Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1919-06-14
BLACK HILLS VOTERS
FAVOR HIGHER PRICE, GOLD.

have taken action endorsed by a strong
representation of the Black Hills voters
instructing the Senators and Represent
atiyes Of South Dakota in Congress to
ask for higher market price of gold
The preamble and resolution printed
in todays issue of the Chronicle are a
comprehensive statement of the case Of
the gold miner. In comparing produc-
ton of gold in the year 1916 with the
figures given for 1918, showing decrease
Of about 80 per cent il will be seen that
The agitation is sound and the demand
legitimate to get an expression from
Congress rs to whether Gold Mining
will be encouragedip the future or not.
We, the undersigned gold miners and
other citizens of South Dakota have with
the intention of advising, instructing
and directing our Congressman in the
matter Of desired adjustment OF the gold
standard, unanimously adopted the
following preamble and resolutions, to-
wit
Whereas, for sheer lack of sufficient
gold with which to function, the old gold
standard established two centuries ago
has now utterly collapsed, and
Whereas a gold standard can only be
re-estabIished and steadily sustained by
a vast increase in the regular annual
production of gold, and efficient steps to
that end must speedily be taken and
Whereas, the maintenance of gold
standard rests upon the gold mining in
dustry; and
Whereas, the gold mining Industry
has suffered severely owing to the scar
city and high cost Of labor and the pro-
hibltive prices of machinery and supplies |
and to such an extent that more than |
one-third of the gold mines throughout
the country have been forced to suspend |
operations, and
Whereas, Notwithstanding the recog-
nized importance of gold to the welfare
of the nation, yet it is the only import
ant product still selling a. the old stand,
ard price Of $2067 established two cen.
turies ago, and
Whereas, the so-callei bonanza mine
is thing of rare occurrence and contri-
bntes but a negligible quantity to the
total supply, the stable supply being
obtained from large depo,ts oflow grade
ore, and
Whereas, there are vast deposits of
ore containing $40 to $500 in gold and
one ounce in silver within the gold min
ing states which will add materially to
the annual production if a sufficiently
high price is paid for the product to
prospecting and development
of these deposits; and there are, fur
thermore innumerabe veins which have
been neglected and are now untouched
due to the high cost of development and
low price paid for the product and
Whereas the production of gold in
the t. $. since 1916 has decreased from
S92, 5Oo,300 to SOS, 5OO 600 in 1918 dem
onstrating the fact that gold cannot be
produced poftabIy under the present
and
Whereas, excluding Alaska, South Da-
lota ranks third among the states of the
Union in the production of gold and the
Welfare and prosperity of the Black
Hills Mining Section of South Dakota is
dependent upon the gold mining indus
ry. Now, therefore, in the faith of the
premises be it
Resolved, That the Congress of the
Jnited States be respectfully petitioned
md urged to take as promptly as posi-
Die, such appropriate action as may be
Effective TO grant the fullest relief to the
,old mining industry of the nation, and
That the market value Of gold be fixed
1t not less than $1,000 per ounce and
hat all newly mined gold be paid for at :
he newly established prices.
Lists have been circulated carefully in
I'll Of the Black Hills towns and mining
amps and over !, 100 signatures gather
'd. Due to the fact that it is of import [
tnce TO have these resolutions sent to ,
he representatives at once, some of the
'oters may have been overlooked and it
Will assist materially if personal letters
n favor OF the resolutions are sent to
senator Thomas b. Sterling or Congress-
nan II. l.. Candy.