The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-17
FOR THE POOR MINER,

FOR THE POOR MINER.
Out of the large number of miners
and others employed by the Ontario
and Daily prior to the suspension of
operations, there are some who owned
claims and prospects in the hills around
Park City In the Fish Springs district
and in the southern part of the state
and throughout the Deep Creek coun-
try there are many such claims in va
rious processes of development owned
by poor men, and the same may be
said of Nevada, and Idaho. and Colo
RADIO. Since the heavy drop in silver.
/ which brought mining operations in
! producers of this metal to a close, the
miners have scattered in search of en-
ploymenc in mines producing other
than silver, but willing to accept work
and wages at anything they might turn
! their hand to.
Some time in the near future a great
many of these prospects and claims
owned by poor men will become yalu-
able, perhaps nearly all of them. They
Will become valuable just as soon as
silver is restored to its proper place
as a, money metal, and this is as sure
to happen as the fruit growing on our
trees will ripen. Even now it has been
told that an English syndicate. rightly
concluding that silver will be restored,
is taking advantage of the present de-
preston and discouraging outlook and
is sending out agents and experts to
examine silver properties and report
to headquarters. All this means that
every advantage will be taken of the
miner, who would rather sell for
a song than lose his property by rea-
son of some one jumping his claim if
he neglected to comply with the as
sessment law.
But how can these miners per-
form their assessment work within
the prescribed time when they are
away from their properties in a vain
search for employment? And how
many men with money stand ready
now TO grub stake miner in silver
proposition, so that he may be enabled
to comply with the law. at least, and
hold the property?
General depression is no less felt
now than when congress passed a spec
ial act exempting the owners of mining
claims from the provisions of the as
sessment law for the period of two
years-1S94-5-upon a proper notifica-
ton of intention to perform the work
; necessary in the following year. OBJ
jections were at that time raised by
some interested persons, and arguments
presented in order to prove that the
effect of such a law interfered with
; the growth of the mining industry. But
such arguments failed to show that
the mining industry could be better
than any other where the outlay ex-
ceeded the income. except in the hazard
of chance. On the other hand, the
| miner was benefited, as in the
meantime he had' the opportunity OF
putting by a doilor for a grub stake
: and when the time arrived for compli-
shaft and working out his assessment
Nay, more. he was developing his prop
erty 10 the extent of his financial anC
physical ability.
In behalf of the miner whost
! condition is outlined in the beginning
: of this article The Herald is urged tt
present his side to the public in order
2 that proper degree of sympathy may
be aroused and discussion promoted, K
e the end that congress may be per
? suaded to restore the act releasing TIL,
miner from the provisions of the as
{ sessment law. for one year at least
Those who urge this fully, comprehend
e that no benefits could accrue this yea
/ even if congress passed such law a
E the beginning Of the next session. Blu
S the law could and would operate il
1888, and the chances are that the mex
Q year will find the scattered silver min
: ers as hard up then as they are today
!. and fully prepared to reap the advan
= tages of the law no harm can com
: from the enactment of the law in an.
r event. for if silver obtains bette
d value and a miner thinks he has some
thing in the ground which Will pa.
q him better than wages, such one vii
/. not take advantage of the law.