The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-02
WHEELING, ". va, MARCH 2, 1888.
Aud rnl. Is the Way tho Money Go'

his Empire Mining Company reveals
wretched piece OF business. Crowell had
amassed competency by industry and
careful management. He had been reared
in good school and was known Tor his
correct business methods. He lived With
out ostentation, had no bad habits-was in
every way the reverse OF the typical adven'
turer and swindler.
There is little doubt that when he entered
the mining company Crowell deserved the
good name he bore; that Is to say, he had
been guilty OF no irregularities. He in
vested in good faith, and the stock was
never put on the market as is the practice
OF fishers OF men who angle for
yudgeons in the stock market pool
There was silver ore in the mine,
and though It had not been found
in paving quantities it was believed
that enough money put in would make it
pay. His own money being gone, Crowell
turned to 5000, 900 Of trust funds, the money
ofyomen, md soon that splendid SUN was
sunk too. Embezzlement is the mild term
for his olTense; but the only difference be-
tween an embezler and a common thief is
that The one has the property placed in his
hands and the other comes into possession
of II BY stealth or violence. If the mine
had paid, probable Crowell would not have
been an embexler. 1t is charitable TO sup.
pose that he was dszzled by the prospect
infatuated as other men have been with a
dream OF great wealth easily got.
1t is worthy Of remark that from time
out OF mind men have been swayed by
the magic spell Of the precious metals
Judgment abdicates when prize oil gold
or silver is in view. No risk OF person or
property is too great, no peril too awful.
The ties Of family do not bind nor the love
OF ease restrain the adventurer whose brain
has been turned by this subtlest fpoisons
In early times great expeditions ofighting
men were organized to sack cities and
hamIets for their gold and silver The
Spanish Adventures dared everything to
lssess themselves OF the precious riches OF
the new continent, and their galleons went
home loaded.
We have done good deal of fighting
ourselves for possession Of the bullion
country, and to this day powder plays Its
part. But less rugged and worse princi'
Piled SO. OF adventures has sprung up
men who work the stocks and bother little
about the mines. Their progress through
the land is easier than the conquest OF
Peru. A nice prospectus, pretty certiti'
Gates, an oily tongue, good "outdt" OF
clo,hes-ths is all that is required in the
business. A mine or claim is no OBJ
stacle, but It Is far from indispensa-
BILE. The process Of washing out"
stocks in the Misunderstanding handsomely
on nothing or very little is comparatively
easy; at least It would seem 80 from the
extent and success OF the business. Men
reputed cool and careful rush in without
seeing or expecting ever to see the property
they buy. They buy nothing else so, but
gold and silver stand apart After they
have bought, they will keep on paying TO
make what they have Of some value. Sug-
gest to them that there is money in sheep,
cattle. real estate, manufacturing-any
useful and solid venture at Homeland
they "will think about that" while they
20 on putting money where it WILDE held
so tight that It never can get out again.
The mining Of gold and silver is a settled,
legitimate industry. Agreat deal ofmoney
has been made aud will be made in it.
But honestly conducted 1t has its risks; dis.
honestly managed there is no chance for
the innocent. Since the industry began,
nearly eighty years ago, the production OF
gold has been over q billion and hall, ana
OF silver about half u billion dollars. In
1850 the gold output was S9S,SI0,OOO, the
silver S4l, 10000. Mining, where there is
paying ore to move, is carried on with more
certainty and less waste than in the early
days. But millions haye been lost in the
search, and 1t is a safe hazard that to this
day the annual output OF the mines is not
greatly in advance Of the money spent on
mines and mining schemes.
The value Of our oat crop for year
third in the list Of cereals-is more than
double the annual value Of the gold and
silver output. Dat raising is much more
certain business; but nobody goes wild
over oat culture. We produce as much
barley in value as gold, ten times as much
corn as gold aud silver combined, but for
folly gold and silver are the potent charms.
PERSONAL.