Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-02


There have been numerous other such
instances. where purchasers led on by
the desire for quick millions have bought
on the spur of the moment only to tnd
that geological indications are frequently
like the clues in the first chapter OF a de-
tectiNe story-misleading. On the whole.
though. such instances are rare II IS
the more common custom for a man.
before purchasing. to make a most pains
taking investigation. II is no uncommon
thing for a man to work claim for
several months before buying it-and this
working serves double purpose for. IL
the claim prove rich. il Is natural for
one tc want more than 100 acres.
AND IL is possible to get more than that
amount All that is necessary to do so
Is TO fit the land with $1,000 worth OF
improvements. When this has been done
Uncle Sam will sell you. at the same rate.
800 acres.
And $4,000 is not much to spend for
improvements if the claim really be valu-
able. A spur track. connecting with some
railroad. over which the ore may be
shipped. can easily cost that much. OF
more. Such a track is absolutely neces-
sary, too, so the purchaser is really only
spending money for himself Scarcely
some tract recommended by one of Uncle
Sam prospectors. Indeed, so anxious
are they for it that 1t is necessary for
the land office to maintain a corps OF
special agents TO that they do not
combine to secure more land than that
to which they have right. II was such
an alleged combine this that caused
the Cunningham investigation - which
finally ended I'm the government with
drawing the land il had already sold.
All the sales of land and all the huge
fortunes sometimes made a result have
not the slightest effect on the work OF
the government prospectors. Year In and
year out, they continue to go about their
work. striking out through wildernesses.
tracking across arid lands under a blister
ing sun, sleeping out in the open. hum
dreds of miles away from civilization.
their food With them-salt meat and
canned stuff packed that it may be car
ried on the back of a mule. or. IL nee
essary. across the back OF the prospector
himself.
The JOY OF working a find never
comes TO these mentor as soon as they
nave made one they must leave IL and
press on in search Of another. IT might
seem possible for one of them upon
striking rich field. to resign. work II.
and become a millionaire himself. But
the government guards against this. The
prospector would not be allowed either to
work or buy that field. Nor can he enter
into partnership with some one else to
work ii for him-for the fact would sure
ly be found out. the lands confiscated and
the prospector prosecuted.
So they must on on. ever and forever
searching for wealth for somebody else.
Nor is 1t strange when one looks more
deeply that Uncle Sam chooses to sell his
valuable lands for mere pittances to
private individuals rather than keep
them and work them for himself
You see" said Commissioner bennett
every citizen is himself an integral part
of the government. The chance is open
to every alike. And when one man
seiZes the opportunity and grows rich he
d part Of the government is making
Uncle Sam rich. too. It's merely another
working out of the propaganda of a gov
eminent of the people and for the peo-
pie. When Leopold Of Belgium found his
vast rubber plantations in the Kongo he
kept them for himself. But Uncle Sam
has a different and better method. When
he finds wealth, he gives il TO his citi-
zens.'