Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-01
Belfast Journal.
MAINE MINES.

One by one the mining experts AMI supcrin-
tendcnis are leaving the Maine bonanEis' the
daily papers Rrc dismisstng their mining cor
tor second hand mining apparatus Is being
offered cheap for cash. and the boom hh- otch
succeeded by collapse. Cumberland "Iooc
This, a, far as il goes, Is q truthful pre-
seniatlou OF the case; aud with the Journal
II Is Cause for congratulation that, having
contributed nothing 10 the boom II Is In no
degree responsible for the collapse. ON
the whole, mining fever in Maine has done
less harm than WAS feared But that II
has done enough. the Mdias Mining Journ-
az of oct. lst, testihes when II says -
During the excitement OF last winter, by
FAR the larger portion OF the money put
into mining enterprises consisted OF funds
which merchants and manufacturers actu-
ally needed Ia their business, and the small
savings OF clerks, mechanics aud !aboTcrs
Aud OF this money which i said 10 have
been Ia the aggregate but drop In the
bucket compared with actual expense OF
properly developing the mines. few III
ve>tors are likely to realizs even one cent
on the dollar The numerous companies
with half million dollars capital each on
paper, have mostly disappeared; fcw or
them leaving even hole IN the ground to
mark their brief existence, though they
will doubtless be held In remembrance by
the unfortunate stockholders.
Rut now that the wild cat companies
have had their day, aud II Is no longer
profitable TO unprinciplcd men TO salt a
mine, or palm of nuggets from California
or elsewhere A. the product of native leads
and assures, there L. prospect that the
question whether mining In Maine can be
made profitable, will BE- fairly tested. The
erection OF smelling and reduction works
is step In this direction. Such works
are now In process or construction In
Portland. at the mine OF the Douglas Min
ing company. and negotiations are pending
for utilizing the foundry buildings in this
city for similar purpose. Al last advlces
the Douglass company had two ore beds
roasting ores, and new beds In course OF
construction. No one doubts the existence
of the precious metals in Maine; but II IL
costs dollar or a dollar aud half 10 pro-
duce a dollars worth OF gold or silver, We
can hardly include mining among our re-
sources When the ore from the mines
now In operation Is reduced 10 solid bricks
or bars Of standard quality, II Will be easy
IN determine the amount OF profit, or loss.
While by no means sauguine, we think II
quite probable, making due allowance Tor
the statements OF interested parties, that
with good management, some OF the mines
may pay. and we sincerely hope this result
will be obtained.
The attitude maintained by the weekly
press OF this State during the mining e1-
citemeut was the subject OF captious criti-
cisms, but It's conservative course Is now
fully indicated II would be folly for .
newspaper 10 discourage any enterprise
which would add TO the general prosperity
OF a State or section. The interests OF
newspaper are those OF the community Tor
which IL is published, and Us buslLes Is
sensitive to the nuctuatiOn in fortunes OF
the community. The greatest good To the
greatest number Is the policy Of the true
| newspaper: and the advocacy or special
trades and Industries Is properly lett 10
class Journals, the organs OF manuiactur-
ing. mining, insuranc and other interests.
The weekly press OF Maine had TO choose
/ between the few men who were promoting
mining companies, concerning whose sue
cess as paving ventures, there were grave
doubts, and the large majority OF It's pat
rons. There was danger that farming and
other vocations would be neglected, and
that many would hopelessly embarrass
themselves with the delusiye hope OF
speedily becoming mining millionaires.
| And these evils were not wholly ayerted.
But that the weekly press had salutary
influence cannot be doubted. 1t is in large
measure due 10 it that the mining fever
was OF brief duration, and that its victims
have been so few. Now that mining In
this State is TO be conducted as legiti-
mate enterprise, on business principles,
and its results practically tested, 1t is safe
! TO saw that those engaged in developing
mines will receive all the aid and encour-
agement the press can give TO them. Its
duty lies In that direction as clearly as 1t
did in opposing wild cat companies ana
visionary schemes which could only result
In injury to the public veal.