The herald., 1896-01-19

| So, when one man makes "strlke,
as it is called, that is to say, when one
man finds an ore body, there are thous-
ands of others who go straightway to
| look for others which must be close by.
This is the whole rationale of the ap-
! parently inscrutable fact that it is the
universal history of every great min
ing camp that more money is put into
attempts to find mines "just next
door" than is ever taken from the real
mines. And this is the reason why it
is that in the coming year, when the
rush from the east sets in in deadly
earnest, it is likely that millions Of dol
lars will be carefully buried in dark
black holes in the district of Cripple
Greek, or in it's immediate vicinity.
Already I dare say that if the whole
of the labor wasted in such vain at
tempts we're to be computed in money
values, and you should add in the
money actually spent, the sum would
reach an astonishing figure. Indeed, it
is almost a pathetic sight, as you ride
, n surrey over the districts bro adly
rolling hills, to see, for mile after mile,
little black holes in the hillsides or in
| the gulches, that have been dug, at
utter random, in the hope of CHANGING
| upon vein beneath.
! AS l have explained, Cripple Creek
| was not intended, at least not TO far as
it's exterior is concerned, for mining
camp at all. It was apparently
natures effort to bury her millions of
| treasure where it would never be
found. There are in the district few
outcropings of veins such as usually
lead to the discovery OF a mine; there
are few of what miners call "blowouts."
So, in order to find the mines of
| Cripple Creek it has been necessary
to dig in hundreds of places
quite aimlessly, in order that
here or there a vein might be found.
And because few very rich veins have
been found, these hundreds of holes
are being multiplied in the thousands,
with an expenditure of human
effort and energy and hope which.
when one computes the probable re-
| turn for it all, bears it's own touch Of
pathos. For, while many of these men
who dig these holes are paid wages, for
! the most part they are working on their
own hook, setting out each morning
with the rising sun, returning each
| night at sunset, never daunted, always
| hoping, dreaming of the day when
| they, too, may be like sold Man" STRAIT
ton and have mine SO rich that, like
! the singular owner of the Independ-
ence, they will have 80 much they will
not know what to do with it.
There are other victims of the thirst
for gold. 1t is a mistake to think that
these are rough and unciviliZed men
wildly absurd to think that they are a
'tough" element. do not think there
is upon the face of the earth race of
more patient, hardworking, self-deny-
ing, dauntless men than those whu
| prospect for the precious metals. They
are generous, they will share with you
their last bit Of bacon and their last
FLAP" they will remember an act OF
kindness, even civility to their latest
day. Perhaps, too, they will remember
just as keen.y and wildly wrong. II
Is lonely, isolated life that they lead
sometimes for weeks they will see
and meet no fellow being. And in theil
loneliness and isolation. with no one
to talk to, companioned only by theil
own thoughts, it is slight wonder il
they should have marvellous memories
and slight wonder if they should treas
ure up wrong.
It is mistake, too, to think tha
these are the men by whom the eastern
visitor is apt to be taken i'll. They ar
| not. OF course, there are dishones