WHAT FINALLY BECOMES OF THE PRECIOUS METALS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 740, 23 June 1876, Page 3

WHAT FINALLY BECOMES OF THE PRECIOUS METALS.

“ What becomes of tho precious metals?” asks an Eastern journal, and then proceeds to consider tho question, and succoods in throwing much doubt upon it, or, rather, leaving it in just as much doubt as before. The question, “What becomes of all the pins?” has been oftener asked, perhaps, and has been answered witli about the same illumination. Ferdinand Ewer, many years ago in this city, was hugely amused at a question asked in tho Sacramento Union, namely: —Where does all tho water go ?” To which interrogation tho questioner proceeded with the sobriety of an owl, to reply through a long column article when it might have been answered in two words—the ocean. _ But it is not so easily to answer satisfactorily the question as to what becomes of the precious metals. That a vast amount has been extracted from the earth, according to an English writer, who, of course, must depend to a great degree on guess-work—not less than 5,000,000,000 dollars since the days of Noah, in gold and silver—there can be no doubt. Of this amount ho thinks 3,200,000,000 dollars have been produced since the discovery of America. The Christian world is credited with having had two thousand millions, most of which have been disposed of by shipwrecks, gilding, lire, and various other ways, as effectually, we might suggest, as many of our citizens have disposed of theirs by investing in stock. He thinks tiff s loss proceeds at the rate of sixteen millions annually, while the production bo puts at forty millions, which is undoubtedly too low. One-half of the balance, three hundred and fifty millions, he thinks is held in the form ot plate and ornaments. Of the balauoeot three millions in the anti-Christian world, wastes, and losses omitted, ho thinks that over a thousand billions have been hidden in Asiatic lands in different ages ot the worl l. and he continues that it is well known that a thousand millions were thus hidden in India and China in the six years succeeding 1851 ; that is, during the time when wholesale murder and slaughter and robbery and despotation were the business of the natives and their enemies. One would think China must be carpeted with gold leaf, paved with silver dollars, glittering with the precious metals did he' think only of the vast sums sent there for hundreds ot years past, little or none of which ever comes back. But somehow these metals have a fate there as elsewhere—t! ley disappear. Like many other commodities, they serve their purpose an' l disappear. What became of all the gold with which Solomon covered his grand temple ? What became of all tho Spanish spoils in South America and Mexico ? One might ask such questions for ever and be no wiser therefor. Gobi and silver serve their purpose and disappear, as do the human race and old hoots, and all other material things, and there is none so wise as can tell us accurately what has become of them. When the fanoet is turned where has the gas-light gone ? one might ask, and the question would ha as reasonable and perhaps as difficult to answer. We know pretty well where onr little portion of gold and silver has gone, but that knowledge does not give us any particular gratification. —Alta California.