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THE ECONOMIC RESOURCES OF RUSSIA 117
In order to counteract the rise of the market price of oil,
the Government restricted the auctions of oil-bearing plots
in the Baku region. According to private statistical
information, the restriction of the auctions caused a decline
in the output of oil in 1913. The naphtha industry in
Russia, which in 1901 provided 50 per cent, of the total
output of the world’s mineral oil, at present has also to
contend against the competition of the enormously increased
production of oil in North America. However, Russia
possesses so many hitherto untouched oil-fields that there
is no fear of any serious set-back provided sufficient capital
and labour be applied. There is no doubt that after the
restoration of peace, the naphtha industry in Russia will
acquire much greater dimensions than it has hitherto
attained.
Gold.—Gold is found throughout Siberia in the south as
well as in the northern region, the taiga—but this industry
is still in its infancy ; areas which are known to be
gold-bearing, the Amur region, for example, have not yet been
prospected. During the last years the industry has remained
stationary owing to lack of capital, lack of transport facilities,
and the prohibition of the Russian Government to employ
Chinese and Korean labour. At present British capital
invested in gold-mines does not surpass £6,200,000—namely,
2"8 per cent, of the total amount of British capital invested
in gold-mining. A series of railway lines to open up the
Southern Ural Mountains and Western Siberia are under
construction, the Altai railway being already completed.
The main centres of gold-mining are situated along the
Lena River in the neighbourhood of the principal tributaries
of the Amur in the Amgun River system, the Southern
Ussuri region, on the shores of the Tartar Straits, and in
the Southern Altai. Gold is chiefly found in alluvial deposits
on application of dredgers and excavators. The Minusinsk
and Achinsk districts contain also gold quartz mines in
which the gold is obtained from ores.
Platinum.—The platinum industry may be considered as
a monopoly of Russia, since not less than 95 per cent, of
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