The San Francisco call., 1897-04-04

rHE State Board of Trade displays great
XXX many exhibits in its extensive hall on
JVSS Post street, and among them is very
noticeable one of the negative class. 1t is that
of tine lack in mining counties of sufficient
enterprise to install IN this little California
perpetual exposition attractive and fairly
represen tative exhibits OF the mining re-
sources OF those counties.
The exhibit of the State Board of Trade
should include a mining exhibit from every
mining county in the State. The display of
what the State can do in the horticultural
and agricultural line is superb widely known
and is con tinuing 10 be as 1t has long been,
very effective means of advertising and pop
ulating the afiliating counties which have
contributed exhibits. But there is a very
slight representation of the great mining
industry. But five counties have made any
attempt to show that they have any mineral
resources worth inquiring into, and these do
not amount to very much.
The best one, such as 1t is, is from Nevada
County, and 1t makes a very avorab ble i'm
preston. The four other counties. Shasta,
Placer, Caiaveras and Amador, are repre-
sented by some spec. mems OF quartz under the
picked fruits, and the exhibits fail to particu-
larly interest or to suggest the great and
varied stores OF mineral wealth of which these
counties are so proud and hopeful. None of
the other counties to which mining means so
much have any exhibits at all. Those that are
in place are there because there was Mid
winter Fair some time ago, and Secretary
Ficher had these fragments hauled in from
the park.
The point is that the State Board of Trade
is a highly efficient advertising medium for
counties and this is an opportune time for
counties to advertise their mining develop
ment and possibilities at triflng cost. The
time is opportune because OF the constan tly
accelerated movement OF capital and enter
prise toward the gold fields. A much greater
proportion OF those who make Inquiries of the
State Board of Trade in person or by letter are
interested in mining than two or three years
ago. There is a constant stream of visitors
from all over the world to the State Board OF
Trade exhibit Many inquiries about mining
matters are made, and Secretary Filcher gives
the information wanted, or refers them to the
Mining Bureau or elsewhere. Mining has
never beer an i'm ortant feature OF the work
of this institution, but IL might be made so
with little effort in the mining counties.
The mining resources of every county are
well illustrated in the big museum of the State
Mining Bureau. but there the identity of
county is lost in the mass. 1t is State ex-
hibit On Post street each county exhibit
would be independe ent and effective for its ad-
vertising purpose. A varied display of min
eral specimens effectively labeled, and q
showing of pictures and maps, with possibly
mine models and relics, would excite the in
terested attention OF every visitor.
Secretary Filcher would like TO see this done
and, also, that indispensa BILE accompaniment,
pamphlets on each county's res ources in
which the mineral resources and possibilities
OF each mining county are described with
fitting emphasis. Only two counties provide
printed information concerning mines. This
is the time for every mining region to shove Its
chief industry to the front, and the State
Board of Trade presents a valuable opportu-
tunity TO the mining counties.
John Muir, who is ever alert in the cause of
forest preser yation, vigorously defends in the
Mining and Scientific Press President Cleve-
lands extensive reservations of tim Der lands,
and Editor John D. MeGiliivray of that paper
tn US discusses the relations of the new policy
to the mining industry:
"Miners and prospectors generally know
that these reservations will prevent large
companies from running the source of supply
of tim ber for the mines and be of the greatest
benefit to them.
''The commiss ion upon whose report these
reservations were created con cedes that it will
be impossible 10 maintain them unless some
provision shall be made which will permit
citizens to search for and develop valuable
mineral ledges and deposits and to utilize the
timber within reasonable limitations
'If this provision is made the miners should
consider the reservation of these forests by
the Government the greatest boon that could
be conferred upon their industry. There is
many an old and still prosperous mining dis
trict on the Pacific Coast that is now suffering
through the extravagant and wasteful man
ner In which the timber of the immediate
neighborhood has been cleared off without
regard 10 the future. Many mine is paying
now twice as much for timber as it would had
the neighboring forests been carefully con-
served and the timber taken from them
wisely"
A. 5. Cooper, the new State Mine ralogist,
took possession of the Office on Thursday last
and this years field work is now fairly under