Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-20

repeaD will have tendency to discourage
mining operations in the State ~ MS eihzeh>
.nI fhe.k The Cow of capital from other
states. u costs money TO Develop ami work
mines.
There are hut comparatively few IN tue
State who have means TO spare 10 nu1 INTO
mining enterprises: and If they hao 'hes
masses far less knowledge of the business,
and will moi risk their money TO any great
event. while in other states there Is capital
enou xh and 10 spare now lying lille IN the
hands of men able tn lose it and are ready
and willing to invest and risk ii in Legitimate
mining enterprises in Maine. if not kept OUT
by A rigorous and lliiberai policy. and such
nolicy is suicidal as We believe il will be I'M
popular when understood by the people. II
will discourage those smart, energetic anu
enterprisins men who have only been Kept
from leaving the State. by the birth OF tins
important industry; and it viii prevent the
return of the many sons of Maine, whose
ewes are now turned from their distant homes
to the State of their nativity in wonder at the
astonishing and almost startling discoveries
constantly being made here, and the spring
ing up. almost like ''Jonah's Gourd," of
new and unexpected interest which is fast
spreading throughout the State.
The objection seems to be principally to
the formation of Incorporated companies with
large capitals How else can the work be
accomplished? How can we get our noun
tains bored. and the bowels of the earth made
TO disgorge their hidden treasures: The
cases will be isolated where individuals
will risk the money necessary for this
purpose to any great extent without knowi-
edge Ir costs thousands of dollars 10 pros
pect and develope mines. and oiitn hundreds
a. 4 IL,
fully Maine cannot and will not do ii. We
are obliged to solicit the aid OF our more
wealthy neighbors. They have unusual IA
cilities for examining these mining proper
ties compared with western mines they need
not be allured by deceptive representations:
and with their eyes open are ready to Iisk
their money and give us the benefit of their
superior knowledge and experience, if wise
legislature will not wall them out. The
stock of these companies will be taken large
" by such men abroad. There will be fraud
and deception practiced in some. perhaps
many instances. but it will not be for long.
And shall this great State be shut out from
enjoying this great industry. because there is
danger of some ''pOor deluded rTefcheS about
the State being swindlcd? Unfortunately de-
ception and fraud incident to all enter
prises of every character AMI name. and the
greater their magnitule-the more blessings
they confer upon society and the more i'm
portant to the welfare and prosperity of the
citizens, and the State. the greater and more
widespread d the fraud p.acticed by unscrupu-
lous and designing men. 1t is thought by
some simple people, that even in politics,
there is swindlng and fraud but we hope
all legislative bodies will not be dissolved,
because bad men get into the councils of the
State. There is, we admit, greatdanger of
an unhealthy mining excitement springing up
throughout the State during the approaching
season; and many may suffer in the end,
while Maine will be enriched. Such state
of things is to be deplored 1t cannot be
avoided. 1t occurs in everything that is good.
We have seen even unhealthy" religious ex-
element. History is full of instances. The
names which appear at the head of most of
these mining enterprises are a guaranty that
they are to be prosecuted in good faith. upon
strict business principles; and within 4 few
years it is believed will settle down upon q
sound, systematic and honest basis, and be
remunerative to those engaged in them; and
all wildcat companies be crushed out. Let
laws be enacted and penalties imposed if nee
essary as safe guards to this end.
Has mining in Maine up to the present time
been an evil to the citizens of the State? Nine-
tenths, it is thought, of all the money ex-
III liiiHluS ttluS IaT DeeU
in the mining districts of Blue Hill. Sullivan
and Gouldsboro, and most of the companies
have there been formed. There, if any
where in the State, were to be found Prof
Young's "'God-forsaken, sheep Impoverished
pasture land at the time the first steel drill
rung its music upon their eral-bearing
lodges, and the miners blast for the first
time. echoed among their rock-bound hills.
Then there was scarcely any business, no
enterprise, no money circulating, their towns
were becoming impoverished and depopulat-
ed: they were called lifeless and dead bv
travellers. Now a complete and wonderful
change is manifest, pauperism is fast dimin-
ishing the population is rapidly increasing,
and money is flowing i'll steady stream, to
strengthen the business already commenced
and build up new enterprises. These dis
tricts throughout their whole extent are won
derfully changed for the better, as no other
districts in the State have changed. The ID
habitants will tell you tina: the mining COM
panies established there have been a gre at
blessing to the whole population and espe-
cially have the poor and all the laboring
classes been benefited. Is it true that the
good and wise men of the State want to
check the tide of immigration and money
flowing in from abroad, or are we decciving
ourselves, blinded by our own sef-interest
and desire to build up our own particular To-
cality, and cannot see the HYDRA headed |
monster stalking in its van? Let the people |
speak through their law givers. W.
March 10, 1880.