Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1919-08-02
PROSPECTORs ARE
REAL OPT|M|STS

1t can no doubt be maintained that,
in the development of the mining in
dustry the world over, the most pic !
ttiresque figure is the confirmed pres
pector. Traditionally tenacious and
hopeful, never admitting the possibil-
ity of final failure, he, more than any
other individual, has been the agency
responsible for the establishment and
development Of the stores of metals
and mineral and oils which have en-
riched the world and made possible
the use Of many devices now regarded
as indispensable. He is the very
essence OF optimism. Years of ap-
parent failure leave him undaunted.
If one expresses doubt of his sue
cess Ike is sufficiently answered
and usually silenced by being invited
20 remember, ii he has observed or
read, the history of some of the more
recent discoveries of the valuable
metals by those whose knowledge of
geological information was not any
greater, and perhaps not so great, as
that of the person he had unwittingly
questioned.
And SO it is that, perhaps grub
staked" by the very person who day
before had expressed so unreasoning
doubt, equipped with the simple
tools Of his calling, months supply
of -four, bacon and other foods easily
transported and immune from eli
matte conditions, tho prospector
fares forth into the mountains or upon
the desert, with two burros and per-
haps faithful dog as his only COM
panions. This pilgrimage may con-
tinue for weeks, and perhaps months,
in utter solitude except for an occa-
sional journey to the nearest store or
supply camp for the purpose of re-
plenishing the food stocks. The
beginning srnd ending OF wars, the
election of presidents. and abdication
of kings, the rise and iall on the spec
ulative markets. the condition pi tlvs
crops. are matters which concern hins
not at al. He is never lonesome
because he is ceniident that by TO
morrow he VIII have stakcd .ki hrs
claim to- the ric.lest mining prospect
since the Comstark was discovered
and win have started on his, way to
tlae city to carry the glad news tor his
''bacteE- and TO ottIle select few whom
he has decided to permit to come in
OF the ground floor. The grea1
horizon rs Jnsr heyond. He can see
it easily and clearly Tomorrow
Surely it is not mirage. Has he
not lived on the desert long enough
TO know d mirage when he sees II!
Those things may deceive offers. but
not him Didn't Jim Butler dis
cover Tmropah by just the merest
chance DO you remember how the
Kimberly mines were discovered?
Cutie possible. and even probably. cit
the roots of tllTt greasewood tree
yonder. pay dirt viii be found. rich
from the grass roots down. The
whole thing is as good as settled.
You can't keep q coed man down.
The stars come out. one by one. and
they are never quite so bright any
where else as there OH the desert. and
they seem SO near The dog curls
himself UP ON an old coat near the
waning campfire. the burros quarrel
sleepily over their !meager rations of
grass, a coyote in the sagebrush calls
shrilly and coinplainmg1y, to be ans
wered from the distance by one Of its
kind. and the waking dream of the
prospcctor. the extreme optimist OF
the ages is all about Tomorrow--the
bright tomorrow!--Christian Science
Monitor.