The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1911. THE TRANSVAAL'S GOLD OUTPUT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 81, 26 May 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1911. THE TRANSVAAL'S GOLD OUTPUT.

Another milestone lias been passed by the Transvaal gold mining industry, and the “Transvaal Loader” points out, the (production tor March not only exceeded any previous achievement, it also exceeded the declaration of December, 1908, when some £150,000 worth of reserve gold was included. The April declaration by the Chamber of Mines put the yield for March at 670,005 fine ounces, valued at £2,871,740. r llie previous best declaration was £2,806,235, made over two years ago. The previous best production for one month was in October ol; last year, when the total yield was 019,207 ounces, valued at £2,747,853. March beats this by 20,790 ounces, valued at £123,887. Comparison with February serves little purpose, since the two months differ in woi Icing length by three days. What distinguished February was its daily average output, which excelled previous attainments. March does better still, eclipsing its predecessor’s £88,902 per day with £88,978. It ~is. further worthy of note that a fair amount of gold has been put to reserve from the March production, so that the declaration, good though' it is, hardly does the actual work’ adequate justice. About 4400 ounces was so taken, equal to approximately £18,500. It is interesting to glance back over the history of the industry. Starting with the resumption of operations after the war, there came months in which successive hundreds of thousands sterling were passed in the climb. Progress during the llrst year was rapid, the distance between £200,000 and £900,000 being covered in that time. In 1903 the pace slackened, only three more rungs being surmounted ; in the year following it was slower still, hub as the year closed the million and a half line was crossed. In 1905 the onward movement was still slow and painful, only three more rungs being passod. By the end of 1900, £2,330,901 was registered, hut in the succeeding year only one mark- was passed. October, 1908, came before with a hound, the output was . sent up from £2,100,000 to £2,000,000. In December 1908, it wont to £2,800,235, hut of that amount £154,492 was taken from gold in reserve; on- account of legal advice to the effect that it was illegal to hold secret rcsorves, and the consideration that the value of reserves for equalising the output was largely neutralised hy the publication of their amount. Consequently the real yield for • December, 1908, was only £2,641,743. October last set the level of a normal month’s yield above £2,700,000 for the first time in the history of tiie Band. March puts it above £2,800,000.