Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-05-25
BIG MINING
EXPOSITION

New York, May s5.-An inter-
national mining exposition. the first
exhibition OF mineral ana metal
products and practical mining meth
dds ever hefl in New York has been
installed i'm Madison Square Car
den and, beginning today. will re-
main open until June 80. Many dis.
tinguished mining engineers and
experts are among tho promoters OF
the big mining show. and the
United States government, through
the geological survey, has made an
extensive display OF it's mineral re-
sources. Tho American Mining
congress and several state govern
ments and state and Interstate min
ing bodies have also indorsed the
exposition. Dissatisfaction with the
MANAGEMENT has caused some OF the
western states and mining aom-
munities. notably Utah. to refuse TO
make displays, but despite this fact
the exposition is fairly representa-
tive OF the great mining districts
OF the west. Mining machinery I'm
operation and reproduction OF a
western mining camp form notable
| features of tho show.
The exhibit of the United States
geological survey shows that about
as minerals are found in the United
States. ranging from coal to dia-
monds. Not many fthe latter pre-
cious stones have been found, but
they We're widely scattered. and as
their locations and surroundings
were similar to the places where
diamonds are found in great abund-
ance I'm South Africa. scientist
hold out to prospectors the hope of
finding a Kimberley field in the
new world.
That there is a wide field for the
mining exposition to cover ia this
country alone. is evident from thr
fact that the mineral production Of
the United States Increased Ave
fold between 1880 and 1906 %.
from $3G4,92S,29S to $1,9O2,517.-
SOS. The latest figures for mines
and quarries show that there we're
l51,5l6 mines. quarrics and wells
In this country. To operate these.
619,i06 men were kept busy at
total annual salary of 100000. 900
Such are the tremendous proper
lions to which the mining industry
of the United States has attained
since its early beginnings.
The first recorded finding of iron
within the limits of the United
States was in North Carolina in
1885. The first effort to manufac-
ture 1t was in Virginia In 1910.
The first export of bar iron to Eng
land was in 1717, and OF pig iron
in 1928. Until 1850 Massachusetts,
led in the manufacture OF iron,
when Pennsylvania took the lead,
and has retained &C. over 100000
900 tons OF iron ore were mined in
Michigan alone last year. Next to
iron, the most valuable mineral
production OF this country Is cop
per, OF which enough is produced
annually to give every American
man, woman and child two dollars
worth each If It were divided out.
In Arizona alone the production OF
copper in 1906 was $4,000 900.
One of the earliest finds of gold
in the United States was referred
to by Thomas Jefferson in his diary.
IL was lump Of pure gold found
on the Rappahannock river. Vir-
ginia. How many millions Of gold
are produced every year. The Grip
pie Creek district I'm Colorado alone
has produced over S125,0O0, 900. In
CALIFORNIA; palmy days as much as
SOS. 900, 900 worth OF gold was pro-
duced in a single year. The surface
Of Alaska has only been scratched,
but upwards OF $6,OOO,0OO in gold
IL produced there annually. Alaska
IS said to contain the richest gold
deposits I'm the world, the gold
placer field I'm Seward peninsula
alone containing 10000 square
miles. The latest claimant for hon
ors as a god-bearing territory is the
Nevada desert, whore the mining
camps Of Tonopah Goldneld Bull
frog, Rawhide and a number Of 9TH
ers have sprung into being within
the last few years From that re-
gion IS pouring a steady stream OF
the precious metal
II the scarcity Of a metal IS any
indication Of its value, silver ought
TO be more valuable than gold, as
the word is producing 100000. 900
OF gold and only $fOO,OOO,OOO OF
silver per ,annum A LARGE part
OF the American production Of theso
metals is consumed by the United