Gilpin observer., 1914-01-01
70 the Editor of the Observer:

/ would write few thoughts apro-
pos of the dawn of the New Year,
the year which should mean much for
Gilpin county. But few of those
who were attracted by the golden
wealth of SO remain to share the
pot-luck of the camp today. For fif-
ty-fiye years they have remained loyal
to the county, sharing alike in its
prosperity and vicissitudes, a living
example of their undying faith in the
riches yet to be wrested from our
snow-capped mountains. Others who
came later, share in that faith, be-
lieving that the riches of the past
are but foretaste of the feast to
come. The writer who a quarter of
a century ago entered the county
with knowledge that failed to dis
tinguish the difference between a
| winze and a single jack; in the light
of added experience wishes to draw
attention to that, which in his belief
would tend to make a greater and
more glorious community.
For the past few years many of us
in experiencing the stress and strain
of, financial hardships have figured
whether 1t was wise to stay with the
camp, as week after week we strain
ed every nerve in an endeavor to
catch new ray of hope that fore
told increased mining activity. A
number Of times it was rumored that
old producers, formerly employing
hundreds of men were to be reopen
ed and once more pour forth their
/ boundless wealth, only to be again
disappointed, with the result, we felt
like the saying of yore, Hope de-
ferred maketh the heart sick. Pos
sibly We may have lost some of our
old time courage and nerve. but We
still believed in Gilpin county.
What has 1914 in store for us? In
what way may we aid in making 1914
banner year in the county's his
tory? are questions that confront us
at this time. Efforts to obtain a vol
ume of outside capital for meritori-
GUS mines have met with little sue
cess during this time; SO it behooves
US to trim our sails for other breezes
that will once again watt us onward
to the port of prosperity. Old age
crowds fast the mining camp, many
succumb in twenty years, few there
are who survive and prosper for hall
a century. Old Gilpin is an exception
with its 90 years of steady output
Conditions have changed, the great
bulk of those who amassed wealth
within its borders chose to invest
their gains in gilt-edged securities
surroundings, when, had they remain
ed, they could have brought the de
sired comforts of life to them and
helped make this a more desirable
necessity of seeking outside capita
for developing new mines would have
been largely eliminated and GilpiI
county would have retained it's su
state.
Loyalty is the watchword tha
could have overcome all signs of de
cay. Loyalty to ourselves, our neigh
bors, our business and professional
men, our mines, our county, would
have maintained us on the highway
of prosperity. AS it is our resource.
have been steadily drained for hal
a century. We're our mines a thous
and times richer, the count,
could not have withstood this con
stant drain without showing the eff
feet Some cannot be avoided, a,
for instance the demise of one of oui
pioneers a few years ago-one wht
had loyalty stood with the camp
caused his estate of 100000 to b,
transferred across the water, leav
ing no heirs here. But the seifisl
withdrawal Of funds gained from Gil
pins mines with the aid OF the min
er who is forced to remain behind
simply with the desire to more free
. ly indulge in the so-called pleasure
of society in the outside world show
a lack Of loyalty In keeping wit
those who deny their parentage. Otl
ers, thoughtlessly. rarely missed a
opportunity to send a dollar out G
the county which could have bee
spent to advantage here. A dolla
sent away is lost forever, the sam
dollar kept in normal circulation will
in our midst; in the course of a yea
will accomplish more than fifty do
lars OF outside money spent her
and repaid.
Let us all begin the new year b
being lOyal to each other Elm In nj