Bisbee daily review., 1904-08-24
MINING CONGRESS
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 many of the ranges have been con verted into wheat, fruit and alfalfa fields, continues to grow in volume and value, as the facilities for breed ing and feeding the vast herds of cat tie, horses and sheep improve each year. Hills and valleys that were once deemed best adapted to the cul- ture of wheat. have been reluctantly but profitably abandoned for these purposes and here may now be seen magnificent orchards of apples, peaches, pears, prunes and cherries, which are coming to be known the world over for their excellence of form and flavor.
 Portland, a few years since without single line of transcontinental rail way to bring her merchants the wares Of the East or the products of the in terior, now finds practically centered here five transcontinental railroads and a line of steamships connecting them with the Orient. From a city of little importance she now occupies the forth place in the United States, and promises you that in the next few years that she will not only occupy the first place in this regard. but will step rapidly to the frC1t as a great exporting and importing point for the commerce between the new and the old East.
 And how is it with the mineral re- sources of the state? They, too, are in the infancy of development Not withstanding this, she occupies the tenth place in the roll of states for the year 1903 as a gold producer. having credited to her score s1.364 ,341. and the twelfth place as a alver pro- duceT, having credited to her account 125,000 fine ounces. of the commercial value of s67 7.50e. What a remarkable showing for state that until a very recent date has practically made no effort to develop her mining interests. The magnificent mountain ranges that parallel each other from the northern to the southern boundaries of the state bear in their bosoms not only untold millions of gold and silver. but here, too, are mines of coal and copper and iron All that is needed for the development of these is such splendid enterprise and brain and brawn as characterize the distin- guished gentlemen whom we are today proud to hail as our guests. As a result of your visit to us l venture 10 predict that within another decade Oregon will make rapid advances 10 first position as a rich producer of mineral wealth.
 But how unfortunate it is that an industry of such vast importance to National and international commerce, -toopfGnnnt ir, nrnn1isa has deceived 50 little attention at the hands of the lawmakers of state and Nation. What has been heretofore accomplished has been due to indivi- dual enterprise and effort Our country little realizes what it owes to you, gentlemen of this Congress, and 10 others like you who have braved the frost of winter as well as the pros 1, trating and feveT-laden heat of sum [ mer; who have coveted death in all its forms and shrunk from neither [ hardship nor danger in order to open | up to an advancing civilization the | great storehousas of nature. But | you have yet new fields to enter upon {! and conquer, and you are here to devise ways and means for success in the future.
 And first. you should make your i voice heard in the halls of Congress | An industry of such importance to the world as is that which you have the 1 honor to represent, should have a l place in the Cabinet of the President i It was long before the rights of the 1 great agricultural interests of the | country were recognized by Congress, | but now all appreciate the value of l the Department of Agriculture l: was long before the lawmaking power | could be made to see and appreciate | the value of a Department of Com | merce and Labor, yet who now would l consent to its abolishment? These l great interests were able to make | themselves heard and understood, and | constant knocking at the doors of | Congress forced for them a reluctant | recognition. Why cannot the mining i interests of this great country of | ours make their voices heard where l others have been heard before? i Without the wealth our mines afford | and add each year to the capital of | the commercial world, all interests | would sink and stagnation in all the | fields of activity and enterprise would | De the inevitable result.
 And, second. lthere should be a state recognition of the mining in- dustry. Here, too, is a field open for | your combined effort and enterprise. | A bureau established with proper safe guards and restrictions so that jt | would be for the benefit Iof a class engaged in exploiting the rich re- sources of the state, and not for an in- dividual whose sole aim and ambition is to draw munificent salary, would | do much to elevate. promote and stim- ulate the mining industry.
 I might suggest other matters for your earnest and united consideration but time and the proprieties of the oc- casion bid me leave such suggestion | 10 men of wider and ripeT experience.
 Tn conclusion, gentlemen, I bid you most cordial welcome. All We have to give is yours, while Oregon is hcnored by your presence. We ask you to enjoy our wealth of fruits and | flowers, our fertile hills and beauti- full valleys decked in gorgeous raj xrF rr1