield, against $2,300,000 in 1904. The
remainder comes chiefly from the De Lamar and Searchlight districts, in
Lincoln County, the most southerly in the State, as well as from
Tonopah, in Nye County, which is also the greatest silver-producing
camp in the State. Extensive prospecting of the desert ranges of
western Nevada resulted in the discovery or reopening of many camps,
such as Bullfrog (Beatty, Rhyolite), Fairview, Ramsey, Wonder, Johnnie,
and Manhattan, in which several prominent mines will doubtless be
developed.
The
silver production increased greatly and is now 5, 863,500 ounces. Of
this quantity by far the larger part is derived from the dry ores of
Tonopah. Storey, White Pine, Eureka, and Esmeralda counties contribute
the bulk of the remainder. The Comstock (Storey County) produced nearly
$1,000,000 in gold and silver. A much larger output of gold and a
moderate increase in silver will be recorded in 1906.
New Mexico.—Somewhat
less gold was produced in 1905 than in 1904. It is hoped that
development, now under way, in Sierra, Grant, and Socorro counties will
again raise the value of the product to the half-million-dollar mark
which the Territory had recorded in 1902.
The small silver output was increased by the operation of the mines in the Mogol-lon mountains.
Oregon.—The
State of Oregon produced somewhat less gold and silver iu 1905 than in
1904, the greatest loss in gold being recorded in Baker County, in the
northeastern part of the state, and in Jackson County, in the
southwestern region. The decreased output of silver was chiefly noted
from Baker and Grant counties; the southwestern districts produced very
little silver. Northeastern Oregon yielded about $880,000 in gold from
the Blue Mountains, while the gold belt in the southwest, which
includes Josephine, Lane, Jackson, Douglas, Curry, and Coos counties,
and may be considered as the extension of the gold-bearing area of
northern California, produced the remainder, or $364,900.
The
most notable feature of recent years is the extension of the productive
area northward into Lane County, among the veins contained in Tertiary
lavas, as in the Blue River (Lucky Boy mine) and the Bohemia districts.
South Dakota.—Gold
obtained from the ores treated by the roasting and cyanide process
decreased somewhat, while the output from mines with free-milling ores
