The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-01-11
MINING THE FOUNDATION OF
THE WORLDS WEALTH.

Iheie is disposition among many
people. and even among those living
in mining states. to under estimate
the importance of the mining industry
and the value of mineral products in
the economy of nations For this rea-
son there is often tendency to i'm
pose burdens upon those engaged in
mining in the form of excessive taxa
ton and otherwise which operates to
discourage mining enterprise, oblivi-
Gus to the fact that the baleful effects
extend far beyond the mining indus
try As applied to the state, this
means retarding the development OF
the natural resources, thus depliving
the people Of the benefits that follow
the investment Of capital in produc-
tive enterprises which sustain large
payrolls. support large communities
and provide permanent markets with
in the state for the products of the
state. Besides this direct local bene-
ht the metals produced enter into the
manufacture of building material. .
railroad equipment electrical goods.
and countless thousands of articles of
convenience and necessity in daily
use. In fact, civilization itself is built
upon metal foundation. This idea
was expressed by Cecil Rhodes the
uncrowned king of South Africa and
who gave that rich mineral domain to /,
the British empire Rhodes said.
Mining has been the foundation
OF the worlds wealth from the be-
ginning of time. The govern
ments rich in mineral have al
ways been the richest and strong 1
est governments on earth. Min s
ing is almost the only business on q
this earth that increases the
wealth of the world without rob
bling or infringing on the rights c.
of Others" 81
No country in, the world compares d
with the United States in the extent HI
and diversity Of mineral resources. and
these constitute the elements of its r
greatest wealth and national strength.
This was forcibly illustrated during
he world war; when the allies were
financed by American gold and silver re
md even more important American ai,
teel copper, lead and zinc provided of
he instruments of warfare and the 10,
ammunition American soldiers turn dir
d the tide Of battle to victory for the IN,
lies. but it was the unlimited min est
raj resources Of the United States of
nat equipped them and made it pos cat
BILE.
Compared with other states in min sec
'al resources Idaho ranks the same lpla
} the United States among nations Mr.
nd their value to the state cores as
'nds to the value OF mineral wealth con
the nation. 1t is therefore of the he
CHEST Importance that state laws life
iouid De designed TO encourage the mai
vestment Of capital in the develop Pre-
ent of mineral resources. There is bee
hazard in mining that does not ex- up
in other industrial enterprises. and lace
IN assume this risk solely because over
ey will receive large profits if their Fan
orts are successful Take away try
s inducement for large returns and ricu
pital will turn to other fields where terie
risk is reduced to the minimum the
profits, though small are sure. ton
There is a tendency among those re- fore,
we'd from the scene of active min lind,
operations to base their attitude cons
ard the mining industry and the bure
IS affecting it upon the large divi- result
dis paid by some of the companies and
s or course fails to take into con- west,
'ration the vast sums expended in lcult,
elopment and equipment ana the imbu
rmous expenditures made in min ltrems
and reduction of ores. practically tyne
OF which is discussed within the can.
e, beside which the dividends are the b
II by comparison. 1t is a very The {
It mistake to assume that those partn
receive the dividends are the on obstr,
irect beneficiaries Of mining oper- broad
rs AS a matter of fact, the peo- of his
receive the benefit whether divi- this il