Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-05-14
MINI G.
II Not Only Keeps Well to the Front.
But Is Undergoing Steady Exnans,on

n"' Is Undergoing Steady Expansion.
Mining and Scientific Press.l
Thus far the present years condi.
lions have been generally favorable to
the mining interest, the prospect now
being that the output of bullion for
1888 will largely exceed that of any
preceding year in the history of the
racine Coast. Should nothing occur
to change the favorable aspect of the
situation, this is sure to be the case.
From all parts of our mineral domain.
encouraging reports come to hand.
From Alaska to Mexico, and from
mid continent to the ocean, the min
ing industry is in a healthful condi.
ton, some branches Of the business.
more especially coal and copper, being
unusually active and prosperous. Sill.
yer mining under the efforts that are
being made to relieve it from some of
the obstacles that have long tended
to depress it. is also looking up, its
friends being encouraged to hope
that these efforts, though some have
already been defeated, will not all
fail of their object. That the Lower
House of Congress should, a: the in
stance of the gold bugs, have moved to
nullrfy the sllver-issue provision of
the Beck bill, has been grievous
disappointment to the advocates of
the white metal. Despite all this en-.
deavor to disparage silver, its con.
slant growth in popular favor indi.
Gates an earl revival in the business
OF mining for that metal. Though it
may for time continue to lag, there
is little doubt but this industry will
ultimately recover much of its former
Importance ii its restoration be not
complete.
Because land values in California
are being advanced at an unpre.
cedented rate, and greatly increased
attention is here being paid to agri.
cultural pursuits, it must not be in
ferred that the business of mining is
falling iuto decadence or that our min.
eral products are suffering decline
Even in this State, mining is under
going steady expansion; in fact,
almost keeping pace with our agri-
cultural progress, while in most other
parts OF the Pacific Coast it continues
the leading and all-sustninng indus.
try. Deprived of this, the population
of more than halt the territory west of
the Rocky Mountains would wane
year by year, and its weal,I, soon
shrink to tithe of its present proper
tons. But for their store of the use.
fnl and precious metals, Idaho, Mon.
tana, Utah, Arizona and Nevada,
would have onIy their scantv pastur-
sge and slender agricultural resources
o relieve them from the impu,a,ion
If being mere sage barrens that so
ong rested upon them. 1t is due
chiefly to their mineral wealth that
he legend "Groat American Desert"
ormerly written over these countries,
las since been expunged from the
nap.
While we have no :dea that any
hing will ever occur tending to show
hat the confidence reposed in the ag-
icultural resources of California has
'een misplaced, we appreciate that
ur mines are only secondary to our
ands as sources of wealth, and that
hey will for centuries to come richly
eward the capital and labor invested
II them, and this with quite as much
as investments made in lands.
Hardly more than a month ago it was
calculated that we should this wear
gather bountiful crop of the cereals
n California. To-day the estimates,
'wing to an absence Of the usual
April showers, are reduced by third,
With danger of further shrnkage
before the reapers get to work. When
he year shall have been ended it will
'e found that we have garnered of
,old, silver, coal, lead, copper, borax,
quicksilver, etc, the expected crop,
Which not only in this State but in all
he Pacific States and Territories, can
With certainty be counted upon.
While the grain-grower, the drouth
aving done its worst, lives still in
read of 'the north winds breath"
nd the danger of insect, bugs and
worms, coupled with the rabbit and
he bird pests, and innumcrable forms
# plant disease fills the mind of the
iticulturst and hor,iculturist with
pprehension, the miner, relieved
rom these fears ard little dependent
m the seasons for success, contem.
dates the future with little anxiety,
veil knowing that while there NAV
ccur individual! cases Of failure, good
esults are assured as a whole.