The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-04-13

Mining Rs.a.esss
There Is always something romantic
and interesting connected with the dis
covery of the principal mines Of tha
world, and the reader never tires OF the
recital of the little incidents and advent
ures leading to the finding of big bo-
nanza. The famous mines of Potosl
were discovered by an Indian herler.
In chasing q mountain goat he pulled 9
bush out Of the ground, to the fbers Of
which . quantity Of silver globules were
attached. He concealed his discovery
for q season, but his sudden display Of
wealth excited the attention Of his
Spanish masters, and under torture he
was forced to reveal the locality of the
precious deposit. These mines have
Welded to date the enormous sum Of
%, OOO, 900, 600. To appreciate the
magnitude of this sum we may say that
it exceeds the amount extracted from
the bonanza mines of the Comstock
lode twenty times-that is, that for ev-
cry dollar the bonanzas yielded the
mines of Potosi yielded twenty; or in
Western parlance, "Potosi has seen the
dollar of the bonanzas and gone nine
teen dollars better.'' No wonder Spain
became such wealthy country in the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
There were lots of Floods, Mackays, and
other bonanza kings in those days.
In 1858 ComstOck, of the Comstock
lode, visited San Francisco and endesy-
ored to enlist capital to develop his
mines. He went up and down Front
street begging our merchant princes Of
that day to aid him, saying that he had
a mountain of silver-ore on the.eastern
slope of the Sierras. They laughed at
him, and he received the name of
"crazy Comstock." He returned to
his mountain home without dollar,
and it was reserved for Grass Valley
men-Judge Walsh, George Hearst,
Joel Clark, and others-to be the chief
instruments in making the wealth of the
famous lode known to the world.
In 1858 q Shoshone Indian, in con-
sideration of square meal and bot
tie of whisky, guided John Turner.
Applegarth, and others to the summit
of Treasure Hill, in the White Pine
District, and there unfolded to their
gaze the riches of the Eberhart mine.
Some of this ore was so rich that
nail could be driven into it as into o
bar of lead. From a chamber in this
mine big enough to turn stage coach
and horses around in over 100000
was extracted. The Indian has been
an important factor in mine discov-
cries, both in South America and on
our own continent. The great wealth
of Tabor, the millionaire miner Of
Colorado, arose from $175 worth Of
grub furnished by him to some Lead
vile miners. These men discovered
the celebrated Little Pittsburg, Chrys-
olite, and other mines, and brought
into prominence camp which has
added nearly 800, 100000 to the
worlds wealth since 1879. In 1879
George d. Robinson was a store-keeper
in Leadville with a stock of goods
valued at about $4,000. One day he
." grub-staked q miner with sec
worth of provisions. The prospector
sailed forth and soon afterward dis
covered the celebrated Robinson mine
of Ten-Mile District, near Leadville,
and Robinson realized 81, 900, 600 by his
trihing investment of the sum of $50.
In 1879 Southeastern Arizona was
given over to the red and ruthless
Apache, and was supposed to be def
cient in mineral wealth. But daring
miner, Edward Schieffelin, penetrated
the region and brought out the news Of
good ore and plenty of it. His sole cap
ital was $3.50, but to-day he is million
aire. His spirit is, however, unsubdued,
and signing like Alexander for other
worlds to conquer, he has sailed to the
Arctic, and has there discovered rich
diggings on the headwaters of the Yu-
kon River. Alaska will receive thor
ough exploration this summer. As
soon as the country is released from the
icy embrace of winter the adventurous
miners and prospectors will strike q
Decline for the new country. Rock of
almost fabulous wealth is exhibited in
this city, coming from Alaska, and
stories are told of lodges one hundred
feet wide full of free gold. Who knows
but Humboldt's prophecy, that in the
nor h the great matrix of gold is to be
found, may be verified this year? Ger
tain it is that the mines of Siberia have
yielded an average of $22, 900. 900 a year
for the last seventy years, and their
product is greater now than ever.-SGn
Francisco Exchange.