Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1895-09-11
THE PEOPLES FIGHT.

The pick which revealed TO Mr..
Marshall, in 1S4S, gold in the sands OF
the American river, cent Joy and glad
ness to the hearts Of the millions, who,
by their toll, produce wealth. The
existence OF California had been known
TO the civilized world for centuries, but
its resources and characteristics were
as little known to the people of the
United States as the most excluded
region oil the interior OF Africa is to-
day. But the discovery OF gold fields
in that remote region, in few short
months, made the people OF the civil
lied world more familiar with the cli--
mate, rivers, mountains, OF the Pacific
coast, than they were with the streets
OF London and New York. The en-
terprising and adventurous OF Europe
and America rushed TO the New FL
doradoes and described to their friends
at home the wonders OF the land Of
gold. The favorite son OF every hamlet
in the United States was sent, by the
old folks at home, to the new world oi
promise. Within two years Of the
first discovery, 100000 OF the pick Of
American manhood, from every Sec
ton Of our common country, were en-
gagged in mining for gold, and build
ing new empire in the West. In u
few years the most accessible Of placer
gold mines were exhausted, and the
yield OF gold declined. The providen-
tial discovery OF the Comstock lode Of
gold and silver inspired new lite and
continued the development OF the far
West. The region between the val
leys OF California and the Miss ouri
river was unknown TO all except few
trappers and adventurous explorers.
When many who are now living at
tended school, this vast region was
marked on the maps OF the geography
then studied as the unexplor.d desert
oil America. Previous to the discov-
cry Of the Comstock gold placer mines
had been found and worked 10 some
exteat from California to the eastern
slope of the Rocky mountains, but the
discovery OF the Comstock led to the
discovery Of silver mines throughout
the entire mountain region. The
working OF silver mines required more
labor, machinery and expenditure Of
money than the washing OF free gold
in the placer deposits of the rivers,
mountains and gulches. previously ex-
plored and largely exhausted. To
supply the silver mines, agricultural
products were essential; farms and
beautiful homes soon appeared
throughout this vast region wherever
water could be obtained for irrigation;
farming and mining brought other
industries; towns and cities sprang up;
continental railroads soon followed TO
do the business OF the country, while
what was supposed TO be an uninhab-
liable desert was being converted into
states and territories and was furnish
ing market for the surplus products
OF the farm, the looms. the machine
shops and the boundaries OF all the
states in the Union, the American PEG
pie rejoiced at the growth and pros
perity OF the new great West. During
the war of the rebellion the mines of
the west were the hope OF the nation.
Mr.. Lincoln said TO the writer OF this
article, while the war was still pro-
crossing, "tha. without the gold and
silver of our western mines, IL would
have been impossible 10 have sustained
the credit OF the country to prosecute
the war, and that the mineral resources
OF the United States held out sure
promise that the people would be able
10 pay thu debt which was incurred To
save the Union" Al that time every
citi2tn from the mining region of the
Westswas treated with consideration
in every section OF the East. Both
the West and the East were mutually
beneficial to each other, and the love
and sympathy growing out Of such re-
lations was manifested ON every hand.
Today the silver miners Of the West
are denounced by tire great CONNER
cial press and all the cuckoos and
fawning sycophants OF the gold trust
as dishonest and unworthy; they are
charged with an attempt "a swindle
the government by compelling the
United States 70, pay more for silver
than IL is worth; they are called silver !
barons and monopolists, and many |
good people in the country, ignorant
OF the vile motives which inspires the
abuse OF the West, are misled and Join
an the common Islander, feeling Of /
jealousy and bitterness has been en-.
gendered between the two sections by
these Wholesale and lying ISLANDERS.
The truth il, that silver mining has