GOLD. 



151 



low price of labour and provisions al the gold mines of this region. The amount of gold 

 obtained in the Altai region is constantly increasing owing to the gold bearing sands being of 

 very uniform richness while the number of deposits worked is on the increase. This also proves 

 that the stores of gold ,in the deposits of the Altai region are not yet exhausted. Gold quartz 

 is worked at two mines in the Altai but the amount produced is still inconsiderable. During 

 the last ten years the production of the Achinsk region has varied very slightly. Of all the 

 gold deposits in the Obi system, those in the Mariinsk, Altai and Achinsk regions are the 

 most profitable for exploitation, owing to their proximity to the railway: and there is reason 

 for thinking that the extraction of gold will be further developed in these districts. 



The foilowing table gives the number of men employed at the gold mines duriug' the 

 last ten years. 



The great river province of the Yenisei compiises four gold bearing regions, the Mi- 

 uousinsk, Krasnoyarsk, Yeniseisk (which subdivides itself into two parts or systems, the 

 northern and southern), and Nizhneoudlnsk. 



The Minousinsk region, where gold was first prospected for in 1832, enjoys a compar- 

 atively moderate climate, an abundance of pasture and corn, and yet the gold industry of 

 this region developes very slowly. This is chiefly owing to the distance, 300 to 350 versts, of 

 the deposits from the centres of population. The amoimt of goiil produced in the Minousinsk 

 district remains nearly stationary. 



In the Krasnoyarsk I'cgion, whore the exploitation of gold was started in 1847, only 

 three deposits are worked at the present day. The amount of gold washed in 1884 was 

 nearly six ponds, while in the remaining years it varied between one and four ponds. 



In the Yeniseisk region the most important gold producing localities are the valleys 

 of the rivers Sevaglikone, Ogiie, Kalami and Enashirao, belonging to the system of the Pod- 

 kameimaya Toungouska, and also of the Aktolika and Bangash boloiniing to the basin of the 



