The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-10-03
Benefits of Bounty
Are Limited and
Temporary
SPOKANE CONFERENCE
Discussed by Pioneer Coeur
d'Alene Gold Miner-Agrees
With kennan


"HE recent so-called Gold Con-
Nenuon,' held in Spokane,
Washington, was a disappoint-
ment 1t was no doubt fairly
representative of the general mining
interests, and embraced many persons
directly or indirectly engaged in gold
mining. Among the indirectly inter-
ested may be classed those who are
devoted to copper, lead and silver pro-
duction, which metals carry more or
less gold in the ores, and they are
therefore affected quite as materially
as the exclusive gold producers in
whatever may be done to increase
either the output of the yellow metal
or enhance its value.
The Presiding Officer.
EX-United States Senator George
Turner was president of the conven-
ton and gave the meeting promin-
ence and dignity. His address was
mastery, of course, and in perfect
harmony with the program that was
of the delegation prior to assembling.
He manifested little interest in the
gold standard itself, aluding to it,
seemingly, with some impatlence, and
then dismissed the subject, although
1t had previously been brought to the
attention of the mining world and
prominent members of the United
States congress. the secretary of the
treasury, the director of the mint and
the president, by Colonel Chester T.
kennan mining engineer resident
of Murray, Idaho, a close student of
the gold mining interest of the Unit
ed States and its bearing on the fiscal
policy of the government.
An international Question.
Judge Turner declared that q
change in the gold standard was an
international question and could not
be brought about at this time; that
it would materially affect the sale of
government bonds; that the purchas-
ers Of these government bonds were
entitled to the payment of these
bonds when due with the present
standard of gold. No further consid-
GRAFTON was given to this matter. No
emphasis was given to the urgent
need of more gold as a reserve for the
government, and no suggestion made
that the conference consider it advis-
able to indorse by resolution a change
IN the standard that has prevailed for
something like 200 years. The main
trail of thought led to
A Bounty to the Gold Producer.
The convention followed it, and
proclaimed to the country, If not to
the world, that the yellow metal out
flow would be increased according to
the bounty the government would
pay. But, will it? True, any bounty
VIII stimulate prospecting and pro-
duction, even in fields that are more
or less abandoned for the time being
through one cause or another. But
VIII a mere, only temporary bounty
augment the present output of gold
materially? We believe not. In the
flrst place, every dollar paid out by
the government as a bounty will be a
loss, especially if paid to the present
producers of gold, who would be the
main beneficiaries. Besides, the gov
ernment, or congress, has been con-
sistently opposed to .bounties, no
matter what party has been in DOW
er, The other schemes suggested to
Increase the output, such as building
roads, government ownership or con-
trol, etc, have little or no merit. All
would have only a temporary stimu-
lus, and their decay or decline would
result in scenes like worked -out pla-
Ger camps. Any assistance would no
doubt create a squirt, a rush and a
few new fields might result, but moth
ing commensurate with the outlay.
Gold mining has become
A Complex Proposition.
There are no more placer fields in
these United States where the pick
and shovel can be made to dig up
their millions by simple toll. What is
left of these auriferous sections re-
quires the work Of extensive and ex-
pensive machinery. Big capital must
be engaged to dig deep down in the
turf or soil to wrest the yellow met
| al deposits from unwilling nature.
VIII a mere or temporary bounty in
duce men with capital to install huge
plants to do this work? For 26 years
Prichard creek beckoned to capital to