Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1896 — COLD-FIELDS OF GUIANA. [ARTICLE]

COLD-FIELDS OF GUIANA.

An Arizona Miner’s Prospecting Tour Among Them. Thomas Dalgleish, an old Arizona miner, has written an account of his own personal adventures among “The Gold-Fields of Guiana," for the Century. Mr. Dalgleish says: The first fine placer on the Cuyunl was found in 1893 by a Frenchman named Jacobs. His outfit was furnished by two Portuguese named Carras ami Rosa. They took out from two hundred to three hundred pounds a month for two or three years, the gold being worth $195 a pound. When I reached there in 1893 the placer was in full working order. Jacobs Is said to have disposed of his gains at Monte Carlo; Carrara died insolvent; Rosa left a few thousands; that Is, in brief, the history of the owners of one of the richest placer mines in that country. The mine was sold In 1895 for $1,500, and Jacobs is now simply an employee ifi the placer. The Barnard Syndicate has taken out a great deal of gold from placers situated on the Potaro River; but it is my impression that placermining is about over unless new territory is opened up. Quartz-mining is still in its infancy. There are at present two quartz-mines in operation on the Barima River with a good showing; but they are in the disputed territory, and I think have been obliged to shut down. Quartz on the Cuyunl is finely defined, although there is not a quartz mine on the river at present; but in all probability good quartz mines will yet be worked in British Guiana. ‘ At present it is impossible for a poor

man to prosjiect to advantage in that country. He must purchase all his provisions at Georgetown; buy or hire a boat; pay big wages to his captain and boatman, and give security for the wages of his men and pay for their food. I have known only one or two poor men who have made a stake out there. After prospecting three or four months, which is very fatiguing and trying to the constitution of the strongI est. a man may find nothing; but he ! will have learned a good deal. Then he ■ may take a notion, if he lias a few hundreds left, to buy another outfit. ■ This time he may find a creek that will , pay him one or two ounces a day in the i ton. When that much is got in the : ton. sluices are soon put in. which yield J two or three times as much gold. If ; lie has the good fortune to keep his I health and to find gold, he has to carry 1 his yield to Badtaca Grove, where he passes through the gold station. Here every man. both laborer and master, is searched. Some think this very disagreeable, but I see nothing objection.able In the law, which is a great protection to the placer-owner, the object being to prevent laborers ami others from stealing gold.. At Georgetown he must carry his gold to the Commissioner’s office, where lie gets a permit to pay the royalty at another government office, after which he may sell it to the banks. Miners are not allowed to sell gold in the bush or in, Georgetown. Each day a miner must enter his find In his gold-book, and if nn inspector should come along and find gold that was no* entered he might confiscate it. This is why a miner must buy his entire outfit in Georgetown, and have money enough to sec himself through before he starts. All the British colonial officials, at least all that I came in contact with, are polite and gentlemanly. I have met foreigners who think their laws are very stringent, but I would rather be where there is some law than on the other side of the Yucatan, where there is none.