The Trinity journal., 1857-02-07
Newspaper Exaggerations.

One of the most unfortunate things for the pro-
gress and permanent growth of the mining local
tiles in California is the too frequent extravaganza
and exaggeration INDUCED in by the newspapers
published in the mountain towns and mineral re-
gion of the State. The success of one man in the
mines is often made to appear as the success of a
whole mining population, and the richness of a
single claim is made to appear in loud sounding
and exaggerated editorials as the positive critic
rion of the richness of a whole section or county.
Now it is plain to see that this practice must
have the effect of retarding the growth and in
many instances preventing the acquisition of in
dustrious and permanent population. California
has however improved little, and recovered
somewhat from this fevcrsh, speculative, but i'm
polite scheme, and vicious habit. n newspaper
should be the means and medium through which
sound, correct and valuable information should
be given Where the true resources and advan-
tages of the county, section or locality is proper
ly understood they should be laid before the read
ing public and those for whose benefit they are
published in a truthful manner. Where such is
not known or understood, wild and cxtravagant
conjecturcs and misrepresentation should not be
INDUCED in for the mere purpose of misleading
and attracting hithcr and thithcr crowds Of peo-
pie, for when miners rush TO a mineral locality
with the hope of realizing the high and unreason-
able expectations raised in the minds of such peo-
pie by the swelling and exaggerated accounts pull
lished as truth in the newspaper, and experience
a disappointment, the consequence of which is
that majority of such leave and carry with
them the strongest prejudices against the place.
1t is very erroneous idea TO suppose that such
sort of laudation and exaggeration will have any
other than the injurious effect of retarding the
permanent growth which would otherwise be Sc
cured to the mining towns and mineral local-
ties. The progress and prosperity Of some of the
richest mining counties in the State has been ma
terially injured by this unwise and injudicous
course on the part of those newspapers whose sole
object should have been TO represent the richness,
al, antages and crciiIties OF those locations and
counties with accuracy. The capital which is
R0w most needed, cannot be had, although it is
an undeniable fact that the best opportunity pre-
sents itself in many of our mining villages for
thS aiost HaiC anu pibAldDic liNchtHlcULS. apl-
talists look at the newspaper Jiors as without
foundation, and in consequence thereof hesitate
or refuse entirely to make investments in any of
the vsrioas enterprises which would be both prof
fable to the capitalist and propitious for the
country.
Truth then in all cases through the newspapers,
and in reference to the wealth and advantages of
the mineral region should be scrupulously adhcr-
ed to, and the facts presented to the public for
the benefit of the stranger seeking a field for hon
est labor, and to the capitalist for knowledge
Of where to invest his money. Let this course
and policy be pursued by the press, and the coun-
try and its interests represented with correctness
and fidelity, and We may soon hope to see more
permanent and healthy growth and development
in the mineral districts.