Semi-weekly herald., 1911-03-16
BuRpENsoME TAXATION
oEPREsSEs coLoRADo's
MINING INDUSTRY

fadO cnapter OF the American mining
congress has been making an exhaus-
tive investigation Of the condition OF
the mining industry in the state, and
the causes of the decrease in metal
production during the past decade.
This inquiry was conducted by ex-
perts and professional men of high
standing in mining circles, being
among the ablest and best informed
mining men in the state.
That the mining industry has been
languishing for eight or ten years will
not admit OF dispute. since the metal
production of the state has steadily de-
clined from $53, ,566 900 in 1900 to $780,
355,000 in 1909. Several causes have
contributed to this decrease, although
1t is pretty well established that it is
not due to any exhaustion of ore
bodies or lack of valuable deposits of
mineral Experts unite in saying that
the mineral resources of the state have
been little explored as yet, and that
the possibilities for profitable mining
throughout the great mineral areas of
the state are as great as in any state
in the Rocky Mountain region. While
a few small lodes may have been
worked out" SO far as present min
able ore is concerned, no district OF
consequence in the state has been any
where near depleted of ore deposits,
even where mining has been carried
on for fifty years. The permanence
OF the industry in any camp is not
likely TO be affected by question of
ore supply for at least an indefinite
period. while the opening of new pro-
ducing sections and new properties
has been occurring with steady fire.
quency for a number of years.
The decadence of the industry must,
therefore, be attributed to other
causes.
one OF these causes, according to
the Colorado chapter, lies In the leg
islation adopted in recent years, which
has had the effect of saddling upon
the industry burdens which only the
richest of camps and mines could long
endure and thrive. Mining men com.
plain bitterly of the fact that not only
has the state done nothing OF conse-
quence to assist in the development
OF Its leading wealth-producing indus |
try, but that laws have been enacted |
which have operated to the serious |
detriment OF the industry. actually |
causing In many instances the closing |
down of properties. the discouraging |
oil new works, the dismantling OF mills |
and shaft houses. and through these |
means have added to the difficulty in |
securing capital for mining enter
prises.
1t Is the claim of the Colorado chap |
ter that the Revenue law of 1902 is |
one of the chief causes of the decrease
in mineral production since that time,
in that mining property and particu
larly non-producing claims, are being |
assessed at figures unjustly high, and |
in many cases even beyond what the |
law actually requires.
The mine operators are therefore op
ko'SN ~ wi >oAh PioNAoAOho vi hOucS |
bill No. 306, now before the state |
legislature, which will increase the as
sessment of all mining property in the |
state to about three times the present |
assessment. thus increasing the bur
den of taxation. The adoption of this |
bill as it stands would amount to the |
practical confscation of much mining |
property. and pile additional hardships |
upon men who are trying to raise
money for the development of their |
claims.
The following table will show to |
what extent this bill will increase the |
assessment of mining property in this |
state:
Assessed Valuation Of Mining Property
In Colorado for 1910, Under
Revenue Law Of 1879
Inn lot