The men who develop manufactures, start
commercial enterprises, and the farmers, will develop resources
of this virgin State. The thousand vocations of civilization are
building up a solid fabric for future generations.
True, the poet, the story-writer, and the careless stranger will be
fascinated by the heroes of camp and glen. High-booted, red-shirted,
revolver-carrying, bearded argonauts are they, braving all hardships,
enjoying sudden wealth, and leading romantic lives. Stories of camp
and cabin, with brief Monte-Cristo appearances at San Francisco,
are the popular rage. These rough heroes are led captive, even
as Samson was betrayed by Delilah. The discovery of quartz mining
leads Valois to believe that an American science of geologic mining
will be a great help in the future. Years of failure and effort,
great experience, with associated capital, will be needed for
exploring the deep quartz veins. Their mysterious origin baffles
the scientist.
Long after the individual argonauts have laid their weary brows
upon the drifted pine needles in the deep eternal sleep of Death,
the problem will be solved. When their lonely graves are landmarks
of the Sierras; when the ephemeral tent towns have been folded up
forever, the broad lands of California will support great communities.
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