SHORT SUPPLY OF PLATINUM IN RUSSIA
THE GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA
Table of Contents
Return to Main Page
© 1998, 2002 by Lynn Waterman

Platinum is growing very scarce. The production last year did not meet the demand, and hence a good deal of concern was manifest during the last part of 1902, as to what, if anything, would take platinum's place in the electrical world. It is beyond doubt that the supply is not increasing—if it is increasing at all—at anything like the same rate as the consumption; and if this condition is not rectified and the balance readjusted it is easy to foresee a time when enterprises which depend upon platinum will languish for want of the material which it will be impossible to secure in adequate quantities, even at famine prices.

The metal is in great request in the manufacture of electrical engineering generally as well as for numerous other purposes for which no effective substitute has been found.

Something like 95 per cent of the total amount produced in 1901 (13,800 pounds), as compared with 13,250 pounds for 1900, came from Russia, and while it is probable that scientific exploration of the whole of the Urals would lead to the discovery of other sources of supply, it is pretty clear that in the government of Perm little enough progress is being made in spite of the profitableness of the industry. Perhaps the sparseness of the distribution accounts largely for this. The metal is obtained from alluvial deposits of up to four or five zolotniks (the zolotnik is equal to 66 grains Troy) and more in 100 poods of sand (3,610 pounds).

The thickness of the beds ranges from three feet to seven feet. The grains of metal are small in size, but sometimes nuggets weighing a kilogram or more are unearthed. The platinum is often accompanied by other rare metals, such as iridium and osmium. It is sent to St. Petersburg in the crude state, and, although there are refineries in that city, very little is dealt with there, and, as the demand for the metal is almost entirely from abroad, the bulk is exported as it is received from the mines.

It is said that we must look to New South Wales for the platinum of the future, and it is there that exploration parties are now working.

The production of platinum from domestic ores in the United States during 1902 amounted to 94 ounces, valued at $1,814, as compared with 1,408 ounces, valued at $27,526, in 1901, which was the largest quantity reported for any one year since the statistics of the production of the metal from domestic ores have been collected. In 1894 the production of platinum from domestic ores was 100 ounces of crude platinum grains. This amount mainly comes from gold placer deposits in Trinity and Shasta counties, California. Of iridium, which is closely allied to platinum, 20 ounces was obtained in 1902, and 253 ounces in 1901. The United States imported platinum in 1902 to the value of $2,088,980. The market price was about $19 per ounce.

FACTS ABOUT NEW GUINEA
MARRIAGES IN RUSSIA
Table of Contents
Return to Main Page
© 1998, 2002 by Lynn Waterman

Making fish nets—New Guinea.

Notwithstanding its immense seaboard, its proximity to the Australian Continent and the peculiarly interesting character of its plants and animals, New Guinea, the largest Island on the Globe, is the least known of all countries. Although it was discovered before Australia, geographers are still unable to define its coast line with precision, while their acquaintance with its interior is immensely less. The area of New Guinea has never been traversed. Our knowledge of the natives, gained mainly through missionaries, indicates that the Papuans approximate the character of the noble savage. Except where iron has been introduced by traders they live in stone houses, building on piles on the shore, or in the water, digging out their boats from the solid trunks of trees. The great bulk of testimony goes to show that the natives are a race of industrious, well-to-do savages, fond of their wives, of whom they have but one, each, and their children, and sufficiently spirited to defend themselves, but showing no antipathy to white men when once convinced of their friendliness. Rev. W. G. Lawes, a missionary traveler, found the village of Kalo laid out in streets and squares, which were swept daily by the women and kept scrupulously clean. It is probable that New Guinea is well suited to the cultivation of sugar cane, cotton, tobacco and cocoanuts. The hilly districts, which comprise a considerable portion of the area of the island, have a salubrious climate.

THE CINCHONA TREE IN PERU
SHORT SUPPLY OF PLATINUM IN RUSSIA
Table of Contents
Return to Main Page
© 1998, 2002 by Lynn Waterman

Cinchona tree, in Peru.

Several species of the cinchona tree are indigenous to Peru, and from the bark of one of them, Cinchona Calisaya, is extracted the widely-known alkaloid called quinine.

The cinchona tree grows to a medium height and is bare of branches and foliage except at its top. The natives climb the trunk, which is very smooth, and shave off the bark with knives after the manner of the accompanying illustration.

The tree derives its name from the wife of Count Chinchon, viceroy of Peru in the 17th century, who by its use was freed from an intermittent fever, and after her return to Spain, contributed to the general propagation of this remedy.

A CUSTOM PECULIAR TO NEW ZEALAND
FACTS ABOUT NEW GUINEA
Table of Contents
Return to Main Page
© 1998, 2002 by Lynn Waterman