The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-10-23

pend upon the successful working Of our
mines; but the grazing capacity of the Terri
tory is limited, and the tendency Is for cattle
to accumulate In the HANDS Of few persons,
principally because large herds can be hand
led at less cost per head than small ones.
Hence, 81 this was the only occupation, our
population would be small. Though the de-
velopment of our quartz mines has hardly
commenced, they produced, as already
shown, In the past twelve months, so, 250, 600.
OF this amount 100000 was
SILVER.
In all Of our silver, as it is extracted from
the ore, there is from 20 to So per cent. of its
gross value gold, chemically combined with
IL. one-fourth Of the value Of the product of
our copper mines is silver, chemically COM
bined with the copper. Our lead would not
pay for the mining except for the silver it
contains, AND its uses in collecting the silver
and gold in the process of smelling. Our
copper mines at Butte, with over $780, 900
in their works alone, are barely paying run
ming expenses. A very little further depre-
citation Of their silver contents and that in
dustry is ruined, and thousands of men
thrown out Of employment.
What is true of US in regard to silver and
Its connected and dependent interests, is
largely true of all other mineralproducing
Territories and States. Destroy silver, or,
which is the same thing, stop Its being mined
sy a little further depreciation, and the d.
rect loss will reach at least 500 900 600 per
annum In metals and other interests depend
ing upon it. To see this industry upoh which
so much depends decried, discouraged and
threatened by our own people and neighbors
u NEST unreasonable and unjust. 1t seems
TO Inc that the East should at least treat the
metal upon which our very existence de
ponds, as well and with the same considera-
ton that other peoples of the earth do. The
most thrifty nations of Europe-France,
Belgium and Holland-give it a greater legal
tender valuation by over three per cent. than
our Government does; and although they
are purchasers and importers of silver, they
have continued its use as legal tender money
Until each individual inhabitant has about
three-and one half times as much as each in
divIdual inhabitant of the United States.
They have from S12 to s14 per capita-we
only 1915. We not only produce what we
use as money, but good portion of that pur-
chased and used by them. We produce 40
per cent. of all that is produced in the world.
The present coinage only adds about 40 cents
per capita per annum, having only about
1915 per head; it would require at least
twenty FIVE years to coin the same amount
per head of our population as they have, and
require from twelve to fourteen years to get
an amount equal to that held and owned by
France alone. Is it then unreasonable to
| ask for our people that the Government con-
tinue to coin silver until the amount equals
that held by other commercial nations? Sill
yer has been used as money from time imme-
mortal. The Government could at least give
| a reasonably fair trial by continuing its coin
age until our people get as much as other
commercial nations have per capita, and
then, IL would seem to me, is time enough to
think of stopping its use as currency. We
ask 1t not alone, because its stoppage would
| be disastrous to this and to other Territories
! Inevitably If the country that produces it
destroys its use as a money factor, 1t will de-
preciate to fatal point and seriously effect
the djoining States, but the great majority
of the people of the United States would be
injured thereby. Certainly, to destroy part
| of our currency would greatly increase the
purchasing power of the remainder, thereby
enhancing gold, proportionately reducing
the price of all commodities, and greatly and
| directly injuring the debtor class of the Ma
ton. To me this misunderstanding the value
| OF gold-is the moving object and cause of
the existing organized war on silver. Gold,
| or great portion of 1t, is collected and held
| by few selfish individuals, and If they can
succeed in destroying silver a. o legal tender
money (which would stop the product of the
metal) they would then add in value about
| 20 per cent. to their boarded gold. do not
mean to say that these are the only persons
who are opposing the further coinage Of sill
YER. Nevertheless, they are the moving
power, and have organized war against II
to "bear" and destroy 1t. They are predict
ing dire disaster from the continued coinage,
claiming that it will bankrupt the Gov.
eminent, food the country, by making it a
dumping ground for silver, drain the coun.
| try of gold" etc, etc; and this in the face
| of the facts that the most prosperous nations
of Europe have from three to five times the
silver that there Is in the United States
France, with three times as much, having
imported the past ten years over three hun.
dred millions of gold more than they ex'
ported. The best banks of the world have
from 30 to GO per cent. taken together) OF
their reserve in silver, and are prosperous,
with their stock selling at large premium,
After seven years of continued coinage. we
are exporting more silver than importing,
and importing more gold now than export,
ing. Once the "bear howl Is stopped
made to control legislation to the end named
there will be no trouble in absorbing the
coinage. In behalf of our people, beseech
| the Government to continue the coinage OF
silver, and to use a portion of the profit &C
cruing thereby in distributing it throughout
| the West, where 1 know it is needed. The
| Government in almost the exclusive inter.
ests of the people of one portion OF our coun.
thy, compels our people to pay burdensome
| protective tariff on the iron and manufac.
tured articles of that section. They cannot,
in equity, and will not object to SO reason.
able a request.
| remain, very respectfully,
+ Your obedient servant,
F. s. T. HAUsER, Governor.