The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-08-22
MINES AND MINING.
a Lun Has Taken Place In the
Recent Exoitement


y
or 90 at least. Reaction invariably fol-
lows high tension, an SO much mon
ey has been lost that Investors are like
" to be extremely careful for some time
to come.
But, while all the excitement was go
ing on. few level-headed experts
gathered in large number OF mines
of more or less importance, and are pre-
pairing to work them on paying basis.
It is surprising the facility with
which mining is done nowadays. In the
days Of the forty-niners, when the pick,
shovel, cradle, crowbar and wash-pan
formed about the only equipment of the
adventurous pioneer. gold-mining was
slow and in many cases very unsatis-
factory business. It took q man long
time to wash out 81 ,OO9 in this way, and
when compared with modern methods
the contrast lis striking indeed. Now
the machinery that is bcing put in some
of the new mines will handle 5000 cubic
yards of dirt in day.
There Is one feature of mining that
has been greatly neglected, but that is
now being taken up with interest by
mining engineers. For centuries the
storms and winds have been sweeping
the earth and debris from the hills into
the channels of the watercourses.
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 sifted 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 a company purchased q
gold mine last fall. and have taken up
tho adjacent territory and made con-
tracts for the work. A shaft is imme-
diately to be put down to the depth Of
300 feet. and II the indications are favor
able it will go down 20o feet more. The
surface workings haze yielded very
we'll, 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. In answer to this
it Is perfectly safe to say that man
who will succeed in the east is likely to;
succeed in the west. II he has the en-
ergy and push, the clear-headedness
and nerve to face difficulties Of all sorts.
he will probably do we'll at mining. If
he has means to start in good shape, 30
much the better: if he is absolutely
without means. he may 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.
z Mining as business offers induce
ments in the way of excitement and
adventure far beyond those possible in
ordinary commercial matters. The life
10 healthy. and with but few exposures
men continue strong sud hardy. The
exposure seems to do no injury to their
physical natures. whatever effect the
life may have on their moral and intel
lectual development. Certain il is that
there Is every reason tn suppose that
the mining craze will slowly and stead
lily increase until we may confidently
expect q grand exodun to many Of the
great and practically unknown mining
regions of the northwe st.-N. Y. Led
ger.