Show developing PROSPECTS in connection with certain questions relating to the prospecting and development of new mines and prospects some prominent san francisco mining men recently wrote to the manager of our largest mining company asking some questions which the latter embodied in the following letter to us mr air will C higgins editor salt lake mining review dear sir I 1 understand that some complaints are made at the present time to the effect that prospectors can no longer obtain grub stakes for finding and developing new ore deposits and that they have trouble in selling undeveloped claims I 1 would like to get your opinion on this and also your ideas regarding the following questions 1 Is it your opinion that money is now no longer available in adequate amounts for finding and developing prospects 2 if so what suggestions would you make as to how additional money could be made available 3 do you believe in government aid to prospecting and prospectors and if so in what way do you think this aid should be given 4 do you think that prospecting methods or conditions could be so charged or improved as to make the funds now available adequate for the purpose 5 have bouany you any suggestions to make as to how a better market for undeveloped mineral lands might be created thanking you in in advance for an early reply I 1 am yours very truly R C gh general manager utah copper company salt lake office Ve december cember 9 to the above letter the following reply was vas given as expressing our ideas in this matter salt lake dec 11 1913 1913 mr air it C gemmell gen mgr utah copper company mccornick city dear sir your favor of the ath dinst received and contents noted and am gratified that you are interested in the matter under consideration it is a fact that prospectors during the past few years have experienced difficulty in ill obtaining money or grubstakes grub stakes for the purpose of discovery and development oi al L new ore prospects and that comparatively few undeveloped mineral claims have found purchasers since the panic of 1907 in answer to your questions I 1 beg leave to submit the following 1 in my opinion money at the present time is not available in adequate amounts for prospecting and the development of mineral claims due very largely to the unsettled condition in business and financial circles 2 1 I believe with the passage of the currency bill now pending in congress and a peaceful settlement of affairs in mexico that capitalists and investors who have long been anxious to get their money profitably invested will take most kindly to mining activities and that a large volume of capital will find investment in the mining industry I 1 believe also that more money would be available for prospecting if more small syndicates or associations would be formed for the purpose of grub staking the prospector if more men who have made fortunes in mining would show their appreciation of the industry that has made them independently rich by keeping prospectors constantly in the field in the effort to discover new mines 3 1 I do not believe the government should give financial aid to the prospector but that it should be most liberal in its mining laws and more I 1 believe the government should give greater protection to the prospector and claim holder who has complied with every law and regulation in the location of his claim in fact having complied with each and every regulation and requirement the prospector and locator should not be obliged to defend his right and title against claim jumpers and adverse litigation in other words the government should be the defendant and should protect the rights of the locator without any expense to the locator the failure of the law to protect is in my opinion one of the greatest obstacles to be overcome on the part of the prospector and claim owner and in a measure is a bar to the ready sale of many mining properties 4 1 I do not see sed how prospecting methods or conditions could be materially improved in excepting by local action and the operation cooperation co of capital so that sufficient funds will be available to restore prospecting to the plane occupied sev seven en years ago until financial conditions generally 11 1 1 show decided improvement 5 1 I cannot see how a better market for undeveloped mineral lands can prevail at the present time and under prevailing conditions unless by the concerted ac tion and support on the part of men who are ac actively dively engaged in the mining industry and who know by long and successful experience what to expect from a certain amount of development and exploitation the eastern investor as a rule is not a buyer of mineral bearing land he is a speculator in stocks on the other hand it is the man who knows mining from A to Z to whom the locator and claim owner must look for a market for his prospect and undeveloped ground trusting the above will be of interest and of some value to you I 1 am sincerely yours WILL C HIGGINS I 1 editor the salt lake mining revie Review reviews 1 r a |