Mohave County miner., 1897-01-09
The Old PrOspeetOr.

been spoken of the prospector, yet full credit has seldom been given him for the important work he has performed in the way of advancing the development of the industry of mining the precious metals in the northwestern states. Not a few shiftless, rowing creature who wanders about the wilds of the mountains in proftless way. But the fact is that the prospector occupies a very important place among the members of the mining industry. He is the pioneer and leads the way in the exploration of new min ing fields, scouting out into the wllds far in advance ot towns and settlement Before mines can be opened and worked by capital they must be discovered, and it is the prospector who sallies forth and does the necessary work.
 The prospector may be sad to have been born in the days of "forty -n;ne," when the harvest of gold of the Calitor- mia placers began. As soon as "born" the prospector begins scouting out into the wilderness, and he has been at It ever since 'Olce a prospector always a prospector" working miner may at times do something in the way ot pros pecting, but the real prospector is one who is always dreaming of undiscovered veins of the precious metals in far,away mountain regions, and whose greatest delight is to roam and camp in new and unexplored fields. The prospector has in his composition something of the na- ture and disposition Of the old hunter and trapper. He braves all manner of perIls, and endures a thousand hardships in pursuit of his favorite occuoation.
 In the opening up of the mining re. gons ot the Pacific coast the prospector has everywhere been in advance-has led the way. He it was at the front who first met the arrows of the red men, bat tied with the wild beasts of the noun tains, and encountered the dangers of the waterless wastes. First the mining field is discovered, then the miners push forward and a camp is esta bIished, which presently grows up to be town or city.
 In Nevada, Idaho, Ariz ona, Montana, Washington, Oregon and almost every where else the prospector has been obliged to fight his way among savages, and in several sections Of the Pacific coast mining regions he is still on the warpath in rugged mountain wilds. AL though the prospector is always, day and night, dreaming of great wealth, he is seldom wealthy. He is man of little means, and when he finds good mine he generally sells at price far below it's real value.
 Hundreds of these pioneer prospectors have left thelr bones on the desert and in the mountains, and not a few have lost their scalps in battle with the say ages. Still men are found on the trails on the mountains who are ready to brave the dangers of any region in which gold may be found, from the burning sands
 
 of New Mexico to the ice-bound regions of Alaska. The true prospector always sees somewhere ahead a Sort ot paradise. There is fine camping place, with plenty of wood and water, with grass for his burro in a natural meadow, and all else convenient. There, in this little miners heaven. he places a wonderfully rich mine-l mine in which all is glittering with gold and silver. There are men who began prospecting 40 years ago who are StiIl meanderIng the mountain trails, haired. They are still after the big thing that is always little way ahead.
 The genuine prospector is not at all in clined to settle down to the hard every day toll required in the development of a mine There IS too much of the gypsy, or trapper or hunter, in his nature to per- init of his perm Anently establishing him self in any particular spot He has in his composition a romantic love of ad. venture, aud delights in the wild beauties of nature as he finds them in the far away fastnesses of the mountains. Be- sides, he has dreams of wealth in many places. No sooner has he made a find and little "raise" than he is off to ex- plore some region of what he has long ha golden visions.
 If all do not find gold, every prospector finds more or less pleasure in his chosen