SOUTH AMERICA,

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 66

SOUTH AMERICA,

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS.

The Argentine wae some time ago looked to as the field, that was to provide a sensation in the matter of gold-getting and, principally for the reason that such goldgetting was to the be by means of dredging, the progress of developments was ■watched with keen interest by ' New Zealandcrs, for New Zealand is undeniably tho cradle of the dredging industry, and anything done in this direction in a foreign country naturally excited more than ordinary attention from those who axe and have been associated with it in this colony. Anticipations, however, were never to any extent realised, and^ the Argentine has already almost completely dropped out of the running in the matter of gold-raising by derdging. There was in existence what was an unmistakeable dredging boom, but the bubble burst at short notice, and carried in its train more than the usual amount of financial disaster, for the simple reason that a number of claims were, on a closer investigation, found to be practically valueless as dredging areas. It now appears that the only successful method of mining in the Argentine and elsewhere in South America lies in the developing of the rich mineral veins that exist in the higher regions.

A former resident of Cromwell — Mr John Werner, — who, 6ome 16 months ago went to the Argentine, has just returned from that country, and furnished a Times reporter with a few facts concerning mining in South America, and things there in general. Shortly after Mr Werner went over to the Argentine he was commissioned to report on a gold-mining proposition in North-west Argentine, in the province of Riaja, the property of the Riaja Aurifera Company. Subsequently Mr Werner undertook the. construction work for the same company, undertaking the formation of two lengthy water races, and reservoirs. This property was situated about 7000 ft above sea level. Other mines (copper, silver, and gold) in the same vicinity were at an altitude of 15,000 ft above sea level. From these mines to Chilisito, some 25 miles of aerial tramway were constructed for the conveyance of ore. The properties are situated on the elopes of the Ancles Mountains, and the country there for miles appears to be rich in copper, silver, and gold. Prospecting and developing had, however, in a very large measure yet to be undertaken, while a big disadvantage lay in the fact that the areas were very diotant from any smelting works. In the neighbourhood of this country there were really no areas that should be worked by dredging. " There was, however, said Mr Werner, " a dredge being put on in one particular place, although against my recommendation." After being with the Riaja Aurifera Company, Mr Werner left for Santa Cruz, Patagonia, in charge of a prospecting expedition on behalf of a Buenos Ayros company. Some of the oountry yin Patagonia ie, or was, to a large extent terra incognita, in that no prospecting had been done there. 4< We took with ufi on that expedition," said Mr Werner, "a complete boring plant, pumps, etc., and accompanying us were some 17 or 18 natives and Italians, just the class of men one would call the scum of the carth — a perfect conglomeration of the liar, the thief, the rogue, and the bandit. They were responsible for endless trouble and anxiety. We commenced work in the beginning of April, or four months after setting out. The greater part of the land in this part o£ South America is hekT by one large company, which has bought up all the email holdings. It is splendid sheepfarming country, and although the winters are intensely severe, the sheep attain euch excellent ' condition during the cummer months that tho percentage of losses during th 6 winter is, comparatively speaking, very small. Game of all sorts abounds there in an unlimited quantity, and in this respect the country is a perfect sportsmen's paradise. The country, however, is very difficult of access. At Punta Arenas there is an alluvial claim that was being worked with a steam shovel. I had a long conversation with the owner of the claim, Signor Bricker, an American, and I condemned the steam shovel as being altogether unsuitable, and advised him to put a dredgo on tho claim, or work it by hydraulic elevator. A dredge ie now on that claim, and was to be in readiness to start work in the spring. This dredge was originally built in England and sent to Tierra del Fucgo. One or two dredging claims there are doing fairly well. One company, the Ria Ora, was getting about 21b of gold per day. The Ria Oscar dredge, wliich was under the charge of Mr Troy, late of tho Electric No. 1 dredge, Cromwell, was not doing very well. Several other companies were about to start work at the time of my visit, with prospects similar to those being obtained by the Ria Ora. The ground generally, however, is too shallow for dredging. The dredges only work for about seven months in the year, as during the winter there is a covering of about 4ft of snow on the ground. When the dredges are closed down the crews go down to Porvina, on the coast, into winter quarters. The best dreding ground in South America is to be found round about Tierra del Fuego. In fact, in my opinion, it is the only dredging field there. North Argentine contains more mineral veins in rocky country; than alluvial ground. The dredging companies in South America are practically all over-capitalieed. At present some 20 or 30 millions aro invested in mining speculations that will never give any return, and it is a wonder how the eovintry can stand it. If this money had been in -vested in agriculture or railways it would have been highly reproductive. As it is, a large number of tho mining concerns ha\e already proved to be duffers. Some have been deliberate swindles. In th© pushing on of railways in the Argentine

the policy pursued is totally different fc* that followed in our own colony. In the Argen^ne the railways are first extended into the unsettled country, and the settlement follows speedily. In New Zealand it is the reverse, the land is settled on the promise of a railway, and that railway, does not follow until about 30 years after. That is the case with Otago Central. The money invested in railw7ys in the Argentine is principally English and German, with a good proportion of French, but very little American. The Goveranxnet grants concessions to the railway companies and assists in every way to have the immense tracts of country opened up and settled, and an outlet afforded the settle? for his produce."