Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-07-31
From the Portland Daily Arg's
l. There GrcSt Undiscovered Mineral
Wealth ln Maine!

Thousands firmly believe in IN aili'nA-
tive answer 10 thus question; even wl.hln
the past lew yeats there have b-rn IT,
creased searches for the hidden riches.
Bat 80 inras is vet known The prospecting
has not been IN any important decree
successful. Granite. iron. slate md lime
couliuuo To- be our most valuable mineral
products. and these 30 not aVpea, 70 ang-
ment in annual production ,cry rapidly.
In short, i. is safe 10 say that however
firmly people may believe IN lh1 uudi,
covered wealth of our State the promise
OF finding it i MT llptternE.
But perhaps this should not discourage
endeavors to lind it. \ mombur OF The
House al tho las, ,si1n. Mr. 4 SO al
Lincoln, was of thi, opinion aud ia,rc-
duced an order looking ~ tho procurc-
ment OF a geological survey OF The State
by a skilled mincralogisl. Tao III 'U-c,
however. did not indicate u disposition 10
act ailirma,iycly in the matter. and the
order was referred 10 the mex, lcgisla:
ture, on motion OF lis author. Ailirma.
tive action will probably then be u;gcd
next winter and the people saou'd lans
early begin TO consider The matter with
reference both to lis expense and prooa-
bic good results.
Maine has had one survey Of this kind,
but The resulting advantage was not
.a-g,,, so i.r us sc arc ialorIsd. But Ii
may be tha, the methods Ct scientific re-
search have now made such progress
that 4 comparatively cursory and iruit.ess
examination 81 what then promised 10 be
the most irJ!.iul locA ities should be no
Tar 10 another and more ssi.tal aud thor
ough >uryey. Ii i. however, i subject
on which we have not sufficient light -
express an opinion ~ this simp. AID We
refer TO il only for the purpose o.. i1vit-
ing attention toll lhatit may be discussed
by those qualified to d -.
On what may De regarded eS a branch
Of this suffice. Ne shall have no hesi'a-
tioa IN expressing an opinion. is hardy
10 he doubted We thiak that it ever ma, L.
new mineral wealth j. discovered 10
Maine, it viii be in gold. siyer and other
valuable metal. Tho lindiuS oi coal In
any considerable quantities Is hardy "a
be expected. There are no good iGd!cl-
,ions in that direction. II least wo aro
aware OF none. II regard to gold and
silver, there are. on the contrary. III any
indications that they may bc found 10
paying quantities. The fading oi ta,m
in ever So small amounts is an ungGS Ycr-
able prophesy that abundance nlay eNi,'.
The C1nuudrum i3 to fad the locations
containing them, il such there 90.
Now it is in view OF this fact lhlt the
suggestion we have ia mind 10 maze
comes In. There is at the present liufs
in our Safe gentleman, b"ln here
among US, who has been absent 2S ears.
the most OF The tune Engaged III mining
operations. II WAS he who discovered
and named and worked the Silver King
Mine OF Arizona, one OF the richest in
the country. lie sold this mlne TO other
parties iew months ago and is now on
a visit 10 Maine. We refer TO Mr.. Charles
Mason, native OF Bethel. and now
stopping at his old home in that town
His long and successful experience in
finding the glitteripg metals peculiarly
qualities him for making like discoveries
in Maine, il rich deposits exis. here In
deed he is at this very time on a prospect
ing tramp among the mountains OF Ok
lord county.
Our suggestion is this: That those who
know OF indications of gold or silver.
procure il possible an examination OF the
locality or noighbOring territory 10y MIR.
Mason. lie is an energetic, active man.
and without showing his views at all in
this regard. we venture to say he is pat
riotic enough TO take deep interest in
The development Of mineral resources
in the State that gave him birth and in
the growth and prosperity OF which he
cannot but take degree OF pride.
We have no doubt he would be de-
lighted to find gold or silver in Maine'in
pay ing quantities and We are equally sure
others would be delighted also. lie en-
poets to remain in the State until Septem-
Der. Meantime, we hope he may be
induced TO visit what are believed TO be
the most promising localities for pros
pecting. His judgment would certainly
be worth having and it might be worth
much more. For example, we believe il
is an established fact that man once
found the out cropping of ore in Andover
surplus. as it is called, which proved to
be rich in silver. 1t was analyzsd by the
late Prof. Cleaveland of Brunswick. We
once had memorandum of the facts,