Gilpin observer., 1912-12-19
GOVERNMENT NEVER
DISCOVERED A NINE

THE government Of the United
States never discovered or opened
or developed mine in the history of
this country, and they never will.
There is a peculiar condition eX-
listing in regard to the discovery and
development of mines. 1t is busi-
ness unto itself. No geologist ever
discovered a mine. There is not
mine in the United States, or in the
history of mining, that any geologist
ever discovered"
The above was spoken by U. S.
Senator Hepburn of Idaho, in an ad-
dress in the senate on conservation.
That this is true is without question
as the history of all mining discov-
cries show that the prospector and
common miner are the only ones with
sufficient fortitude to bear the many
hardships necessary in the discovery
of new leads in undeveloped sections.
He does not find his prospect the
day, or week, or month that he starts
out; many have prospected year af-
ter year, quarter of a century may
elapse before discovering a mine of
sufficient value for capital to take
hold of. Up to that time this man
stood alone in the world of his own
responsibility and expense; and yet
based upon his work and based up
on his privations and his hardships,
based upon his good fortune, rest the
great mining enterprises of the I'm
tied States, past and present.
If y&u withdraw the mining lands
from the prospector there will be no
more mines opened in this country.
That applies to all classes of mines.
The coal in the west was discover
ed by prospectors. The iron mines
were discovered by prospectors. The
great Comstcck mine, which perhaps
has produced more wealth to the
country than any other was discov
cred by a man who had what we call
in the mining world grubstake. He
had no money as he was not a man
who was recognized as more than
prospector. Yet he found these mines.
The great Gilpin county mines of
Bobtail and Quartz hill were discov-
cred by the men who had the faith,
the hardihood, the perseverance to
overcome all obstacles in the search
for which they believed to exist in
these Rocky mountains. The Lead
vile mines of Fryer hill were discov-
cred by an utterly irresponsible man.
He grew weary and lay down on Fry
er hill to rest, and as he lay upon
the ground he got to looking around
him at the rock scattered over the
surface, the float. He was prospector
enough to know that it was mineral
in character and his energies were
revived. He got to his feet and COM
menced digging around there. He
worked at it until he discovered that
the float on the surface came from
the groupings. He found the crop
pings, and discovered the Little Pitts
burg mine.
been discovered and the ore expos
ed, the experts from Leadville-they
are men who stand at the head Of
the mining world, they are mining
men-turned down that mine on
bond of $4,000 because they said
1t was not worth that many cents.
They had been mining for years, and
they thought they knew all about 1t.
They said mine could not exist in
that formation. Other men came along
who did not adopt the preconceived
notions that led those men to turn
that mine down, and they took hold
OF 1t. and expended some money on
1t, and 1t has produced good many
millions Of dollars in value. This is
true OF the mines In many camps.
They were condemned by mining
men.
Scores Of instances could be nam
ed, where the geologist and expert
have turned down the poor mans
prospect. but the prospector's faith
has finally resulted in the making o.
n mine that has produced millions
for the benefit Of humanity.
Boise basin has produced enough
gcli tc build the navles of the United
States. II was not discovered by
capitalists. nor by biologists. nor by
philosophers.