POLITICAL CONTROL
As [Table 74] shows, Russia has political control of approximately 90 per cent. of the world’s supply of platinum. It seems probable that Canada, in the nickel ore of the Sudbury district and in the known placers in the Tulameen and Barkersville districts, has control of the third largest reserve of platinum. The deposits under the political control of the United States in Alaska and on the Pacific Coast are relatively insignificant. Great Britain naturally controls the platinum in her colonial possessions, Australia, Tasmania, and India. The output of the Dutch East Indies, from Borneo and Sumatra, is relatively small, although there is a possibility that the production from these countries may be increased. Spain may, perhaps, control a small output of platinum, though it does not seem probable that the production from this country will ever be large. A large area in the Sierra Ronda Mountains has been set aside by the government for further prospecting under the auspices of the government, and it seems reasonable to believe, judging from the general mineral policy of Spain, that in the event of the proving of commercial deposits they will be worked under government auspices rather than by private persons.
Although the deposits in Colombia are politically controlled by that country, they are, nevertheless, owned largely by American interests.