Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-02-11
Mining Men Should Awaken.

The recent industrial awakening of
the world has so lent its inspiration to
mining enterprises and created such
demand for products of the mines, that
many new phases have presented them
selves and it is important for mining
men to get together and discuss ways
and means, commensurate with the new
commerce, the new policy, the new des-
tiny and the new purpose that today
confronts more than 81, 900, 900 people.
In marked contrast with the nine
teenth century, the twentieth century
has opened profusely endowed with
marvellous equipment, prepared to make,
and has already made many important
additions and most rapid progress in
material development, and the greatest
factor in promoting wealth and strength
ening the growth and power of this
nation, is the mining industry.
Mining is no longer a local business
in the territories and few states. The
majority of the states are now interest
ed in mines and mining; the industry
has vast wealth and many votes, and
these votes should be able to command
an active and not a passive representa-
ton. The establishment of a federal
department of mines and mining, whose
secretary shall be member of the cab
met of the president of the United
States; and such revision of the mining
laws as will advance the mining indus
try of the nation should be demanded.
Iron, steel, copper and coal, to say
nothing of the precious metals, are fast
becoming great export staples, in fact,
they are so now, and the strongest
financial and commercial interests of
the union are much more closely identi-
fled with the mining industry than they
are with agriculture.
Thirty-eight years ago, on March 80.
1867, through the far seeing enterprise
of Mr.. Seward, the transfer of 1868, 1903,
$50 acres of land surface, measuring
SIS, 162 square miles, was transferred to
the United States for the sum of ST.
200, 900, known as the Russio-American
Alaska, and on June 20, 1867, ratifica-
tons were exchanged and the formal
transfer made to General Rosseau at
Sitka, October 9, 1867.
At this time there was much dissatis-
faction expressed all over the country
at this great expenditure Of public mon
ey for this miserable barren waste of
ice and snow, and Gen. Sherman said in
speaking of it; "Give 'em $1,000, 900
more to take it back and be thankful to
get off so cheap"
Thirty-eight years have come and
gone since that time, and we find that
the far-seeing enterprise of Mr., Seward
made no mistake; that before even one
fourth of this vast region of country
has even been partially explored, and
only 3, 1863 acres up to Jnne 80, 1901, sur
veyed, this worthless, barren waste of
ice and snow has returned her purchase
price many times over.
Since the year 1900 1887, GLIB square
miles have been added to American ter
ritory at cost in money of $87, O39, 768,
all of which the product of American
gold for the year 1902 more than paid
for by $670, 421. Why, since 1876 the
gold from the Black Hills of South
Dakota more than paid this debt of
$87, O39, 1853, and had left to its credit
$34, 112, 444 and California could have
assumed the entire debt and paid it off
out of the proceeds of her gold mines
the past Is years and had left to it's
credit a mighty big bank account in
gold, well sustaining almost the last
utterances of that great and good man,
Abraham Lincoln.
Just before the ASSASSINATION of Pres
ident Lincoln, the Hon. Schuyler Colfax
left Washington to cross the continent;
as Mr.. Lincoln babe him farewell he
said
81 want you to make speech for me
to the miners you may find on your
journey. l have very large ideas of
the mineral wealth of our nation. J
believe it practically inexhaustible. 1t
abounds all over the western country,
from the Rocky mountains to the Pacific,
and its development has scarcely COM
menced.
''Now the rebellion is over and we
know pretty nearly the amount of oul
national debt, the more gold and silver
we mine, makes the payment of the