The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-10-29
GOLD IS SUPREME
WORLD WANTS t.
WARNING NATIONS MAKE THIS
THE MOST FAVORABLE
TIME.

The following article is from the pen
OF Sam c. Durham, one OF the Dest
known mining writer's OF the west
whose poems of the Yukon are known
wherever mining men foregather. II
was printed in a recent issue o.
Western Opinion"
This is the most propitious time IN
the history OF mining for the iegitim-
ate exploitation of meritorious goio
mine. with all the great dynasties OF
the old world tottering to their fall, me
domain Of gold mining is the only
principality that remains undisturbed,
for its product is always in demand by
all nations of the earth, and at this ap-
palling juncture is commanding DIG
premium. Among all the monarchs OF
the world, gold is the only one thai
now sits secure and serene on his
throne.
The Mother Lode of California, en-
bracing the five counties of Amador,
Ell Dorado, Calaveras, Tuolumne and
Mariposa, with the four counties OF
Placer, Nevada, Sierra and Plumas'
living to the north in the order named,
constitute the great gold belt Wnicn
was the scene of the wonderful dis
coyeries in 1S48 and 1919 that turned
the tide of civilization toward the "a
cific coast. This is the country I'M
mortalized by Bret Harte. In 20 years
the gold it infused into the sluggish
arteries OF the worlds commerce set
civilization a full century ahead
California Production.
During the "a years, from 1S49 to the
close Of 1918 California produced, prin-
cipally from this area, the stupendous
sum Of $1,000, OOO, 900 in gold or nearly
as much as all the other mining states
combined. During all these years the
gold output Of California averaged
nearly SIS, 100000 per annum or more
than $4,000, 900 month. The state
still maintains the lead in American
gold production, the output for 1913
being q little more than $20,0OO,OOO.
The ever-increasing army of pros
pectors and gold miners spread north
ward and eastward, and ten years lat
er the famous Comstock lode was dis
covered, just over the line in Nevada.
The tremendous output of silver and
gold from the Comstock mines, added
to the large contributions of the yell
low metal from California, saved the
credit of the nation at a time when
not only her political integrity but al
SO her financial status was in danger,
and made possible the adoption OF the
fourteenth amendment ever made to
the constitution of the United States.
But the service rendered by Califor-
MIA and Nevada to the nation during
that trying period was eclipsed by thu
world wide influence Of their subse-
quent achievements in commerce and
finance. They poured into the lap of
commerce the greatest volume OF gold
and silver ever produced anywhere In
the same space Of time. They sent
their miners to sit among the princes
Of finance in the parliaments of in
dustrial progress and commercial en-
terprise. They sent others to the SEN
ate Of the nation. Upon others they
bestowed the judges ermine and the
bishops inter.
Widely Distributed Wealth.
They raised host -rom penury to
affluence, and scattered millions In
that now obsolete form Of charity that
let not the left hand know what the
right hand was doing.
They revolutionized the languishing
industry Of mining and their great
mining camps became training schools
for the -eminently efficient mining
engineers. metallurgists and practical
mine workers who later developed the
asst mineral resources of Australia
and South Africa.
They laid railroads across the noun
tains and the deserts and tied the east
o the west with bands of steel.
Their telegraph wires are strung
from ocean to ocean, and their cables
mite the continents and bind us to
he orient.
Blind to Opportunities.
Strange that the descendants of the
intrepid pioneers who accomplished
hese great things should be so blind
o the wonderful opportunities that
ire still reckoning to them from the
inexhaustible goldfelds
hat stretch for hundreds Of miles
long the Sierras! In Kern county
here is now being developed virgin
,oldfield that promises to eclipse any,
hing that was exploited in the early |
ays. while in Sierra county. sur |
ounding the great Tightner mine
'hich Is now recognized as one Of the
wonders Of the mining world, there are
Many prospects that under scientific
evelopment will become famous as
old producers within a very short
me. Right now is the time for the
eople Of California to wake IN Ia
nese wonderful opportunities and
mulate the achievements Of that i'm
lortal host of pioneers whose toll and /,
acrince made this country great-the /,
auntless band of trail blazers so Wv