The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-07-30
!. Mlf,ING OPERATIONS.
The Craze Has Abated in the Western
Mines.

The Eraze Has Abated In the Western
Mines.
ThF partial subsistence of the mining
crazyis likely to leav- mining matters
in Very conservative shape for year
or sotat least. Reaction. invariably fol-
lows y high tension, an so much mon
ey hats been lost that Investors are like
ly to Pe extremely careful for some time
to co1he.
But, while all the excitement was 60
ing ONT few level-headed experts
GATHERED in a large number of mines
of moie or less importance, and are pre-
paringf to work them or { paying basis.
1t ~ surprising the facility with
which mining is done nowadays. In the,
days of the forty-niners, when the pick,
shoFel, cradle, crowbar and wash-pan
formed about the 5nly equipment of the
adYenturous pioneer, gold-mining was
SLOW and il many cases very unsatis-
factory business. It took man long
TING to wash out 81, 900 IN this way. and
when compared with modern methods
ths contrast is striking indeed. Now
thf machinery that is rting put in some
ofthe new mines will handle 5000 cubic
Yards of dirt in day
&There is one feature of mining that
tas been greatly neglected, but that is
low being taken up with interest by
lining engineers. For centuries the
spyms and winds have been sweeping
th EARTH and debris from the hills into
annels of the warehouses;.
1t is estimated that there are millions
of dollars lying loose in the sand and
silt of western rivers and streams.
Dredges are to be employed, and this
loose earth is to be sitted and sorted
Experiments already made give great
promise, and large fortunes are likely
to be taken out of the wash from the
hills. In addition to this, new mines
are being located and enormously ex-
pensive machines are being put in. In
Colorado company purchased a
gold mine last fall, and have taken up
the adjacent territory and made con-
tracts for the work. 4 shaft is imme-
diately to be put down to the depth of
300 feet, and if the indications are favor
able it will go down 300 feet more. The
surface workings ha~n yielded very
well, and the mine is richer as they dig
deeper into the earth.
The question is often asked whether
it pays young man to go west and in
vest in these mines. Tn answer to this
it is perfectly safe to say that a man
who will succeed in the east is likely to
succeed in the wesz. Tf he has the en-
ergy and push, the observation-disclosures
and nerve to face difficulties of all sorts,
he will probably do well at mining. If
he has means to start in good shape, so
much the better; if he is absolutely
without means, he NAV almost always
find remunerative employment, and by
keeping his eyes open can pick up some
of the many good chances that are al
ways to be had in such regions.
Mining as a business offers induce
ments in the way of excitement and
adventure far beyond those possible in
ordinary commercial matters The life
is healthy, and with but few exposures
men continue strong and hardy. The
exposure seems to do l0 injury to their
physical natures, whatever effect the
/ life may have on their moral and intel
lectual development. Certain it is that
there is every reason To suppose that
the mining craze will slowly and stead
lily increase until we may confidently
expect grand exodus 10 many of the
great and practically unknown mining
regions of the northwc st.-N. Y. Led
ger.