Weekly Phoenix herald., 1883-07-05
bite IndusfI y
No one WHO 4. lsrefniir stnd,ed


the history Of human events, and has
endeavorcd TO analize tie motives of
mans activity, will be firmly con-
| convinced of the claim that man is a
reasoning animal; IN fact it would
be exceedingly difficult to discover
basis Of reason in in any of the
great tides that periodically move
the surging masses of humanity,
constantly toward some new field of
ENTERPRISE and experience We pros
! pose. however, to consider the ques
ton only so far as it relates TO min
ing.
a few years ago, when some sur
face discoveries were made IN silver
and galena in Colorado,
and the attention OF people was di-
rected to the immense probabilities
of the future, there was ar eager and
well nigh general desire to secure u
share Of the promised treasures.
Claims ttat contained the possibility
of 4 mine were readily sold for fabu-
lcus prices; at the the present time,
! property which has been developed
10 point that shows there can be no
possible doubt of value as Il mine,
cannot possibly be disposed of at
any price. Reason would suggest
caution at the uncertain period and
confidence when the facts were es =
tablisheT, the contrary has been the
rule. The failure of half conceived
| plans basrd upon assumed promises
to meet the eager and unreasonable
anticipations of those entirely igno-
rant Of what might be expected, has
! cast a reproach upon a legitimate
industry instead OF rejecting upon
the fooiishhess and ignorance of men
who have attempted to plan without
knowledge or judgement. The his
tory of mining operations is cd
| with wrecks, disappointment and
failure; not of the great mineral re-
sources to yield up their tribute 10
properly applied methods, in a most
| generous and bountiful manner. but
showing the mistakes that men have
made working in ignorance and
blindness.
! Contrary to the unaIterabie laws
that govern one of She most porder.
able and massive kingdoms in the
| universe Of creation IF party of
men should start upon a journe
across an UNEMPLOYED sea without a
chart, compass, food or raiment,
! without some provision for tho un5
forseen land unknown, tiey~'oti;d |
be !stssly considered fc ala and reck- |
lesslv daring; anMhen after time !
the 5roker tcck of tempest tossed |
be- drifted to the shore to tell the |
tale of disaster, none would think !
of blaming the sea for its uncertain |
~ and treachery yet this same thing
is done day after day. when men in
the mining field attempt with made |
quate means, without Knowledge or
experience, without the FIRST factor |
of success.
Not only is oct aston taken to gues- !
ton the integrity of those intere sted |
but mining itself is arraigned and |
another glaring instance of failure |
o. hat-fe
ed and reiterated with in /
tense satisfaction. But short time |
ago, there was an account that some |
of The Bishops and and Elders of the
N. E. Church had Invested in the
stock of II mining company, and tie
property having proved worthless (
was abandoned, resulting in n loss
to all concerned. The good brethren
lectnred and gave warning, concern
ing the speculative features and the
gam bling element OF digging pre-
cious minerals out of the ground.
1t now traDspires that after the mine
failed TO pay dividend the next day
after they were purchased they were
and now some practical
miners relocated them, and Il little in-
telligent work reveals the fact that
one of the claims examined shows
more value in mineral than the
whole group of claims cost. Now
it is plain that the body Of ore in
these mines has underg one no change
as regards quantity or value, yet the
same property is made to appear in
two very strangely different lights.
There are men who have put their
all in hop raising and orange groves.
Such men If they have not hopeless
" mortgaged their lands through
the former facility 70 borrow money
on that spe les of property wilt have
to cut down their trees and depend
Upon other crops. Had man three
years ago borrowed money with
which to hep to develop mine and
had he explained that from the for
nation and surface ore . certain
amount of work must open an ore
body, and had he failed the sSory
would have been told everywhere
IS proof of the treacherous result
which is liable to follow mining.
But the man who borrowed large
'ums on lis orange orchard which
vas to produce certain profit this
rear and when gathering the crop
t is fonud comparatively worthless
hat man is simply unfortunate,