OCR Text |
Show POLITICAL ECONOMY. Our Mineral Resources. Tuq iron ores of thisrecion are very abundant, and the varieties of this mineral are such uj would enable the reduction of metallic iron to be effected readily and produced at profitable pro-fitable rates. The necessary materials mater-ials are also within reasonable dis-lauces dis-lauces of the iron beds, such as refractory clays and (aodstonea also for furnaces and fluxes, adapted to every variety of ore. As we have noticed before, the Utah hematites are being largely used lor fluxing silver ore, and theie ia no looger freight paid for these heavy ores, &3 was formerly done by our smelters. But metallic iron is still imported in immense im-mense quantities, it naed not be faid at the expense of the consumer, not only for the iron aa a product of mines outside uf Ut ib, but also for ita trana:t in the shape of freight bills, iu the aggregate a very large sum, which only benefits bene-fits the wealthy railroad companies. But there is a far more seriouB aspect than this in whioh the matter may be viewed by the political economist. We have a plethora of labor for which there ib, at best, a very unoertain market. Willing bauds, in which there is wealth, it properly employed, and pauperism if allowed to remain idle. Wealth for our capitalists and for the indigent, those who own no other capital than labor. And, the mischief does not end ODly in the impoverishment im-poverishment of the laboring olasa. Statistics tell us that the foundation of a large average criminal population ia laid in the immorality induced by enforced en-forced idlensea. Why do not our manufacturing firms, our Bmelters, and others, who employ laborers, seek for men loafing at the ttreet corners, or in the dram shops? They know that such men, as a general thing, are worthless; they are demoralized by habits acquired by continual inactivity inac-tivity of a healthy character. Excitement, Ex-citement, in various forms, ia sought after as a subatitute for manual labor; cards, dice, intoxication and its evil associations destroy tbe physique of the laborer, and be see Its for means of sustenance in practices degrading to the maD. Now there is no necessity for a continuation con-tinuation of auch a condition of things in a country like this, surrounded, as we are by mineral wealth, provided pro-vided employment is found for our populatiou. Sooiety owes this mucn to tnoee wno belong to a community to find employment for those who are willing to labor. An to oriminal instincts, like all other instincts, in-stincts, they increase in energy by exercise; and nothing has a healthier effect upon otherwise criminal per-Bona per-Bona than to find them something to do which will "pay better" than wioDg doing. Thia may be considered con-sidered a low standard of morality, but man ia to a great extent the creature of oircumstances. Aoy way sooiety pays the Density of idleness i ! among any class of citizens, and as the iron industry could bo made one of great magnitude, a source of perennial peren-nial wealth and increasing revenue, it is briefly DOtioed first in order in alluding to our mineral resources in connection with political economy. |