The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-21
THE MINING REVOLUTION IN COLO
RADIO.

-
The fact that the output of gold In Col
orado rose from $500, 900 In 1892 to- $15,-
900. 900 during 1895. wonderful as 1t is,
cannot give an adequate conception Of
the revolution in mining which has taken
place in hat State since the eclipse Of
the silver industry. That the two
precious metals are hid In the same
mountains and that lower levels of mines
which were formerly worked as silver
mines are now worked for the superior
value of the output of gold may be re-
garded as natures argument in favor of
bimetallism, indicating. at least. that
the ratio of the value OF one metal to the
other is established by the cost of the
mining. and that both will become yoke
fellows as the money of commerce.
In the current issue OF the North
American Review Mr.. Richard, the geol-
ogist of Colorado. gives a vivid descrip-
ton of the revolution, or, rather, the
change of base by which. from. being the
leading silver producing State, Colorado
came to be next the first. If no the first.
In the production of gold. What a won
derful as well as fortunate State that
is which possesses such resources that,
when temporary eclipse comes to one
great industry. the whole complicated
apparatus OF men, moneyfand machinery
thus thrown out of gear can be turned
to another and more stable Industry.
Such has been the change from silver to
gold mining in Colorado the past three
rlt. a.. l..- .Atoa.- A. A. <--x
that mining has become a science and
the working Of mines for gold a sure and
profitable investment for capital. Mines
which would be worthless IL worked by
the methods Of ten years ago have be-
come profitable by the application OF the
discoveries Of science and the skill which
comes OF experience. Ores which were
worthless when the smelter and the
stamp mill were depended Upon for re-
duction have become valuable when the
older machinery has been supplemented
by the cyanidization and c~hlorination.
The old miner with pick and wash pan
with whom mining was a matter Of luck.
Is of the past. Science. skill and the
aggregation OF capital have now con-
spired to make the results Of gold min
Ing outrival the golden age of early Cali
fornian discovery. Prospecting Is yet
important, but 1t must be done by men
who are scientists. Speculation in min
ing stocks will continue: but the mining
of gold by capital on scientific principles
will be in the future a business whose
returns will depend upon the application
OF the same business principles which
| bring success in other departments OF
| human industry. The mining stock
which will be worth possessing will have
q positive value fixed by the outpur OF
metal. and none of them will sell below
par and most Of them above. and often
far above.
Mr.. Richard refutes the impression
that gold mining is local and that profit
able mines are confined to a limited area
THE gold mining OF Colorado is not To-
| CAL" says the geologist; but is dis
| tributed over a region which sweeps
across the map ESQ miles. from Hahn's
Peak In the north to Mount Hesperus in
the outh. As discoveries accumulate
| camps previously isolated become united