Mohave County miner., 1911-06-17
The Truth About Mining
 As Shown By Statistics

An article entitled "The Truth About Mining" is being given quite a little private circulation because of its clear-cut statements about the inn portance of the mining industry. Its authorship is unknown to us. It is well worth reading and is as follows.
 A president of one of the largest national banks in Chicago was criti- cised by his brother presidents, be- cause he had become largely interest ed in a gold and copper mine in the Rocky Mountains. He answered.:
 'Throughout the Rocky Mountains, ages gone. God builded stronger vaults in His granite banks than ours. He filled these vaults with gold, silver and copper. He gave the prospector knowledge and insight, and guided him on his way to the door of the bank vault. The federal government handed him his patent title to all therein. It is no crime, but a virtue to enter. With drill blast, pick and spade the poor man broke the com bination lock and entered. But for him our notes in issue would be as the 'stumptail' currency of 1851. But for him this government would be bank rupt. Mines will be producing mil lions in gold, silver and copper in that future day when national banks are unknown. Remember a mine is simply a crop, already raised, harvest ed and deposited in the bin or bank.
 You check it out at your pleasure.
 "The wealth gathered from mines immortalized King Solomon. Mining made Rome the mistress of the world. Mining made Great Britain the worlds commercial dictator. Mining has made the United States the richest country in the world. Show me the country that has no mines and will show you people sunk to degradation of poverty; and poverty makes towards of nations as we'll as men. Mining bas transformed more broken men and tramps into milhonaires and placed them into positions of honor and trust than any other business. Without the miner you would not have a fry ing pan. a spoon or hat pin. Elimi- nate the miner and you wipe out civi- lization. A nations prosperity de- bends largely upon the extent, variety and development of its mineral re- sources"
 Gradually but surely the mining industry is finding its proper place in the investment world. For years it has been drowned upon by conserva- tive investors, not because of it's un- worthiness, but rather by reason of ignorance and prejudice.
 The unbridled wildcat promoter has been the underlying cause of this con- dition, and the lack of publicity and of government supervision or control in mining affairs has permitted him greater latitude in which to work than in any other line of business.
 Considering the magnitude of the mining operations in this country, it is hard to account for the absence of a national mining bureau, which would bear the same relation to the mining industry as the department of agricul- ture bears to agriculture.
 The establishment by the govern ment of mining department will un- doubtedly receive the attention of congress during the present year, and if favorably acted upon will go far to- ward placing mining on a proper foot ing. It is doubtful whether the ma jOrity of people of this country com prehend what a great factor mining is in the wealth and prosperity of the nation.
 The following figures, compiled by the United States census, show that:
 Farming produces annually per capita, 297S.
 Forestry industries produce annual ly, per capita, 425S.
 Manufacturing produces annually, per capita, 764S.
 Mining (gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc) produces annually, per cap- ita, l,9l0S.
 Statistics show that the combined dividends paid by the gold and silver mining companies of the United States are greater than the combined dividends paid by all of the banking