Mohave County miner., 1899-09-23
Esaggerations Do Not Go.

There is no question that great min
ing centers have been developed dur
ing the past few years which may'hav
remained unknown, for an indefinite
time, if silver had not been demone-
tized in 1893. Mining men who had
invested their all in the production of
the white meSal, were compelled to look
in other directions to recoup them
selves from their losses and, at the
same time, find congenial employment
for them elves, and an opportunity to
retrieve their losses. With this object
in view they engaged in the exploration
of mining propositions which promised
more profitable returns than silver
bearing rock. Gold mines have been
discovered and are being worked. Cop
per properties have been eagerly ex-
plotted and developed, and other mines
carrying both gold and copper have
become veritable bonanzas. And 9th
ers again, carrying silver and lead in
addition to their gold and copper val
ues, are being made wealth producers.
The great northwest abounds in min
eral wealth. Colorado is almost daily
presenting to the mining world new
exhibits of mineral wealth. Utah is
demonstrating her value as factor in
promoting mining industries. Mon
tana is still leading the procession of
western metal wealth producing states.
Idaho with her vast deposits of gold,
silver, copper and coal, and its immense
belts of timber, Is projecting itself be-
fore the eyes of the world. Washing
ton is holding itself on about even
terms with contiguous states, and Ore
gon is giving abundant evidence of its
ability to size up favorably, with its
neighbors. Neither state can claim to
be the "only pebble upon the beach,"
All are promising mineral wealth pro-
ducers, some ARE better than the 9th
ers, but all are good in their line.
There appears, however, a disposi-
tion among not few of the publica-
tions in mining sections, to exaggerate
their mineral possessions and their
prospective mineral wealth. OF course,
experienced western men can pretty
accurately measure the value of any
given statement concerning the lin
mense," the "vast," the "boundless"
mineral wealth of this or that section
of the country. They take them all
with few grains of salt and let them
go at that. But the average, compar-
atively new conner is apt to he deceived
by exaggerated statements. When he
reads that certain newly discovered
mines put the early day placer mines
of California, completely In the shade,
be is among the first to stampede to
the boasted Ell Dorado. He gets away
as he can, curses the country. gives il
a "black eye" and then works for a
stake to get in the next rush. The old
timer pursues different course. First
reports and exaggerated statements
do not go with him. He watches fol-
accounts of shipments to and from the
, diggings. He looks for statements
, from reputable source, of assays OF
! ore, looks over the surrounding con
ditions and is governed by them. He
g knows that the first at place is Otter
r the last one to be benefited. Tn,
r forty miners are not the ones who
5 made the money, they we're those who
: came after thern. The history of tn,
! old-timer is repeated in every new
= camp.
; The Klondike yarns of two or thre,
e years ago never went down with th'
i Oldest timers in the west or east. The,
y rightly sized up the boasted digging
o VIII IN it was declared that Klondik
Q eclipsed California placer mines in it
b palmie,t days, Their expressed doub
g of the fabulous richness of the countr,
4 was verified ty. the published gol,
shipments from Dawson. 1t has sine
d hann lnnrpad that upifa as rich unit