ON GOLD AND SILVER. 



531 



At the time of the Comstock's maximmn yield very little silver was 

 obtained in the United States beyond the limits of Nevada; bnt now there 

 are seven States each producing ^3,000,000 and upwards per year ; two 

 States each produced over ^^10,000,000 in 1885. 



The following table gives the production for the years 1880-85 in 

 thousands of dollars : 750,= ^750,000.1 



Canada. — The beautiful silver ores from near Lake Superior, exhibited 

 in the Canadian Court of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, naturally 

 led many people to think highly of this district as a probable source of 

 silver; such expectations have been quite recently revived. Dr. T. Sterry 

 Hunt, to whom the whole district is well known, informs us that, although 

 in places remarkably rich, the lodes are not continuously productive. 

 Many attempts have been made to work them, but without success. 

 Silver Islet, near Port Arthur, has yielded the largest amount of ore. 

 Dr. Selwyn states - that this was worked at intervals from 1869 to 1884, 

 and produced a total of about ,^3,000,000. The lode was followed to the 

 depth of 1,230 feet, and the mine was then abandoned. 



Great uncertainty exists as to the actual amount of silver produced in 

 Mexico and South America, but on all hands it is allowed to be large. In 

 1800 these countries gave about 91^ per cent, of the world's production, 

 Mexico alone giving 61^ per cent. In 1850 tlwjy gave 82^ per cent. ; 

 Mexico, 58i. In 1865, 63 per cent. ; Mexico, 42.^ In 1883, 41^ per cent. ; 

 Mexico, 26. The relative importance of Mexico and South America have, 

 therefore, declined, but their actual output has increased. 



The production of silver in Germany has steadily increased during 

 the last thirty years, but this is due to the great development of metal- 

 lurgical works, to which, from all parts, ai'e sent low-grade ores of gold 

 and silver and ores of other metals containing small quantities of these. 

 It is not due to output from the local mines, for silver mining in Germany 

 is generally in a very depressed state. Some Government mines, notably 

 those of the Harz, are kept going at a loss in order to provide employ- 

 ment for the large population dependent upon them. 



The silver produce of Norway is now valued at about 50,000Z. per 

 year, which was the average of the years 1834 to 1864. The production 

 in the period here mentioned varied much, the largest returns being 



' The total production for 1886 is ^^51,000,000. 



" Catalogue of Economic Minerals of Canadian, Ciil. and Ind. Exhib. 1886, p. 51. 



^ These figures are from Phillips' Gold and SUrer, 1S(;7, p. 320. 



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