The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-03-04
Our Cold Fields.

The extent ar! value of the mineral resour.
ces OF the United States are now subject oil
Fosi}s Of Sroh aa aie eaDaaFat u 'l ani asa, .A.l AS
OF silver and gold, the whole world must even
tuaIly be tributary. In an interesting paper
lately addressed by Mr. E. L. Dunbar to the
Travellers Club, of New York, we find some
startling observations upon the vast mineral
fields on the eastern and western slopes of the
Rocky Mountains, greater, as he says, in extent
and yielding more a5undant!y Of the precious
metals than any other part Of the globe Yet,
he continues, we do not begin TO comprehend
the extent and value of these mineral fields,
though they are now yielding hundred millions
per annugo, and 81 believe that some who now
hear me will live TO soc our yield of precious
metals thousand millions u year" The terri
tories OF Dakotah, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Ne
vaaa, New Mexico and Arizona will, under the
Inducements Of their gold deposits, soon become
prosperous and powerful States.
Judge Dory, lately Superintendent of Indian
Affairs in Utah, and now appointed Governor
Of the Territory of Colorado, has travelled more
than three thousand niles in tho region of the
Territories above named. While the gold fields
Of that region are ali Of vast richness and ex-
tent, nc considers Idaho as more productive of
gold than any other portion. of it, not excepting
Colorado. Gold in Idaho is found not only i'll
placer dagings, but in quartz lodes, from which
it is moro easily separated than from the iron
pyritcs wherein it is found in Colorado Some
OF the ore which he caused to be assayed recent
ly in New York yielded twenty-eisht per cent
OF pure gold. He gays of those mines which
~, Eo,nI ,,,I Iiot,, fh,t, ,f tbo fot
Government could work any one of them, it
would yield enough pay of the entire Nation
al debt The extent of this gold region is more
than three hundred and fifty miles in length and
breadth. It is situated about four hundred
miles north OF Salt Lake city, upon tho head
waters of the Missouri and Yellow Stone and
other rivers.
It is believed that Colorado and Idaho will,
even in the current year, produce more gold than
California, and tho product will DO rapidly aug
mented with the increase of population. These
mines are taken up by the first comers, under
regulations which the miners establish for them
selves and without paying tribute or tax or roy
atty, in any form, to the Government Of tho u.
States. What with the homestead act and the
absence of any tax On mineral products, the
uutiOuuI uOIltll Is aleiuteu lrOlu bHo 1obcIH-
ment and people of the United States, though
this common properly might be so administered
as to save the Government from bankruptcy,
and relieve the people from grievous burden
of taxation.
Tho Secretary of the Treasury suggests neces-
sary legislation for the purpose Of obtaining di-
rect revenue from the gold-bearing lands of the
Government on their product, and it is under
stood that proposition will be offered in tho
House for the creation Of a standing committee
on mines and mining, The miners of Califor-
MIA, controlling as they 90 the legislation of that
State, have hitherto resisted and defeated every
State taxation upon their product, and hence
the State taxes fall upon other interests. 1t is
known, however, that the mining population
have recently expressed, through authorized a.
gency to the Government, q willingness to be
subjected By the Government to a reasonable tax
on their good product, in consideration of mill
tary protection to be afforded by the Govern
ment to their interests. This is the time tor the
adoption of some general policy on the subject.
--A0s.