Gilpin observer., 1912-08-01
THE LEaIrAMAcv OF MINING.

After a season OF unsatisfactory In
vestment in railroad securities, in
manufacturing erterTriees. in the re-
riamotion OF swamp lands, In real es-
tate and lanes, financial an1 COM
mcrcial circles CT the ecGt are turn.
! i.g their eyes to the west. to the
splendid opportunities offered in
! the mining field. to the great advance
me-. being made in mining opera
tions,, and to the wonderful fortunes
be!rg made by those engaged in the
mini-.g industry.
| In financial AMI commercial cert
ers in the east all eyes are turned
to the west. A great many whose at
tention has been directed westward
are particularly interested in COM
mercial pursuits, in agriculture. in
farming and in stock raising, but the
greatest interest, by all odds, Is be-
ing taken in cur won lerful mining
industry.
In reviewing the history of the
west, in noting its almost marvellous
growth, one cannot but be impressed
by the fact that it was mining that
reclaimed the deserts the valleys and
hills, ard that had it not been for
the adventures spirit of the pioneer
miner and prospector the Pacific
slope tc6ay would be what it was
fifty or sixty years ago-an unknown
country, a barren waste, region be-
yori the confines of civilization.
To the mining, industry the. west
owes a debt that can never be re-
paid AMI its very existence, almost.
is due to the constant stream of
imperishabie wealth that has poured
from cur mines from the day that
gold was first discovered in Califor-
MIA. AS a mater of fact, California.
with its genial climate, its orchards
ami it's groves, the mighty commerce
that Is making the principal cities
AMI sea ports famous the world over,
its lfrge and rapidly growing popu-
la.icr, is but the outgrowth of the
discovered that in the hills, back
from the coast, there existed great
and almost inexhaUstib.e deposits OF
the precious metals; and the same
states in this intermountain region.
Gold was the lodestone that first
led to the sstt!eme-t of California
by the American people; and the
spirit OF un-e-t. of enterprise ani pro
gressiveness. carsed the early pion-
eers to branch out and seek bonan-
zas in unknown fields, the result be-
irg that tke7e is hardly a western
state To-Day but that has its mining
camps, its business centers and
country the. is settled by the farm
er, the rancher and the fruit ard
cattle owner.
When the d'sgrurtled man claims
that mining Is not legitimate pur-
suit. he shcl'd pause while the net
re-ults, the benefits OF mining are
being enumerated. Nothirg that was
greet was ever found on falsehoo1
c. lie. on an insecure and rotten
fo1rlsation. and yet the splendid en-
pire of the west was built upon moth
ing less than the mining industry.
AMI We're this to fail it would not be
lorg before the material interests OF
this region would become so demoral-
lied that in course of time the whole
country wclld be surrendered to the
howrirg coyote and become again a
virtual wilderness. Money, to a GER
tain extent Is civilization. Take mon
-ey and real values away from a ccun-
try or nation ana in time it will ret
rog-ade into s-vage-y; and, as real
values are based upon the precious
metals. the Industry which produces
gold ana silver cannot be otherwise
than legitimate, and the regions pro-
ducing these metals must of neces-
sity be the stepping stone to
growth in population. to improve
ment and Advancement on every
hand.
Without its mining industry there
would be no west today; the east
would be much poorer, and opportu-
mites for safe ana profitable invest
ments would not be knocking at the
door of almost every American citi-
zen.-Salt Lake Mining Review.
Gas and oil stoves, Lawn swings,
hammocks, camp furniture, etc.