, 1884-03-08
THE MINING EXCITEMENT,


abroad that gold in fabulous guam
titles had been discovered in tn
Black Hills wave Of excitement
rolled over thecountry astounding in
its extent and character. Farmers
deserted their plows, merchants
their counters, lawyers their tones,
mechanics threw up lucrative posi-
tions and in one heterogeneous mass
struck out for the new land of gold.
Nothing daunted these pilgrims:
nothing could check the steady flow
Of humanity. Roughtup to frenzy
by an igHisfatmts that has Iurred mil
lions Of men to death and destruc-
ton, this current set forward and no
obstacles were too great to be over
-cone; nothing chilled the asdeF; the
experience of the unfortunate was
an unheaded lesson to those behind.
Uuder the influence of that hope
that God has planted in the bosom
of His subjects men were bOuyed up
and steeled to face the most trying
dangers, and the doughty Knights
Templar, upon the burning deserts,
or before the fiery Saracen at the
gates of Palestine, had not their val
or and endurance put to a severer
test than were those pioneer pros
pectors who first turned their foot
steps toward the Black Hills. That
territory was almost unknown to the
white man. 1t was guarded with
Jealous care by one Of the mcstrelent-
less and cruel tribes of Indians that
disputed the ground foot by foot
The government attempted to check
the progress Of the gold hunters. A
long stretch Of country lay between
civilization and the mines. But
nothing could nor nothing did
stem the stream and it is estimated
that fully 100000 people visited the
Black Hills within two years after
the existence Of gold was first made
known. Then is it to be wondered
at that grand stampede is in pro-
gress for the CUur dAlene mines?
With line Of railroad within a few
miles of the camp, and no dangers
but the common incidents of travel
to check ambitious men, the result of
a wide spread knowledge of mineral
finds was sufficient to quicken into
activity those adventurous spirits
always ready to move at a moments
notice. Now comes up the question,
are the developments already made
sufficient in extent to justify this ex-
citement? Already a number Of men
have publicly stated that the mines
are a fraud, and possess nothing to
warrant the craze that is now ap-
parent. These men made eXamina-
tiOns Of the ground in winter, when
it was utterly impossible to form an
impartial estimate Of the probable
extent and richness of the soil.
Last fall hardly a day passed that
some miner or prospector did not ar
rive at the Falls with specimens of
coarse gold, some of them exceedin-
ly handsome and valuable. No one
can deny that gold has been taken
out, and that in large quantities con-
sidering the mode Of operation there
in vogue. 1t is claimed that the pla-
GERS exist from rim rock to rim rock
in the gulches, and some very rich
pieces of quartz have been discover
ed. What may be the extent of the
quartz veins, or how long the placers
may hold out, time alone will tell.
We have talked with, old miners
from California, Montana, Idaho,
Colorado and Nevada, and they ex-
pressed themselves as perfectly sat
isfied with the indications. 1t is
beyond the power of man to express
a decided opinion on the C9ur
d'Alene mines. While the indica-
tions may promise a rich camp, act
ual investigation may show gold to
exist in very limited quantities.
This cannot be decided until the
the snow disappears and work on
the claims is resumed. Even should
the mines turn out to be the richest
yet worked there is bound to be
more disappointed men than sue
cessful ones. Such is the history of
all mining camps and will be repeat
ed in this instance. Still the chan
ces of winning, few as they are, will
embolden thousands to make an eff
fort, and we believe that fully as
many people will visit Eagle City
during the next twelve months as
visited Deadwood in the palmy days
of its infancy.