The San Francisco call., 1904-04-16


congress, has sent out a pamphlet or
circular letter in which he gives
nineteen pertinent and most prac-
tLcal business reasons why Oregon
should be active and liberal in making
the coming session a success" These
reasons interest other portions OF the
voast outside Of Oregon, because GER
ain assumptions are made that will be
open TO question.
Setting apart the fact that Portland
is about 10 become, next year, the
scene Of the Lewis and Clark EXPOSE
ton and that a little preliminary IAN
fare Of trumpets is more than eXcus-
able on that ground, il is still not in
accordance with the facts that Ore
gon promises TO be the greatest
rnineral-producing State or Territory
i'm the Union" There is every reason
10 suppose that oregon is surpassed
by California in variety of minerals
that can be produced commercially at
z profit: that in values in mineral de-
posts there is a great advantage that
California can cOnservatiVely and
safely claim in comparison with any
other part Of the Pacific Coast This
has always been so and there is no
reason to imagine that the mineral
deposits Of California are even fairly
touched when the magnitude OF what
remains TO be uncovered is considered.
Another OF Secretary MahOn's
reasons" is that Oregon has more
TO interest capital in natural products
than any other State or Territory in
the Union." OF course. Mr.. Mahon
does not mean this or else is ignorant
Of what California contains in the way
OF "naturaI products" This is not TO
detract from the reputation Of Oregon,
which is rich in resources, mineral
and agricultural. and in other ways;
but in justice such statements as are
sent out broadcast as an advertisement
for the coming Mining Congress
should conform 10 ascertainable facts.
Probably Mr.. Mahons enthusiasm has
misled him. No one Will take excep-
ton 10 the concluding paragraphs Of
Mr.. Mahon's energetic appeal to the
miners and TO oregon at large TO make
the Mining Congress what il ought to
be 10 command attention:
Because. without enterprise, energy,
push and business tact, the mine must
remain closed upon its hidden treas
ures; without il the stamp mill and
the smelter must remain idle; without
II the pudding furnace chilled and the
rolling mill rest upon its sleeping cogs;
without il the music Of the anvil viii
no more be heard and the
sparks Of grinding wheels no
more be seen; without il no
fiery, strained engine viii dash across
the earth, or steel rails lie TO afford
il safe transit; without it no steaming
monarch Of the ocean will bid de-
fiance to angry waves and carry to dis
tant lands happy beings who laugh at
its fury; without it no instantaneous
spark will fash. either its good or evil
news across continents, or illuminate
our streets and homes; without it no
busy hives OF industry will be filed
with thrifty workmen. no loom weave
or spindle spin, no art adOrn or science
enlighten; without il all industries Ian
guish and commerce perish"
Attention is called to the represent
ations Of Mr.. MahOn. not because they
are more unusual in kind than any
statements made public in behalf of
mining States and Territories: on the
contrary they are just of the sort that
has been made familiar by reiteration.
Capital being attracted TO mines by
having their riches known and the
same applying verify TO any mining
section as a who'll. California should
be pushed - the front on merit as a
mineralized area
Nearly every county in this State
produces some mineral profitably
The placer period has passed away to
q great extent. but this does not by
any means indicate that the greatest
record OF the State for mineral output
has yet been made. Ancient river
channels promise great additions to
the worlds wealth when California
exploits them thoroughly. The quartz
mining along the mother lode and on
mountain ranges that are hundreds Of
miles in length is yet small in extent
compared 10 what il will be. The
cheaper methods, electrical power
cheap petroleum fuel to take the place
of wood and other factors enter into
the consideration. Copper, gold, iron.
quicksilver. petroleum-these alone
make up a great array in behalf of
California and they represent only a
share Of the mineral wealth of this
State.
Illustrative Of the energy with
which mining is now pursued in this
State and OF the profits that are de-
rived therefrom. when the business is
carefully considered and economically
handled, there might be noted scores
Of mines that are known all over the
world for the wealth that they have
afforded and for what they still con-
tain. An example OF the interest now
attaching to mining i'm California is
afforded by the continuous acquisi-
tion of lands along the river banks in
certain localities for dredger mining
ground. One California county is op-
Grating successfully more than two
score expensive dredger gold mining
plants.
w. p. Harmon. the father OF gold
dredging in this State. has recently
placed contracts for the con-
struction of two great dredgers to
delve for gold i'm the Yuba River,
ahore Mcr1rc.rille g the