The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-01-03
NEW YEAR FINDS SPIRIT OF THE
PEOPLE UNDiSMAYED.

PEOFLE UNDISMAfED,
Not since the Civil war has yea
passed into history and new one en-
tered under conditions more solemn
nor yet more significant of the future
greatness, glory and prosperity of oul
country Involved in great war tha
is steadily drawing. millions of oul
young men into the army and navy
and which seems destined to tax tc
the limit our resources before ii can
be VIGOROUSLY concluded, 1t Is not
surprising that much of the frivolous
festivity that has heretofore accom-
panied the transition was omitted on
this occasion. But 1t would be SER
ious' mistake to assume that this
change was due to depression or to a
feeling of doubt as to the future. 1t
was in fact manifestation of tina.
sober sense of responsibility when
comes to men in the presence of a
great duty, when the spirit of care
less gaiety is suddenly confronted with
the consideration of serious things ana
men stand ready to make the supreme
sacrifice, This was the spirit in which
the passing Of the old year and the be-
ginning of the new was viewed, not
with misgivings, not with doubt, but
with satisfaction with past efforts
and with a supreb confidence of future
achievements
So far as the Occur d'Aiene' district
Is concerned, the old year was one of
prosperity. High metal prices brought
large profits and enabled the operators
to pay liberal wages to employees. That
the new year will witness a continue
tion of this prosperity seems reason
ably certain, although the toll of the
war viii probably reduce dividends.
Against this there can be no Just com
plant but it should be adjusted so
that the burden will be more fairly |
distributed than is now contemplated |
But with the prosperity which has
been general throughout the district,
there has been one serious drawback
with which we will have to contend
turing the coming year While the
war has advanced metal prices, in
'reased profits in mining and raised
wages, ii has also made it next to i'm
possible to carry on the usual develop I
nent work essential to the discovery /
new mines and which Is an import G
mt factor in the prosperity of the dis c
rict. This is explained by the high '
ost or all kinds of mining supplies t
nd high wages on the one hand and
he inability of stockholders in many I
the non productive companies to
Dntinue paying assessments while
to the patriotic calls of the q
overnment, !,
From purely a mining standpoint Il
ever has new year found the out t,
ok better in the Occur d'Alene dis b
let. sWhatever drawbacks we are W
lfering are due to the war and are In
erefore cheerfully borne, for like the d,
theirs of old, in this fight against of
we of the Occur d'Alenes o,
ana ready to pledge "our lives, our m
rtunes and our sacred honor" If ca
do not crush the kaiser this year, tn
viii the next, or the next With tn
peace restored, there will lIf
return to mining development oh
ch as this district has never seem re,
all authorities agree that the de- ins
nd for metals will be even greater an
ring the years of reconstruction fro
m 1t has been during the war. New pos
les viii be needed to supply the de- the
ted resources of the old ones, anu tply
lions Will be liberated for invest tim
At In mines which is now held for suf1
emergencies of war. me,
ut until that time comes The Miner lacl
with the people of this mel
riot is ready to bear the burdens B
var until cur beloved country tri- vide
'hantly achieves the high aims for and
sh II is waging war. In this spirit ed
xtends greetings to its readers to
all good wishes for the New tee
r Tive