The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-02-26
What Is The Matter With Prospecting?

Some weeks ago the Mining AM
Scientific Press of San Francisco pro
pounded the question, What is the
matter with prospecting?" to a larg,
number Of successful men engaged il
the various branches of mining, an,
the replies that came in response t.
the question were highly interesting
and instructive. Having published
the last of the letters, the editor now
reviews the various opinions ant
draws conclusions which to great ex-
tent crystalline and Orings into prac-
teal shape the thought developed by
the many replies. The review of the
San Francisco journal is here given:
What Is the Matter With Prospecting 2
Summarizing the letters, Of which
the last are printed this week, it may
be said that there is great unanimity
with respect to the question of the
availability Of adequate amounts If
money for finding and developing pros
poets. Almost without exception, it is
agreed that there is plenty of money
for the purpose, although at the pres
ent time there may be less than usual
an account of the general depression
in business circles. The reasons given
for the apparent lack of interest in the
mining industry as far as the search
for and development of new mining
camps is concerned, are numerous and
varied. On one point there is general
agreement, and that is the fact that
this country has been SO thoroughly
explored that almost all Of the ore
bodies which could easily be seen and
recognized have already been discov-
cred. Now that the entire country
is fairly well settled, the terra incog.
nita no longer exists and the spirit Of
adventure no longer stimulates. At.
the present time the old fashion ed
prospector has almost ceased to exist,
for his chances of striking 1t rich"
are so remote that he has turned from
the hardships Of exploration to the
comforts afforded by the large mining
camps. Inasmuch as there have been
no discoveries of moment in the past
few years, there is no encouragement
to grubstake and send out prospecting
parties, although plenty of money is
available for that purpose. In other
words, funds for prospecting purposes
now appear to be less plentiful than
they formerly were, only because the
chance of finding profitable mines has
greatly diminished. In sparsely settled
regions, like Alaska and parts of Mex
leo and South America, where 1t may
still be possible to obtain large rewards
for the hardships endured, the old
type Of prospector Is still found.
Plenty Of Money tor Mining.
Most Of the writer's think that there
is no need for additional money, as
there is an ample supply Of capital
now seeking investment in mining,
provided that thoroughly good proper
ties can be found and investments in
mines or prospects will be protected
If further funds should be required
they would be supplied by the public
If it were impossible for fake compa-
MES and wildcat schemes to mulct
the people. The restoration of confil-
ence in legitimate mining ventures by
means of the prompt prosecution of all
swinders and wild caters would be
followed by resumption Of invest
ment by the general public in mines
and prospects or in exploration COM
panies.
Direct Government Aid Condemned.
The giving of any monetary aid to
prospectors by the government is
unanimously condemned 1t is thought
that any financing or grubstaking Of
prospectors by the government would
lead to no good results, but on the
contrary would produce a large class
of loafers and professional parasites.
The government can greatly assist the
prospector, however, by increasing the
activity and usefulness of the geolog-
cal survey and the bureau of mines
For this purpose larger appropriations
should be made for the prompt under
taking OF work in new districts. The
government should attempt to do more
pioneer work. A revision of the min |
ing laws is generally demanded in or
der that the prospector and the buyer
may not be subjected to uncertainty
and annoyance with regard to his
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