The page before author Frederick Simpich's article, Men and Gold, in the April, 1933, issue of National Geographic Magazine, displays a full-page black-and-white photo of a diver in a suit wearing a big helmet being hoisted on a chain from the sea. "Like some strange white sea monster, a diver ascends from the wreck of the "Egypt." This ill-fated British liner, carrying many millions of dollars' worth of bullion, sank in 396 feet of water, off the coast of France, not far from Brest, in 1922," (photo caption, p. 480). What a wonderful incentive to read the article!
Simpich writes, "Along with religion and his love of family, man's quest for gold and his use of it for money have been the prime forces in civilization. It has been the lure that has led men to discovery and to conquest," (p. 481). The author explores the use of gold since Egypt and Biblical times up to the years of the 1930's, when a gold discoveries in Arizona, U.S.A., and in New Guinea were fresh.
"Only about half of the world's gold production since the discovery of America can now be definitely located, says the Director of the United States Mint," (p. 483.) Simpich analyzes that the rest of the gold is used by industry. Another interesting conclusion is, "The total sum spent in the quest of gold is estimated to be far more than the worth of all the gold ever mined," (photo caption, p. 493).
FYI: Which country set up the "gold standard?" Portugal, in 1747.
FYI: Scales to weigh gold are "so delicately balanced that they will weight a human hair, or even the amount of lead or ink it takes to write your name!" (photo caption, p. 503).
FYI: "Gold may be beaten so thin that a pile of 1,200 sheets of gold leaf is thinner than a sheet of ordinary writing paper," (p. 508). Also, "After several hours of pounding, the gold leaf becomes so thin that, if crumbled in the hand, its particles disappear into the pores of the skin," (photo caption, p. 512).
There are many photos of gold mining operations around the world in this article. The equipment is incredibly large. In addition to the traditional digging underground to mine for gold, there is a great deal of "hydraulic" gold mining in which hills are literally washed with water to reveal the gold. It would appear that all forms of gold mining in that era destroyed all land so involved.
In California, U.S.A., in the 1980's, I toured a played-out gold mining site. Compared to our Kentucky coal mines, the California gold mine opening was immense! Whereas the railroad to carry miners below was one car wide in Kentucky, in the gold mine, it was nine cars wide.
Recently I looked at the inscription on an old gold wedding band I inherited. I thought it was my grandmother's ring. I examined the inscription, "L. H. to M. D. Jan. 6, 1898." It was my great-grandmother's wedding ring. What a treasure!
Perhaps Mr. Simpich is correct in his conclusion: "Exciting tales of rich strikes, of dazzling fortunes exposed by one lucky stroke of the pick, the spirit of adventure and romance that clings to the gold hunter's career, leave man indefatigable in his search." A very interesting and informative article, this one is!
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