The Border Vidette

MINING, A GREAT INDUSTRY

The San Francisco Chronicle recently published a communication from Walter W. Bradley, Deputy State Mineralogist of California.
It brings to light the magnitude of the mineral industry in California. The public too often overlooks its importance as a feature of state prosperity. The situation which Mr. Bradley sets forth regarding California is paralleled in other Western States and the people should begin to appreciate mining as an industry.
Mr. Bradley points out that "exclusive of petroleum, the value of California's minerals produced has exceeded $100,000,000 per year, the past four years; to which should be added the petroleum yields of from $243,000,000 to $335,000,000 annually. The total production of gold in California from 1849 to the end of 1926 was $1,801,000,000 in value. Valuations given in state and federal reports mineral output are (with certain exceptions—gold being one) on the basis of the crude minerals f.o.b. the mine, or quarry, or well. For example, the value of jewelry made from gold is not used, nor the value of the gasoline and other refinery products derived from petroleum. Going back only as far as 1887, in which year the segregated statistical reports of the State Mining Bureau, California's mineral production has totaled $4,360,000,000 in value to the end of 1926."
The miner is one of the primary, natural wealth developers. The industry is entitled to every possible encouragement.