Gilpin observer., 1913-02-20
MINING IS NOT
COLORADO scAFFoLDINo


the attitude Of Denver cap
italists and business men. We trust
that some good may come Of it. The
article is in part as follows:
Denver and all Colorado is begin
ming the year most auspiclously.
Great and worthy enterprises are
being fostered and promoted.
Progress and prosperity seem as
sured.
Every phase Of industry-but-one
is receiving hearty and healthful en-
couragement.
That one is mining especially the
mining of our precious metals. What
/ mean is this: Mining is not given
the prominence this great industry
should receive in the efforts now
making for a greater Denver and a
greater Colorado.
Colorados growth and development
depend upon two industries: agricul-
ture and mining and allied interests.
All others are secondary.
A bird flies with two wings.
The Colorado wings are agriculture
and mining. Cripple either wing and
our prosperity flight is retarded.
Agriculture is now the. stronger
wing of the two. Keep it strong and
make it still more vigorous.
But, also, develop the mining. Re
store the lost balance of progress in
the development of our natural re-
sources.
The remark is often heard that
Denver is not friendly to the mining
industry. That capital, which would
have been invested in gold, silver,
zinc, lead, iron and coal and other
forms of mining, has been diverte |
into other enterprises.
This critism may be unjust, but it
is often heard.
Denver should be above suspicion.
In the raising of large sums of money
to make known and exploit our re-
sources, the mining of our precious
metals should be kept to the front as
we'll as agriculture, manufactures, and
other industries.
Colorado will never reach that pin
acle of prosperity to which she is
destined, until mining is more proper
ly recognized.
After house has been erected, the
scaffolding is torn down.
Mining built Colorado. 1t is part
of the great structure of cur state.
Mining is not scaffolding-it is part
of the house itself.
Go ahead in pushing the farming
interests. Our old American Desert"
is beginning to blossom as the rose.
1t will become more fragrant with
the bloom of prosperity. Fill it with
methods of reclaiming the arid lands.
Push manufactures, the building of
railroads, and the tunneling of our
great mountains. Encourage the coal
and iron industries.
Am efficient civil engineer in Colo
rado is Of more Importance than a
more SO than thousand.
But if you accomplish only this and
do it well, there is still an immense
waste.
Fill the plains, valleys and plateaus,
with tens of thousands of farmers
raising crops, dependent upon the al
titude and environment, what then?
A considerable part Of Colorado is
composed of high mountain ranges,
where agriculture is an impossibility.
They are valuable as an asset for
scenery, that will encourage tourist
travel; also for snow storage and wa
ter power. But is that all?
In these mountains of ours are
stored billions of dollars and untold
wealth in the precious metals.
The great banking worlds of New
York, London, Paris, Berlin, st. Pet
ersburg and other commercial centers
do not care whether the gold in their
Golfers comes from Colorado, Alaska,
Australia, South America. Asia, Africa
or the Islands of the sea.
II we do not mine 1t in Colorado
and the Rocky Mountain region, cap
ital will invest and produce 1t else
where, for gold and silver they must
and will have.
We produce the precious metals in
Colorado. Shall We mine and develop
these great resources. and that Of al
lied industries, or leave 1t to other
countries?
You may even mine above timber
line in the treeless and barren wastes
1t is Just as important, and as
worthy proposition to encourage the
dotting OF our great ranges with min
ing towns. as the settlement Of the