The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-24
COBALTAFREAKCAMP.
New Canadian Mining Town
Without Any Vices.
BIG TALK OF CAPITALISTS
billion n Small Figure In the Eyes
Of wildcat ExPIOiters Of Mining
COmpanies-A Place without sa-
looms, Dance Halls, Gambling, or
Gun PIay"-No One Killed Yet.


OF all the mining camps ia the world,
Cobalt, Ontario. considered apart from its
output, is The most remarkable, writes
c. L. Daniel in the New York Evening
Post. 1t is the quietest town that ever
grew up around a considerable discovery
OF precious metal Within three years il
has gathered together q population of
about 5000, including the large floating
element which fills TO overlooking its four
sO-calIed hotels and its dozens of board
ing houses There are no saloons in the
place. The hotels are not licensed to sell
whisky. The camp has to depend upon
the "blind pigs-as places are called
which are known 10 violate the license
laws with courageous impunity-a ID pri-
vate sources for a supply of such bever-
ages as are usually dispensed over bars.
One lone constable, who is dignitied by
a uniform and the title Of chief of pO-
lice, is sufficient to police the town, and
ne assured me he isn't overworked."
StiI there is an abundance Of spirituous
liquors for those who look for such
things. The newcomer may not be able
TO lind il for an hour or SO, but as soon
as he gets acquainted" he may obtain a
bottle of beer or a quart OF champagne.
The absence Of bars, however, has much
to do with the sobriety OF the camp.
There are no dEnce-halls. no open gam
bling. and the very tough" element is
absent. There is an opera house, 50 the
inhabitants designate it. in which the
kaleidoscope holds the record to date for
dramatic sensation.
No One Killed Yet.
The people have no temptations to ex-
cesses in vice, and there has not been a
fatal dispute in the camp. The pistol butt
is not a necessary ornament TO the Cobalt
miners hip. He would not be permitted
to wear a revolver II he so desired.
Literally. the town is as quiet an5 or
DERBY as a New England village So far as
the conduct OF its inhabitants Is con-
cerned. But there the similarity ceases.
! didn't see a flower in the place There
is no gas. The streets are unlighted.
Here and there are short stretches Of
sidewalk. largely increasing the probable
iiy Of a nasty fall to the newcomer ven
turing out after dark-and dark comes
soon after 4 O'Clock in Cobalt in win
ter. The town Is constructed OF lumber.
one gets the impression that IL grew up
almost as suddenly as the ice cream and
lemonade booth ar a county fair. Every
building is a temporary structure ! do
not believe there are fifty persons in the
place who expect To- remain there per
manently. Hotels. boarding houses. bauks.
the early trade. and most residents are
making money fast. apart from any in
terest in the silver mines. There are NOT
accommodations FOR half the transient
visitors to the town. The Mint the lead
ing restaurant. does "a flourishing trade
at tip-top prices and the new arrival is
fortunate if he can get a chair to doze in
at any of the hotels for a dollar a night
Waiting for the Spring.
There are 800 men in Cobalt now wait
ing for spring 10 uBcover-fHe earth and
make prospecting possible Hundreds Of
these -Engiishmen, Irishmen, Scotch
men. experts from the mines OF Nevada.
Arizona. Mexico Australia. and Soutf.
Africa have had experience in gold. sill.
yer, and copper mines, and they are ak
impatient for warm weather. It's cold.
very cold. waiting The thermometer reg
istored 45 degrees below zero the first
week in December, and few persons in
Cobalt escaped suffering. There is only
one hotel in the place which mas a furnace
and steam heat. It will readily be mder-
stood how popular this hosiery has be-
come with the floating popuIatiou-the
walters Stories of fabulous wealth
brought these wanderers hither. and hun
dreds Of them are longing 10 get away 20
the north. where the lure Of gold will
attract many hundreds more from all
parts 81 tie country as soon as the frozen
waterways break Up. This viii relieve
the present overcr0wded condition, but
every Indication points 10 great rush
to Cobalt as well as to the new fields
farther on.
Dominion biologists who have Just sub
mitted reports to the government say the
new mineralized area in the north is
small but rich in silver. The manipula-
ton of stocks may empty stockings and
deplete small bank accounts, but it Will
not lessen the ounces Of silver in the
bosom of mother earth. Lately the rail-
road has been hauling well-stocked cars
occupied by rich men and their represent
atives to the Cobalt region. In the spring
/ il viii be drawing day coaches with less
opulent but equally eager seekers after
the precious metals. for the l.arder Lake
gold district promises TO prove almost
as great a magnet IS the silver mines of
/ Cobalt
OyercapitHiizing the District.
The continued incorporation Of compa-
MES to do business in Cobalt mining
stocks is causing a great deal of appre-
/ heusion in Canadian financial circles. A
note OF warning was recently sounded by
/ Byron F. Walker in his annual message
/ to the shareholders Of the Canadian Bank
/ of Commerce. of which he is president.
and opinion in local banking ccnters is
/ that tidal wave of wildcat schemes is
imminent More than 175 companies have
/ been Incorporated to do business in Co
/ bait mines and stocks. the gross capital
/ iZatiOn of which reaches a total Of some
/ SOS 010,0o0 The province of Ontario alone
/ has granted Incorporation to companies
! bearing an aggregate capitalization of
/ S117,14S,ee0. New York, New Jersey, Maine,
and Arizona have organized companies
/ Ostensibly for mining and exploring in
/ Cobalt and New Ontario. Ninety-fye per
/ cent of these companies talk in millions
/ Seine Of the companies incorporated in
J the carrier history or the camp nave IN
/ creased their figures from tens of thou
| sands TO millions, and the tendency in
almost every instance is toward inflated
capitalization. Scventy-six companies have
/ been incorporated at $l000,G00 or upward
/ one is capitalized at S7,Jj0,099. Gross over
/ capitalization is an interesting and men
acing feature OF the Cobalt silver field.
An Important Question.
/ From LippinCUtt's.
/ While little Christabel and her yet
smaller sister were playing. her mother
{ 4, ,,o4r-I,