The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-03-09
Mining and Agriculture.

One of our daily papers thas las taken ev-
erv OCCASION TO show its disrespcct for mining,
states in a late issue: 1.-THE year 1879 is
pronounced to he the most prosperous in the
history Of California, as respects agricultural
products. The exports include $29,O0O,OOO
in value of wheat, and 1000, 900 gallons Of
wine. During the year 100 vessels were built
on the coast, while the exports OF silver and
gold aggregated SIG, 10000. The agricultural
nroducts, however, far exceed in value the
mineral, while the profit on them is inn
menselv greater. Indeed, it is a question
whether the cost of extracting the gold and
silver is not greater than The revenue derived
from Them"
Statements of the sam." kind have been
made by some OF the New York papers. Even
one of the Utah delegates to the Utah House
of Representatives was foolish enough to
make the assertion that more money had been
nut into the mines of Utah than had been
taken out. Their is one thing seemingly for
gotten by those who would attempt to show
the comparative value of mining and agricul-
ture to the prosperity and financial impOr-
lance of the country, and that is the mining
product is cumulative, indestructible, perma-
nent and real, While the product of agriculture
NAV be totally destroyed, and must be re-
newed each year with the same cost of time,
labor and money. California, it is said,
exported S26,0 0O, 900, in gold and silver. That
500, UOO, 900 practically can never be destroyed,
and will always be S26,00OsO0O, in whatever
form On. shape, it anay be found. Twenty-six
million. dollars have been added to the circu-
lating medium of tile world, poured into the
great arteries of the worlds great industries,
as so much life blood newly vitalized and
pregnant with power and energy. Now, as to
the profit in mining and the statement that it
is a question whether the cost of extracting
the gold and silver is not greater than the
revenue derived from them. From figures al
hand, we learn that in Utah, during the past
ten years, placing the actual value of the
mines, prospects, mills, smelters, samplina
works, tramways. ETC., at double the supposed
actual investment, or 100000, 900, the capita
invested during these unfavorable years has
doubled in value, besides paying 10 per cent
per annum ON It's original investment. These
are the direct results; it is more difficult tC
sum I'D the indirect but equally substantial
benefits accruing to all classes and to the
Territory at large, through the developmell
of its mines.
The fact is that all our industries, differin.
as they do in various localities, are valuable
and in a measure dependent upon each other
The agriculturIst lakes the valleys and the
miner the rugged mountains or the desel
placer, and there is no conflict. Agricultur
has been, is yet and always will be one of on
most important industries. Mining is nov
rapidly coming to the front, and for the tim
and money invested can make as good a show
ing in solid results as any branch of bushes
in the country. Judging from the vast amour
of capital now going into mining, directed b
the best business minds. the heavy invest
ments in mining machinery and property, tn
noted capitalists interested in mining. and tn
general interest that is moving the energy an
the capital OF the whole country, We cenclud
there is a vast majority that decidedly dife
from the views of the croakers against th
grand industry which. battling with the sol
tudes OF the mountain and the wilderness:
against the most ~stupendous obstacles, ha
won a place as one of the most important an
promising among all the Older Industries {
the land to-day.-Chicdgo Mining Rerie,c.