The old Abe eagle. (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 189?-189?, 1893-06-15

arlhhe on Vhe INNING industry, clipped
from the Chdutduqudn, shows very
liberal view and that the great industry
OF mining for precious metals is receiv-
ing more consideration from an eastern
standpoint than has been observed here
tofore:
at will surprise people to learn that
over s2,000,000 worth of mineral pro
ducts is taken out of the earth in this
favorable land every working day of the
year. A little more than half of this
enormous product of the metallic output
is gold and silver. In other words the
gold and silver industry is now adding
to the wealth of the nation about $780,
100000 a year.
Anyone who will study the volumin-
GUS gold and silver statistics gathered
for the last census by Mr.. r. ?. Rothwell
and his associates, is impressed by some
striking facts. One is, that not one-six
teenth of the so called mines in this
country are as yet productive There
are at least 100000 claims or locations,
but only about 6000 mines are yielding
gold or silver or employing labor. These
G,O00 mines are yielding over quarter of
all the gold and nearly half of all the
silver that the world is now producing,
though only % of them have an annual
output of more than $500,000 a piece.
Another interesting fact is that the
value of our gold product is almost ex-
actly one third and of our silver product
two-thirds the value of our silver out
put In the producing mines nearly
one e-half the value OF the output is paid
for labor and other items in the cost of
production; and if we count the money
expended upon legitimate mines that
are not yet productive, there is no doubt
of the accuracy of Senator Stewards
conclusion that the cost of production is
greater than the coinage value of the
product. 1t is the chance.of winning
prize that induces thousands to put
are hot profitable Investment; and yet,
If the gambling element is eliminated,
gold and silver mlnlng is not necessarily
unprohtable, but become one of the most
paying OF Industries. While mining has
Iot Leen profitable to thousands who
have invested capital without reasonable
| precautions, 1t has been of enormous ad-
vantage to the country and has brought
prosperity aud population to our western
states aud territories.
We are Impressed with the fact that
we have hardly yet begun to scratch
the surface OF our enormous resources
IN gold and silver. Arizona has the
greatest possibilities, though its output
has long been stationary, owing to its
! lack of railroad facilities. New Mexico
has not even been explored 10y prospec-
tors, as yet, except ia small areas. Many
promising discoveries have been made
that cannot be developed until transpor-
tatlon facilities are extended. There are
large areas in Wyoming that as yet are
merely rich specimen districts. One OF
the malu mountain ranges in the state
W here, unless all indications are at fault,
the best mines should be found, is as
] yNt Ohlg Pui liolig plOSpeCtcds Audug ol
the best districts III Idaho cannot yet
be touched because railroads have not
penetIated them. 1t is the rapid exten-
slOu of the railroad system that has Civ.
en such an impetus TO the precious
metal output Of Colorado aud placed it
first among the producing states; and
yet So much has been doue in short
time in Idaho, Montana, New Mexico,
Oregon and South Dakota that it is be-
heyed their possibilities may be even
greater, proportionately than those OF
Colorado when they have equal trans.
portation facilities,
California still leads all the gold
producing states. No country IN the
world ever showed placers SO rich and
extensive, and they are still far from be.
ing exhausted. The gold product Of
over Sl2, 100000 in 1889, was more than
three times az great as that Of Colorado,
Montana, Nevada, or South Dakota,
which, as gold producing states are
nearly even in the race. 1t is Colorado's s
$4,000 COO OF silver year that puts her
first among the mining states IN the last
census, her silver out.put exceeding that
OF Montana 10y SG,000000 while the next
100000 to her credit. Colorado il
second ns a gold producer, while Mon.
tana. Nevada and South Dakota press
her hard.
Very few of ont states are entirely
without traces of gold or silver But in
a number Of states TINT are classed
among the producers such as Virginia
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
aud Alabama the output is very small
Most Of the hundred or 30 mines reported
from these states are small placer and
river mines yielding very small amount.
Of gold. Only one OF these mines pro
duced over $50 600 worth of bullion IN
the last year Of the census decade.
Nothing is more cerinin than that oul
out put of silver will 90 on increasing
Tor years II the market conditions are
such that II may be mined at profit. II
is not 20 evident. however. that our pro
duction ~ gold will incrcase. Mining
> meu do not now see any prospects OF az
increase ~ gold production. The out
look will Of course be changed II arg,
anriferous gravel deposits are discoyeret
d comes 90 light. II H.. however. IN,
opinion rf experts that the gold Of IN,
future will be derived more from III,
treatment Of gold bearing ores and lcsi
from gravel mines; that ores In othei
words. will replace pacers and the fac
that IN recent years we have slightly IN
crensed our gold out put seems Ia indi
cate That thia county will Al least bi
able 10 maintain the present volume o
/. the product.