Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-03-07
Evident Injustice.

| Unlleu states government To the magni
ticent mineral resources within its Dor
ders is one Of the marvellous facts of
national history. If the time has come
when the most substantial foundation.
of industrial activity and permanent
prosperity excite no interest and are
reg ,rded as unworthy of attention, the
situation is grave and alarming and
demands investigation.
Mines, particularly Of precious min.
eral, have always been considered OF
such vital importance that, not only has
every possible encouragement been
given to their development, but no gov
ernment except ours has ever yielded
its right to participation in the direc-
ton of and benefit from mining opera
! tions.
Enough has been done in this country
ny private enterprise. hampered in
every possible way to prove the mag,
ticent extent and the measureless val -.
Of our mineral resources. 1t has also
been demonstrated by the most costly
and discouraging experiments at the
cost Of private individuals that, under
the most unfavorable conditions and the
disadvantage Of highest rates for trans
portation supplies, labor, and, in fact,
of every factor entering into the account.
our mineral resources. even in distant
fields may be profitably developed and
made to form the basis of one of the
most important and permanent ir.
dustries of the nation Annually the
scattered camps from the mountain
sides Of world practically unknown,
which would have slept for another
century in it's solitude hut for it's preci-
Gus minerals, have poured out their
millions of treasure into the channels of
The country's enterprise without excit
'ng interest or gratitude.
The history Of orr national legislation
shows each year millions of dollars ap.
nropria.ed for harbor and rive improve
ment. The commerce for which these
=,
much of it in the hands of foreigners.
Millions Of acres cf land and other
material assistance has been granted to
private corporations to bui.d railroads
to cities and states the mining industry
has established in the desert and solitary
place. Arctic expeditions, fish commits
SONS. astronomical observation have
been fostered in the bosom of the COY
ernment, but who has ever found the
record Of the expenditure Of dollar to
determine the existence Of tin, which
we import from England at an expense
Of more than $40,000,6O0 annually? :?
Where is the national school Of mines
Where has the government made anv
provision for furnishing information
concerning productive industry which
yields annually a permanent and in.
destructible product reaching into the
millions Of dollars in value? After the
foreign shipowner has had harbor
prepared at & 'vernment expense for his
private benefit how much has been ex.
pended to build wagon road or bridge
across a river to some mining city upon
mountain side where thousand men
are toiling with busy enterprise, adding
daily to the sum total Of national wealth
and the foundations Of wider industry 2,
No, the record is not creditab!e for
government Of the people for the people,
the cornerstone of whose strength aud
permanence is industry, even when
compa, ed with those nations where the
interest of the privileged few is predom-
inant and the chief rule Of action.