Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-01-27
FROM REPORT OF
MINE INSPECTOR
ANNUAL PRODUCTION SHOWS A
SLIGHT GAIN OVER 1908
PRODUCTION.
Prospects Are That Year Of 1910
VIII BE One of the Most Success
fui In History of the state--Idaho
Coming To Front.

According to the annual report
of Stat Mine Inspector F. Cushing
Moore, Idaho mineral production for
the year of 1903 was $15, 5000
and was slightly in excess Of that Of
1908, in spite of the depressed con-
dition of the market
The figures are based on actual
production reported and do not in
clude many of the smaller properties,
especially placers, which has ten
dency to make the showing less than
it should be if operators on a small
scale would properly report their
production.
For the year the mineral produc-
ton has increased less than a quar-
ter of a million dollars, which, in
view of the fact that two he big
properties in the Occur d. ~
closed down during the e.
of the year, and that the Her
mill was burned during the month
September so that the mine was
worked only for high grade ore.
sorted in the mine from that time
until the close of the year, is con-
sidered to be very good
have been able to operate regardless
of financil conditions" reports Moore,
aside from a few which could not
produce at a profit on the existing
low metal prices But the mines in
the embryo state are the ones that
have suffered to the greatest extent.
many of which have been compelled
to close down, and in other cases
options on valuable properties have
been lost. This condition of mac
tivity in this state is directly due to
the financial depression of 1907 and
the subsequent popularity of irriga-
ton schemes. the general tendency
of capital toward manufacturing en-
terprises, etc. In turn. these con-
ditions have largely been brought
about by the mining promoter-not
the legitimate promoter, but the
'wild-catter '-who is the most of all
responsible for idle mines and alb
andoned mills and smelters, so fire.
quently seen in mining sections.
colossal monuments to the memory
OF knavish promoters and imprac-
ticable managers
THE elements of chance, perhaps,
enters into a mining venture to a
greater extent than In most ordinary
business enterprises, but, conducted
upon intelligent business principles
and experienced management, mining
has been demonstrated to be one of
the most profitable enterprises in
which money can be invested, for.
when a mine becomes a producer, il
offsets the losses of many failures,
and, If the ordinary precaution used
in other business investments were
exercised, the gross exaggeration
and misrepresentation of some un-
scrupulous promoters would be de-
tected and the culprit exposed or
brought to justice before the funds
had been squandered.
Idaho contains very many merit
orious mining properties, which are
awaiting the assistance of capital to
become productive. and. as the lives
of all mines are limited, the future of
the states mineral production de-
ponds upon the development of new
properties. and active, intelligent
prospecting must be carried on if we
expect to hold the enviable position
which we now occupy.
The mineral production of the
Moore states in another section of
his report, will aggregate over
$4,000, 100000 in gross value and
has employed So per cent of the
hauling facilities of all the railroad
systems of the country. OF this great
total the mines of the country. ex-
elusive of the coal and iron enter
prises, according to a recent statis-
teal article in the Mining World
have paid S55.0OO,000 in dividends
during the / months of 1909. and a
total of $3.50, 100000, or equivalent
to 107 per cent on their total cap
italization in net profits. and simply
shows the possibilities for profit in
mining operations when intelligently
handled
During the past year 9 fatalities
have occurred in connection with
mining operations within the state.
II is to be deplored that such a large
number of lives should be lost in
connection with the working of
mines but when it is taken into con-
sideration that in the neighborhood
of 5000 men were employed ii com
pares very favorable with the other
industrial pursuits, a rate of 1888 per
thousand men employed
Deaths in the mines of the state
have occurred as follows. according
to comparative statement made by
the Inspector: 1903, 20: 1904, 10;
1905, 20: 1906. IL: 1907. IS; 1908. /
10; 1909, i9. During the last year
the number of men employed in the
mines is estimated to be 500 more
than in 1908, when the number was
reduced to $500, the smallest work
ing force during a period Of eight
years.
The total number of fatal acct
dents, the report states. "since the
first of 1903 to date is 144, and the
total number of men which were en-
ployed during that time. 44,500
Figuring each mans term of en-
ployment as one year, or 256 men
to every 1000 employed. which is an
extremely creditable showing when
taken into comparison with other
fr4I ma IrH. tI.fr