The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1879-12-19
GOldMlhine q q. Agrlculture. 3

However insignificant the returns
from agricultural labor may seem to
those whoti3I 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
$l. 10 for each days labor expended in
seeking gold. True, large fortunes have
been secured in these uncertain enter
prises, vet the general outcome has been
lily y-paid labor, hardship, poverty and
disappointment. Agriculture offers no
fields for. speculation and gam bling !;
but 10 the Industrious, sperseverihg 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
fofnia since l849, yet 1t is a well known
fact that at present the annual wealth
produced by her grain fields far exceeds
the yield other mines Nor is this all
that may be said of agriculture in the
omparison. Much of the boasted min
eral wealth has been obtained by de-
vastating and running the arabic valleys
of the Pacific slope. The damage oc-
oasioned to- the face of the country by
gold mining is beyond the calculations
f those who should be deeply interested
the subject, and involve important
consequences serious alike to State and
nations las long ago as 1862 it was es-
timated that the area OF surface torn up
through the operating of the placer
mines amounted to 10000, 600 acres. At
the present time it amounts to more
than double this area, or four times the
total area of the State Of Massachusetts. !.
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 q most extensive
scale through vast subsequent operations
in hyGrauliesmining As s .
The present annual yield of gold in
California is about 5 Is, 600, 600 a year, of
which one third is from quartz mines,
and the remainder from hydraulic min
ing on the ancient river bed. Naked hills
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 down by ythecurrent, and often
spread over ground lying quite out
reach of the natural inundations, and
burying it to the depth of sometimes
twenty-five feet p An orchard valued at
$50, 900, and another estimated at not less
than $500, 900, are stated to have been
thus sacrificed. A report of the agricul-
tllral bureau at Washington, computed
the annual damage occasioned by this
mode of mining at the almost incredible
sum of $4,000, GOO. On this basis, it is
evident that the gold of California is, ,prin-
cipally produced at the expense Of. its
agricultural interests -a'subject to which
the attention, of the legislature has been
directed. Mining authorities aver that,
at the present rate of reduction 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 a century, there will
scarcely be a 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 aof deserts of
sand and stones. The products of min
ing are epheIneralj those Of intelligent
agriculture permanent. Gold can be ex-
tracted but tsonce from the same place !;
wheat may grow forever on the. same
grounds provided itbe properly ylmanured
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 4 full development of her
agricultural resources. Such is the true
value and power OF agriculture in COM
parison with mining for gold. AmeYs-
can C,t1tigqgor.