[Inclosure.—Translation.]
In continuation of the respectful note of 5th of last month, the minister
of foreign affairs has now the honor to communicate to the envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of
America, Mr. Edward F. Beale, the information desired by him, and
derived from the imperial-royal ministry of agriculture, relative to the
production of gold and silver from the mines in Austro-Hungary.
Especially it must be remarked, that the statistical particulars received
relative to the production of gold and silver in the entire
Austro-Hungarian monarchy reach only to the year 1867 inclusive, but
from the year 1867 to 1875 extend only to the provinces represented in
the Reichsrath; further, the Austrian mining law prevails generally
still in the countries of the Hungarian Crown, and therefore the
statements delivered by the imperial-royal minister of agriculture fully
suffice the commission appointed in Washington for the investigation of
the coin, and currency relations.
As regards the question, how large the product of gold and silver mines
during the present century may be, the ministry for foreign affairs begs
to place at the disposal of the envoy the accompanying tabular
statement, which contains the gold and silver production of the
Austro-Hungarian monarchy in the years 1800 to 1867, and that in the
provinces represented in the Reichsrath in the years 1868 to 1875.
The statements are derived up to the year 1854, from the “Review of the
mining production of the Austrian Monarchy,” compiled from official
sources by the ministerial counsellor in the ministry of agriculture, F.
M. von Friese, (Vienna, 1852 and 1855, Depository of F. Manz,) and for
the following years, from the annually appearing statistical
publications, (the mining operations in Austria.)
[Page 23]
Proceeding to the second question, “under what conditions is the mining
of the precious metals allowed, &c.,” the following observations are
proper:
The conditions for the acquisition and exercise of mining licenses for
the precious metals are the same as for the other minerals derived
(rather reserved) from the disposal of the land proprietors, and are
settled by the general mining laws of May 23, 1854. Hereby every lawful
purchaser and proprietor of land is entitled to obtain mining licenses
and to purchase and own mines. (S. F. a. B. G.)
Whoever will uncover, that is, seek reserved minerals in their
depositories, and open those found so far that that transfer of the
right of possession of the same can follow, requires for that purpose
the consent of the mining authorities, (sec. 13, 14, of a. B. G,)
through indication of the point at which the discoverer intends to begin
an opening and to set the marks of uncovering the mine: the discoverer
obtains the right within a horizontal circle whose radius amounted to
425 meters, (224 Wiener clafter,) and whose center point is the place
where the shaft is sunk, (free opening circle,) to forbid the erection
of a strange shaft-house, (sec. 32, 21, of a. B. G.). The original
acquisition of the right of property in the reserved minerals within a
specified limit and the authority to extract the same, are dependent
upon the permission of the mining authorities.
This is only admissible when reserved minerals in their depository are so
disclosed in the designated place that they can be regarded according to
the local relations as worthy of paying the expense of working. One to
four simple pits may be granted upon a single opening; a pit includes a
horizontal rectangle of 45,116 square meters, (12,544 square clafter,)
and extends usually in perpetual heights and depths, (illimitable.)
Should the minerals, however, appear in hollows and beds of rivers, in
masses of stone or mountain deposits, then the concession of mining
claims is allowed to a surface of 115 square meters, (32,000 Wiener
clafter,) the depths of which extend only to the loose stones upon it.
(Secs. 40, 42, 44, 46, 47, 76, and 77, a. B. G.)
These are the material ordinances for obtaining mining authorizations.
Mining operations are subjected further to the enactments of mining laws
in regard to mining police, and the working of mines. (VIII and XII of
a. B. G.)
For more precise information upon this second question there is attached,
in the second appendix, a copy of the general mining law, and of the
ordinances issued in the matter.
Finally, as to taxation of mines of precious metals, they are treated the
same as all other mines, and every free opening and every simple pit is
subjected to an annual impost of 4 florins; further, an income-tax,
calculated at 5 per cent, of the net income upon the products of mining,
is to be paid, to which are to be added the various supplementary taxes,
which vary in amount.
The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew to the envoy the
expression of his distinguished consideration.
Vienna, January 31,
1877.
For the minister for foreign
affairs,
ORCZY.
