The Elk Mountain pilot., 1881-04-21

By the slow but certain operations
OF nature, this country is receding to
desert much faster than all the enter
Prise and labor of America can reclaim
it. There ase no streams Of any size,
and consequently no opportunity for
irrigation. And as for the people, they
ate not worth retaining.
There is just enough mystery about
thu old Mexican mines to excite the
interest and curiosity Of the average
American. We hear much about
their richness. about the crude meth
DDS Of working practiced by the Mex
cens--how they go down poles instead
OF ladders, their cheap labor, etc;
and the natural conclusion is, tha.
with American ingenuity and enter
prise, improved machinery ard meth
DDS, these mines can be worked with
great profit. Now the fact is that
many of these mines can be worked in
no other way than that in which the
Mexicans have worked them they are
too poor 70 admit the erection of ma
chinery, (many Of them). Water to
supply an engine aid modern mill
would have to be brought many miles
at an enormous expense. To supply
fuel enough for an ordinary stamp
mill engine for six months would clear
the country for many miles around.
and coal theie is none. All the coal
used ON the Southern Pacific railroad
Is brought from Australia (or was be-
fore the connection was made.) The
Mexlcans knew enough to construct a
ladder with two poles and rounds be-
tween, but when one has to travel
from twelve miles to find pole long
enough for a ten foot ladder, they
necessarily economic. Their system
Of Peore labor was good enough for
them-as it practically cost nothing-
and though this system is not theoret-
ics,ly abolished the quality Of the la
Dor is of the most expensive kind.
-Four cf these men would not perform
the lab ,r OF an ordinary miner, and
about every third day is holiday
with them. The Mexican government
does not grant patents for mires.
Once purchase claim there and you
must work it continuously with at least
| four men. or the tile reverts to the
government. This is wise provision
on the part Of the Mexlcans, for many
claims are worked for a time and
abandoned, SO that they get the bene-
fit Of the labor performed. had the
names of seventeen American compa-
nies who have expended from s2o,-
600 to $500, 90 in that country, and
who have abandoned their claims and
property without realizing a dollar.
A mine must indeed be rich one
when YOU can work it without snow
or water and pay the enormous prices
there prevailing for all the necessarles
Of life. A pound Of nails vii. cost you
at retail Sax cents, coffee 81 per h.,
and sugar 50 cents per pound. The
duties alone (to say nothing of cost OF
transportation and profits on all
articles Of clothing are 132 per cent.
of the valuation; on canned fruits and
meats, 28 cents per pound on tea, 81
per round; on calico, 81 cents per
yard +; on potatoes and cook stoves,
12H cents per pound on picks, mill
shoes and dies and plates, 5 cents per
pound; on hatsand caps, $: each on
all drugs and medicines, S7z per
cent. Of valuation and On ali articles
of wharever name o. DESCRIPTION, not
enumerated in the arenaal, IS per
cent. of the valuation. If you think
that Is a good country to emigrate to
pack up your outfit and try it. The
Mexican don't want you, but he
stands ready to welcome your capital
with bloody hands to a hospitable
grave.
That there are good mines in Mex
ico is not ! matter Of doubt, but these
will not often be thrust upon you. 1t
is to the majority of old Mexican
mines that will be thrown upon the
American market, that these remarks
apply, and which you will do we'll 70
let severely alOne.-CNfde0 formal.