Placers.—Placer
gold was obtained in 1905 to the amount of 934,709.26 tine ounces,
equivalent to §19,222,155, while in 1904 the quantity was only 612,6:51
ounces, valued at 812,664,206. This striking increase is almost
exclusively due to Alaska and California. In the other States the
placers, as a rule, decreased their yield, and this applies especially
to Idaho, New Mexico, and Colorado. A dry season was responsible for
part of the loss in Idaho. The increase in Arizona is more technical
than real, as the production from dry washing on a small scale had been
underestimated in previous years.
Unless
wholly unexpected sources of placer gold are found, it is likely that
the placer returns from the central States of the West will gradually
diminish. The dredge has only found a congenial place in a few regions
of these States. In the mountainous country the bowlders interfere with
successful work; and in valleys the gold, as a rule, is too fine and
too scattered. At present there are 5 dredges working in Montana, 1 in
Colorado, 3 in Idaho, and 1 or 2 in Oregon, a total of not more than
11. Contrasted with thisthe conditions in California at the foot of the
Sierra Nevada are extremely favorable for the deposition of the
moderately fine gold carried down by the rapid currents of the canyon
streams.
California
reports 285,029.17 fine ounces from placers. In the report for 1904 the
placer yield of California was 241,185 fine ounces, the increase in
1905 being nearly 44,000 ounces, all of which is due to the increase in
dredging work in Butte (Oroville), Yuba, and Sacramento counties.
Depths of 50 or 60 feet are now attained with the largest and most
powerful machines. The actual yields of dredging operations in
California are as follows: 1904, $2,187,038; 1905, $3,276,143;
increase, $1,089,105. The yield from hydraulic, drift, and surface
mining decreased in 1905. Twenty-six dredging companies are operating
in California, and many of them have several dredge boats. The increase
in the placer yield of Alaska is far greater. In 1904 the production
was 290,276 ounces, but in 1905 it had increased to 586,500 ounces,
equivalent to $12,124,030. As is well known, the increase came chiefly
from the new diggings on the lower Tanana, but it is encouraging to
note that the Seward Peninsula also added to its output by reason of
large operations. Two dredges are in operation on the Seward Peninsula,
and it is believed that, although the season is short, the nonfrozen
ground along the creeks and rivers in Alaska offers excellent prospects
at many places for the successful operation of the dredge.
Dry and silicious ores.—The
gold won from siliceous and dry ores increased but slightly over the
amount recorded for 1904, and remains a trifle below 3,000,000 ounces,
or somewhat less than three-fourths of the total output of 4,264,734
ounces.
The
States which yielded over 100,000 ounces from this source rank as
follows: Colorado, California, South Dakota, Nevada, Alaska, and
Montana. None of the increases or decreases are very striking.
