The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-12-24
Gold Mining vs.. Agriculture.

However insignificant the returns
from agricultural labor may seem to
those who till the ground, yet they COM
pare favorably with the results OF
mining enterprises, both as TO indi-
vidual gain and national prosperity.
Eminent statisticians inform us that
taking the history and results of gold
mining within the last fifty years, the
average laborer has received less than
81. lS for each days labor expended in
seeking gold. True, large fortunes have
been secured in these uncertain enter
prises, yet the general outcome has been
illy-paid labor, hardship, poverty and
disappointment. Agriculture offers no
fields for speculation and gambling;
but to the Industrious, persevering and
intelligent she guarantees health, happi-
ness and prosperity. Seed time is fol-
lowed by harvest with certainty
which does not attach to delving among
the rocks for natures hidden treasures.
Agricultural gains are secured in har-
mony with nature and without detri-
ment to other industries.
Notwithstanding the enormous totals
of gold that have been secured in Cali
fornia since lS49, yet it is a well-known
fact that at present the annual wealth
produced by her grain fields far exceeds
the Weld of her mines. Nor is this all
that may be said of agriculture in the
comparison. Much of the boasted min
eral wealth h2s been obtained by de-
vastating and running the arabic valleys
of the Pacific slope. The damage Oc-
casioned to the face of the country by
gold mining is beyond the calculations
of those who should be deeply interested
in the subject, and involve important
consequences serious alike to State and
nation. AS long ago rs 1862 it was es-
timated that the area of surface torn up
through the operating of the placer
mines amounted to 10000, 900 acres. At
the present time it amounts to more
than double this area, or four times the
total area of the State of Massachust It's.
Arabic land in California is far higher
in price even than along the fertile val
leys of the Eastern States, which is due
to the usurpation of tillage land by the
mining works Additional damage has
been occasioned on a most extensive
scale through vast subsequent operations
in hydraulic mining.
The present annual yield of gold in
California is about $lS, ,000,000 year, of
which one-third is from quartz mines,
and the remainder from hydraulic min
ing on the ancient river bed. Naked mills
and fertile soil are alike washed away by
the artificial torrents brought to these
latter mines; and the material removed
vegetable mold, sand, gravel, pebbles
is carried town by the current, and often
spread over ground lying quite out of
reach of the natural foundations, and
burying it to the depth of sometimes
twenty-five feet. An orchard valued at
$50, 800, and another estimated at not less
than $200,00 are stated to have been
thus sacrificed. A report OF the agicul-
tural bureau at Washington, computed
the annual damage occasioned by this
mode of mining at the almost incredible
sum of $l2,000,000. On this basis, it is
evident that the gold Of California is prin
cipally produced at the expense of its
agricultural nterests-a'subject to which
directed Mining authorities aver that,
at the present rate of production from
hydraulic mining, there is enough " pay
dirt !" on the gravel banks to sustain that
industry for one hundred years to come
In the course of century, there will
scarcely be gravel hill or a trace of the
ancient river beds left in the State, while
vast tracts of land now valuable will be
reduced to the condition of deserts of
sand and stones. The products of min
ing are ephemeral, those of intelligent
agriculture permanent. Gold can be eX-
Jracted but once from the same place /;
wheat may grow foraver on the sane
ground, provided it be properly 'manured
and cultivated. There is little doubt
that the future material prosperity OF
California would be promoted by the en-
tire abandonment of her mining enter
prises and full development of her
agricultural resources. Such is the true
value and power of agriculture in COM
parison with mining for gold.- Aiaerj-
can CultiUdtor.