Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1912-08-01
The Legitimacy of Mining.

After a season OF unsatisfactory IN
vestment in railroad securities, in man.
lfacturing enterprises, in the reclama-
ton of swamp lands, in real estate and
lands, financial and commercial circles
in the east are turning their eyes to
the west, to the splendid opportunities
offered in the mining field, to the great
advancement being made in mining
operations, and to the wonderful for
fumes being made by those engaged in
the mining industry.
In financial and commercial centers
in the east all eyes are turned to the
west. A great many whose attention
has been directed westward are partic-
ularly interested in commercial pursuits
in agriculture, in farming and in stock
raising, but the greatest interest, by
all odds, is being taken in our. wonder
full mining industry.
In reviewing the history of the west,
in noting it's almost marvellous growth,
one cannot but be impressed by the
fact that it was mining that reclaimed
the deserts, the valleys and hills, and
that had it not been for the adventur-
Gus spirit of the pioneer and prospector
the Pacific slope today would be what
it was fifty or sixty years ago-an I'M
known country, barren waste, a
region beyond the confines of civiliza-
zion.
To the mining industry the west owe S
a debt that can never be repaid, and its
very existence, almost, IS due to the
constant:stream of imperishable wealth
that has poured from our mines from
the day that gold first discovered in
California. As a matter Of fact, Cali
fornia, with its genial climate, its or
chards and its groves, the mighty COM
merce that is making the principal
cities and sea ports famous the world
over, its large and rapidly growing
population, is but the outgrowth of the
boom that was started when it was dis
covered that in the hills, back from the
coast. there existed great and almost
ineXhaustible deposits of the precious
remetals; and the same can be truthfully
said Of the interior states in this inter
mountain region.
Gold was the lodestone that first lee
It, to the settlement of California by the
American people; and the spirit of un
rest, of enterprise and progressiveness
caused the early pioneers to branch out
and seek bonanzas in unknown fields
the result being that there is hardly ;
western state today but that has it
business centers and country that il
settled by the farmer, the rancher ant
the fruit and cattle grower.
When the disgruntled man claim
that mining is not legitimate pursuit
he should pause while the net results
the benefits of mining, are being emu
merated. Nothing that was great wa
ever founded on falsehood or lie, o
an insecure and rotten foundation, an
yet the splendid empire of the Yves
was built upon nothing less than tn
mining industry, and were this to fai
it would not be long before the materis
interests Of this region would becom
SO demorallzed. that in course of tim
thasVh hole country would be surrendere
to ne bowling coyote and become agai
avittual wilderness. Money, to Gel
tair extent, is civilization. Take none
and real values away from a country {
nation and in time it will retrograd
into savagery; ard, as real values al
based upon the precious metals, tt
industry which produces gold and slvt
cannot be otherwise than Legitimate
and the regions producing these meta
must Of necessity be the stepping stor
to a growth in population, to improv
rent and advancement on every han
without its mining industry the
would 5e no west today; the east wou
he maea oorer, and opportunities fl
safe and profitable investments vol