OF THE SIXTH ANNUAL SESSION THE AMERICAN MINING CONGRESS DEADWOOD AND LEAD, SOUTH DAKOTA, SEPTEMBER 7, 8, 9, 10, II AND 12, 1903. Deadwood, S. D., September 8, 1903, 10 A. M. PRESIDENT RICHARDS: The Congress will now be in order. During this forenoon session we will pay no attention to the cards representing the states. We will be pleased to have you all come forward and these seats will be arranged for the afternoon. PRESIDENT RICHARDS: We will now have the invocation by The Right Reverend John Stahra, Bishop of Lead. BISHOP STAHRA: In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost amen: O, Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God, we at all times and on all occasions praise and adore Thee for the many benefits Thou hast bestowed upon this great republic. Today, therefore, we raise our hearts and our voices beseeching Thee to bear forth Thy graces on these assembled. We pray Thee in Thy bounty to share Thy blessings on all the members of this American Mining Congress, and especially ask thy blessings on all those who are to take part in the deliberations of this Congress, that the officers and delegates may be strengthened by Thy grace and may discharge their duties honestly and conscientiously and for the well being of the people. May the deliberations of this Mining Congress be guided by the light of Thy divine wisdom, may its deliberations tend to promote the mining industry, the prosperity of our nation and the spiritual and temporal benefit of the people. We pray Thee on this great auspicious day, O God of Nations and of Battles, to direct in Thy wisdom our National Congress to frame laws for the development of the mining industry, and we pray Thee that it may become a separate department of our national government. We commend to Thy infinite bounty all our fellow citizens throughout the United States and the officers and delegates of this Mining Congress that they may live in union and brotherly love and, after enjoying all the blessings of this life they may by Thy divine grace be permitted to enjoy eternal life with Thee forever in Heaven. Amen. PRESIDENT RICHARDS: You will now listen to the address of welcome on behalf of South Dakota by the governor of this state, Hon. Charles N. Herreid. (Applause.) Mr. President and Members of the American Mining Congress: Today South Dakota enjoys the proud distinction of having as her guests the representative men of one of the most important industries, and it gives me great pleasure to welcome to our state this large and illustrious gathering of the most distinguished mining men of the United States. In the presence of so many evidences of good will it is almost needless for me to extend to you formal greetings of welcome. Half a million South Dakotans would greet you and welcome you and will follow your deliberations with great interest and enthusiasm. The problems which you will consider are problems of tremendous importance to this young state. While South Dakota is best known as one of the great agricultural states, our vast mineral resources challenge our most careful consideration. We have within our state not only the largest gold mine in the world, but what is believed to be the richest one hundred square miles upon the globe. our mining experts will tell you we have mountains of precious metals; our regents of education will say to you we have the best School of Mines evolving the best methods for securing these metals; and I know we have men with the best mind and muscle to do the work. Since the 26th day of July 1874, when H. N. Rose washed the first gold from French Creek, about one hundred and twenty-five million dollars of gold have been taken from South Dakota mines. While we are contributing our full share towards the world's supply of the precious metals our immense mining enterprises are in their infancy, with hundreds of mines awaiting development. The industry which you represent is most intimately connected with the business life of the country. The output of the mines supplies the vital spark-the energy of commerce. Close every mine and you would shake to its foundations every industry in the country. We all rejoice over the prevailing universal prosperity. I am proud of the fact that I can welcome you to a people who are superlatively prosperous, contented and happy; where the spirit of success dominates the commercial and industrial atmosphere; where everybody has surrendered to the magnificent energy which is building a new and splendid empire. I welcome you to a people who for six years have produced more wealth per capita than any other state in the Union; to a state famous for the large number according to population, of newspapers, churches, colleges and school houses; to a state absolutely free from conflict between labor and capital; to a state settled largely by the children of the pioneers who were the empire builders of the Great West-children who from infancy were taught the lessons of vigorous manhood; a people who adopted as their state motto: "Under God the People Rule," and who, as individuals and communities, with reverence for all law, human and divine, are living up to their high standards of right. I have no apologies to make for this young commonwealth. A few years ago, in the midst of universal distress, when financial ruin was prancing up and down Wall Street, when civilization seemed to have entered upon an epoch of unrest, our people were fearlessly facing serious problems and thinking and struggling-perhaps not always wisely but always with the conviction of honest men. Triumphantly the people shook off the burden of despair. Ten years ago the real value of all property within the state was less than one hundred million dollars; today it is one thousand million! Today every South Dakotan is proud of his state and with joy and devotion ready to join the grand chorus of thanksgiving and praise: "I love ev'ry inch of her prairie land, I love every drop of her water clear I love ev'ry tree, ev'ry blade of grass The queen of the earth is the land of my birth, Members of the American Mining Congress! I welcome you to a state that feels honored by your presence. I sincerely hope and believe that your deliberations will be profitable and pleasant and that when you leave our state, it will be with the most pleasant recollections and delightful impression that South Dakota has not only the natural resources and the people but the foundations firmly established for honorable membership in the splendid galaxy of the great commonwealths of our country. (Applause.) PRESIDENT RICHARDS: music by the band. You will now listen to a selection of PRESIDENT RICHARDS: An address of welcome on behalf of the city of Deadwood by its mayor, Mr. E. McDonald. (Applause.) MAYOR M'DONALD: It gives me great pleasure to welcome the American Mining Congress to Deadwood in the name of its citizens. It is the first time your association has turned its face in the direction of the richest one hundred miles square on earth and we feel confident that you will be given the heartiest welcomes and a grand acquisition to your membership. I hope that your stay among us will be so pleasant that on your return to your homes you may at least be able to say that you have had a pleasant time, if not the pleasantest among your six annual meetings. Deadwood has invited you to this city and you have accepted the invitation in the same spirit in which it was offered and I do assure you of our pleasure in having you with us and again say that we shall feel amply rewarded if your visit will prove a profit and pleasure to you. We regret exceedingly the absence of President Roosevelt, whom we had supposed would have been able to have accepted the very cordial invitation that was extended to him by the Black Hills Mining Men's Association. Still, we are gratified to be favored by the presence of such a distinguished representative in the person of Hon. Leslie M. Shaw. (Applause.) You are here to exchange greetings and to renew your acquaintances one with the other, to have as much pleasure as you can and do what you can to bind the members of the American Mining Congress closer and closer in the bond of union which is growing stronger with each passing year. You can and are by these gatherings getting nearer and nearer together, thus enabling you to harmonize opinions and unite on general principles, although differing on details. It is impossible for us all to agree upon everything. We will have our differences and should have. If not, all advancement and progress would cease and the world would retrograde. We grow wiser and better by the exchange of opinions. Twenty-five years ago no one would have supposed it would have been possible to bring so large a number of mining men together in one grand body like the American Mining Congress, hence we have reason to rejoice over what has been accomplished so far and have reason to believe that the future is bright with possibilities. At the last meeting of the Mining Congress, Mayor Davey was desirous of turning over the keys of the city to your president, saying his inability to do so was caused by the neglect of Mayor McDonald to return them. (Laughter.) The insistence of Mr. Elliott of Montana that we refrain from transacting any business of any kind or character prevented my making any explanation at that time and I think it is due you to know why I failed to give the keys to the mayor for the benefit of the Congress. The night before our delegation was invited to dinner by Col. James Lynch (Cheers) and those of you who know him can form some idea of the time we were permitted to leave his hospitable home. It was late, yes, very late in the morning, and on nearing the Thornton we were accosted by a large body who inquired if we were the South Dakota delegation. Being informed that we were they asked if the mayor of Deadwood was with them. I replied that I was the mayor of Deadwood and was proud of it. They wanted the key to the hospital. At the mention of the word hospital we all became alarmed and we all volunteered our services, saying that every man from Deadwood was a Good Samaritan. They said they were in quest of trained nurses, they wanted seclusion and rest; that although they had preceded us a week they found that the South Dakota delegation was in the forefront of popularity. What could a man do, representing the generous citizens of Deadwood, but to hand over the bunch of keys? Now I am not going to give the keys of the city of Deadwood to President Richards; not because he is not a good man; his reputation has preceded him. He has paid us a number of visits during the past year to consult with his invaluable co-worker, Mr. Mahon. (Cheers.) We had an opportunity of learning something of Judge Richards, modest and unassuming way, and any organization should be proud to be the possessor of such an able and dignified president. (Cheers.) Now you will observe that I have no personal reasons-I love the judge; to know him is to love him; he is a man among men; a prince among gentlemen, but I cannot give him the keys to the city of Deadwood. I have conceived the idea that on this occasion an open door policy without the Russian bear in the doorway would be preferable to the American Mining Congress. Our homes and hearts are open to you and if you should find anything under lock and key report it and I will ascertain the reason why. (Laughter.) Now, to the city of Deadwood, I join with our people in welcoming you and I trust that your visit will prove an era in the life of the American Mining Congress. (Applause.) PRESIDENT RICHARDS: I take this occasion to call upon our secretary to read a letter recently received by your congressman, Hon. E. W. Martin, from the president of the United States. SECRETARY MAHON: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: My Dear Mr. Martin: Oyster Bay, N. Y., August 28, 1903. I am very sorry to find that it will be out of the question for me to attend the session of the American Mining Congress next month. I take a particular interest in this meeting, because many of your members I have myself the honor of personally knowing. I not only believe with all my heart in the work, but in the men who are doing it. Please convey to the delegates assembled my hearty good wishes for the complete success of the meeting. Sincerely yours, THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Hon. Eben W. Martin, M. C., Deadwood, S. D." (Great applause.) PRESIDENT RICHARDS: Your committee on program has designated myself to respond on behalf of the American Mining Congress to the addresses of welcome that have been extended this congress. I was notified by the mayor of Deadwood on yesterday that he would have the best of me today and I see that he has because he still holds the keys to this city. I thought when I heard the name McDonald, that he probably came from bonnie Scotland, but upon hearing the smoothness of his tongue I think he has received the inspiration of the Blarney stone of Ireland. (Applause.) It gives me especial pleasure to respond to these addresses of welcome on behalf of this Congress for many reasons, a few of which I will mention. When this Congress was in a state of possible disorganization the people of these Black Hills had an active part in reorganizing it. When it was in a state of poverty they gave it money. When it wanted a home they took it in, and today when it stands forth here in this city filled with hope they rejoice with its prosperity, and whatever of good it may accomplish in the future the people of the Black Hills will have a large share in whatever that good may be. (Cheers.) I know from experience that, although you may have here the richest one hundred square miles on earth in gold and material wealth-I say I know from experience that you have also a greater wealth than that in the sturdy manhood of the Black Hills. It is greater because it means more to this commonwealth than all the gold and silver hidden in these great mountains, because in the end it means higher citizenship and from the generosity, good will and strength of manhood that I have met here, you have a greater wealth in your manhood and womanhood than all the wealth of these hills otherwise. (Applause.) This Congress and its officers have received an inspiration from the Black Hills Mining Men's Association-the model Mining Men's Association of the entire West-and that inspiration will go out through the influence of this congress into every mining camp in the country. They will pattern by your model and by your inspiration and so this work will go on. So I say it gives me particular pleasure to respond to these addresses of welcome giving this Congress an opportunity to testify to the worth of the manhood of the Black Hills. PRESIDENT RICHARDS: response from Mrs. Dignowity. We will now listen to a further MRS. DIGNOWITY: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: This is rather a low grade proposition I have to offer this morning. We hope though, with proper treatment, to extract some little value from it. I have entitled this little doggerel which I have to offer, "America's Mining Man." AMERICA'S MINING MAN. [By Ella Purkiss Dignowity] To "The Congress of Mining Men" assembled here within these templed hills, A message of welcome is given which should banish all your ills. For thoughts are potent forces, that have ruled the world for aye, And the best of them is offered to the Mining Man today. Hearty cheer, good will, kind greetings gracious hosts extent to you. He has been our brave crusader searching for the hidden grail, Strong in hope that never deserts him and faith that leads on to the "vein." Who dares to limit his power? For intellect reaches the gold, The same spirit within that urges him on, filled these hills with treasures untold. But the treasures are wondrously precious, and not to be lightly won, So our knights must struggle to conquer, and valiantly battle on. Even though "faults" are encountered and "dead work" he cannot pass by, His courage and grit light the tunnel ahead more than his candle on high. For he knows that life's valued possessions are ever hard to win, |