The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1924-02-07
Thursday February Z, 1924.
IMPORTANCE OF MINING INDUS
TRY TO THE STATE.

The figures published in the Miner
last week showing the actual cash dis
bursements in Shoshone county dur
ing the year 1928 by productive
and non-dividend paying mining com
panies and by individual owners of
mining claims in doing annual ASSESS
ment work should be given thought
ful attention by those who desire to
know the value of the mining indus
try in its relation to the prosperity of
the people of the state. These figures
were compiled from the books of the
various development companies and
from the records of Shoshone county.
and can therefore be investigated by
anyone who may be disposed 90 Ques-
ton their accuracy. Similar figures
are being compiled in all other min
ing counties in northern Idaho by the
secretary of the Idaho Mining ascot
alton, following which the mining
counties of southern Idaho will be
covered in the same manner. With the
work completed in the entire skate.
The figures will be tabulatoa BY coun-
ties and given to the public through
the press. There is nothing upon
which to base an estimate of the total I
for the state. The only county in
which the survey is now complete is
Shoshone the total being SS,OO9,719. /
This viii Of course be far in excess of
such expenditures in any other coun-
ty, as this is the seat of the greatest
mining activity in the state. But it is
safe to predict that the figures for the
other counties viii run high as COM
pared with popular impression. and
the total win give an insight to the
Importance of the mining industry to
the state as a whole.
Any estimate of the grand total for
he state at this time would be little ,
more than a guess; nevertheless the
Miner ventures the prediction that .
he outlay by non-dividend paying and Il
lon-productive mining companies and 81
Individual owners of mining claims in ~
he state of Idaho during the past q
ear will be more than $4,000. 900. That =,
gure is far more than the total divi- 4
ends paid by all the mines Of Idaho /,
4 1928, a fact that can not be too II,
trongiy emphasized in view OF the n,
'equent assertion to the effect that in
lie dividend paying mines rob the ~
ate of its resources without compen- Of
lting return This vast sum was w,
'ent for wages, for the purchase of
lpplies and for mining equipment, o,l
'ing directly into the hands OF the wi
'ople Of Idaho and providing con- wi
nuous market for Idaho products. 1t Ar
as spent on the chance of making tb,
oft, and the history OF mining UNI 81,
rtunately shows that a large per 40.
ntage will never come back in divi- inc
nds. Such investments must have We
surance of large returns if success tai
l. otherwise they would not be made. fine
1t while much Of this large expendi- ist,
re may prove loss to the promot- g.
; Of mining enterprise, the people Pr,
the community county and state tre
GIVE the benefit regardless Of the fro
-come coz
t should be borne in mind that airy
sc figures are wholly independent Yes
the vast expenditures being made In
the dividend paying mines The Dol
lions Of dollars spent for labor had
Der, farm products, machinery and Gre
er equipment all goes direct into son
channels of trade. building up reca
e business enterprises and Great dire
taxable wealth for the support of duri
lie institutions of county and state of ]
because OF the direct benefit re- innl
ed by the state through the devel tary
ent and operation Of mines, and son
hazard that is inherent to mining. leas,
the laws of the state should be hens
ned TO encourage the investment al p
lpitaI in the development Of IT'S the
raj resources. MS