Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1908-04-04
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
TIE MINES AND RAILROAD EXPANSION.

Those who attempt to form an estimate of the possible activity
of the country on the basis of what the railroads are doing, should
business. During the recent panic, the railroads in general suffered
through the lack Of transportation orders that resulted from the general
recession in all lines of business. Several Of the larger lines postponed
fheir programme OF expansion until such time asb both financial and trans
sporta1on problems would reach a more solid foundation. Now that no.
pficeabdy large orders are being placed for rails and equipment, we are
again brought face to face with tie fact that mine-making in the west
as destined for years to come to be n of the principal factors in determin-
ang a considerable percentage OF the extension of old lines. and the
Nouading of new ones
Thus, almost direct connection comes into existence between the sill
wreI. gold, lead, zinc and copper industries and the business of mining
.aron and marketing its products. There was probably never a time in
commercial history when the relationship between the precious and COM
tmeTrial metals other than iron, and that metal itself, were 10 pronounced
aas 1T IS today. The extension Of the railways is only one link in this con-
nection. The opening Of large agricultural tracts following the making
yf mines has given us a nw and broader field for all classes of farm ma
ehinery. Just what percentage Of increase IN the iron and steel business
~ due to the effects on other classes of mining will, perhaps, remaia
purely a problematical matter. The same form of relationship in a vary
ing degree also exists between western mining projects and wholesaing
all classes of commodities not only means greater patronage of the rail
roads, but also a steady growth in the mercantile fields
Notable examples of increase in population are presented by the
state Of Nevada Looking back i've years. we find several towns moi
then located that are o steady and thriving camps. Among the pinc-
pal of these we may mention Tonopah, GoldfeId, Rhydite, Fairview, Won.
sier. Manhattan and Rawhide. Perhaps not under a score Of other
camps are coming into existence. No definite figures are at hand a to
te number of people who have become residents of these districts, but
under $4,000 persons. A good deal might be checked off as transitory,
but in the majority of these camps the growth is steady and the popuIa-
zion is pretty securely fixed. In this manner, all lines of business exper-
renee a steady advancement While It is true that the majority of the
residents come from other sections, and pretty generally from the
mineral west, they do not materially detract from the population or bus.
mess Of those sections. The money to build up these districts has
come from all parts of the country, a we'll is from foreign states. Al.
though business men, unacquainted with mining conditions, freely assert
that the mining region is not a permanent section, we can point to in.
Vulnerable camps in the west that have been thriving for ten years h
torty years, and that bid fair to endure for many years more.
But beyond the problem of the production of the districts. this is
the Importance they give to the states and territories in which those
peanps are loeated-Mining Record.