Show HOW THE PAY STREAK GROWS some authorities claim that 11 gold grows many mining men assert that the statement is correct although there is a great diversity of opinion on this subject among those who claim to be posted anent geological matters and the chemical and physical conditions which result in the deposition of the precious metals in veins and fissures we leave this matter for their consideration and will take up the question of the growth of the pay streak of the newfound deposit of rich ore which from a streak of from one or two inches attains the magnificent size of two or four feet in a week in a month and always during the absence of its owner more afore than one instance can be cited in the west where a prospector developing his claim has uncovered a small seam of rich ore in its workings t trembling with excitement he gathers picked samples from the new find and starts start S for the nearest S t town with his treasures before going oin a mile the pay streak has widened from one to four inches in his mind by noon his little bonanza vein has widened to six inches he is fully satisfied that this is true arriving at his destination he shows his samples to his friends and tells them that the pay streak is a foot in width by morning he has two feet of this class and character of ore his friends are enthusiastic over his find which by night has gained in dimensions men so that a yardstick yard stick would hardly t take ike in its magnitude to make a showing in the morning of four feet or more the prospector is happy and he firmly believes the story that he is telling and some of his acquaintances believe him and to such an extent that they are willing to pay him a fancy figure for a share in his find finally the deal is consummated the new co owners with provisions and supplies leave for the scene of the new strike on the way back the prospector begins to feel troubled suppose the vein is not quite as wide as lie he has stated and if this is the case what will his friends say before reaching the he mine he does not seem to feel as cheerful as when he set out and he b begins to lag behind the party and as the portal of the short tunnel is approached he feels a tugging at his throat his knees feel shaky and he notices a pain in the region of the heart his illusions have flown one by one and he knows that he is now face to face with the reality of cold facts if he were a hundred miles away he would feel much better and he realizes fully the dreadful mistake he has made when his companions enter the tunnel and find that his four foot vein of high grade ore has dwindled down to one inch their wrath and fury is not abated in the least when he ventures the feeble explanation that he thought it was so As a matter of fact the prospector was really honest in his beliefs he was not a natural born liar and he had no real intention of deceiving his friends his action was a natural one the wish was the father of his thought and it was as natural for him to exaggerate his possessions as it is for every mining man to pick out the very choicest specimen in his mine to bhoj to his friends and there are many who judge the value of a mine from picked specimens in their possession there is an overwhelming demand in this western country for good mines and prospects but the demand exceeds the supply experts in the employ of capitalists of syndicates are daily scouring the country for bonanzas and many are found but in a majority of cases upon careful and intelligent examination of reported new finds of fabulous wealth it is found that they exist only in the imagination of the hardworking but too enthusiastic prospector but we forgive him it is his failing a fault that creeps out in transactions in every line of business in almost every industry he is no more than human fiuman and there is no doubt but that in the end he will give to the world a new source of wealth a pay streak that will grow until it has poured its millions into the channels of trade and commerce |