Chapter 23
When it is a question of mining, the most cautious business man loses his head. It is very difficult to realize the fact that the Western property must not be judged by Eastern standards. These two short paragraphs state the main reasons why, in the first place, so much capital is sown in waste places; and why, in the second place, Western gold mines have so bad a reputation among investors. Nine out of ten of the legitimate mines of our Western States would be good investments if they could be run as carefully and intelligently as is any wholesale grocery. The expectation of big gambling returns seems to render men careless as to the smaller details. Why this should be so, it would be difficult to say. Of the truth of the statement there is absolutely no doubt in the world, as anyon
- Writer
