The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-09-20
THE STATE BUILDERS
 0F FAR WEST
History of the Frontier Made by the Grubstake and the Promoter How New Country Has Been Explored and Giagantic For
 tunes Have Amassed.

Throughout the west many of our greatest producing and paying mines were discovered by prospectors, who were out on "grubStake. The ''grubstake" is generally furnished by men engaged in business in city or town, or by men who already have made fortunes in mining, the supplies consisting of provisions, tools, powder tents, and sometimes burros or horses. By the terms of the agreement be- tween the ''grubstaker" and the pros pector, the two are to share in any valuable discoveries that may be made, the interests held by each being in accordance with the bargain made between the two.
 Sometimes the prospector may be out for year or two before he makes a discovery that appeals to him as being promising and possessed of in trinsic merit and value. Quite often he fails to make a find" of any inn up to the 'grubstaker" to devise means for the development of the prospect located in the joint names of the "grubstaker" and the prospector. It may be that the .:grubstaker" and those who are associated with him in the enterprise have sufficient means to go aheadwith the development and equipment of the pOspect without the aid of outside help. More often, however assistance is needed,and here is where the pro moter comes in. His services are en- listed, and he proceeds, at once, to finance the proposition. If the dis covery borders on the sensational, no difficulty is experienced in getting all the money necessary to push active work in the transformation of the prospect into producing and paying mine. If, on the other hand, .ie pros pect consists of what might ,a termed big mining proposition, d prospect which, when developed can ship ore of fair average value, and which could produce an unlimited tonnage of ore which must be milled to prove profit able,some difficulty is often encounter ed, for the average investor has his thoughts all centered on what is term ed ''highgrade," and it often takes considerable argumentto convince him that it is the ''lowgrade" mine that is the most lasting, and which will be paying dividends for years after the
 highgrade producer has been exhaust ed and abandoned. The promoter, however, if he is made of the right kind of stuff, never hesitates; and, in the end he generally succeeds in inter
  ing the mine, and in giving to the world another bonanza.
 The promoter, however, has his troubles and trials in carrying on his campaign of money-raiSing. He may be thoroughly honest and working for the best interests of his associates and of those who have become interested in the enterprise. By some, however, he is regarded as a crook, a '.hOt-air" merchant, and a candidate for the penitentiary. He is subjected to all kinds of affronts, insults, and cold mitts, and especially so if he ex- periences difficulty in interesting in vestors. But, if he is able to make good" if the prospect grows into mine ,and if dividends enrich the bank accounts of stockholders in the com pany that has been organized, he is one of the most popular men in town, and people run after him, with check books in hand, in order to get in with him in any kind of a promotion he may have in view.
 The ''grubstaker' and prospector go hand in hand with the promoter, and all three are necessary in the furtherance of the best interests of the great mining industry of the west. The prOSpectOr must have financial as SlStance in his quest for new diScov- cries. prospect must be found be- fore new producer can be given to the world, and the promoter must be brought into the combination before any progress can be made in mine and equipment. He is a most important factor in mining op- erations, and, without him many valuable properties would :'e main un- developed that otherw. would make big money for tLose having money for investments. He is the link in the chain that connects the claim-owner, with the. financial side of the proposition. He is human, like the rest of us, and worthy of careful consideration.-Salt Lake Mining Re view.