A Message from Governor Moeur

Message From Governor Moeur

WAS deeply impressed by forethought and planning and the ultimate results that are bound to come from Superior's Silver Jubilee celebration which I had the pleasure of attending on Sunday, May 26.

My visit to Superior brought back to me memories of the early days when I made regular visits to the sick miners at the old town of Pinal.

I could not help but recall the problem of transportation in those days as my car rolled over smooth highways to Superior from Phoenix in about two hours. My horses and they were the best money could buy-made it to Pinal in about eight hours, and that was considered "speeding" in those days.

Old Picket Post mountain still stands as a great sentinel above this progressive silver mining region. The old town known as "Old Silver King" is but two miles away. The sister town of Pinal once made a bid for the capitol of the state.

The Superior celebration was not designed to "boom" Superior. The Silver Jubilee served to focus the attention of the rest of the state on the vast possibilities which now exist in many parts of Arizona since the federal government has taken a hand in controlling the price of silver.

My office is now negotiating with Washington authorities to secure funds for the purchase of custom mills, each designed for adaptation to the various mineralogical structures of the state. The costly shipment of ore to the smelters cuts deep into the profits of the small miner and in many cases makes workable properties unprofitable. The milling program which I propose will allow the miner to ship concentrates and reap a fair profit for his efforts.

Arizona history records the pathetic stories of scores of miners and prospectors who pioneered our great mines of today. The average small miner is a poor man. He suffers many privations and exists on poor food and bad water. The installation of government-financed custom mills in Arizona will be of inestimable value to him.

In Arizona there are many properties inactive during the past several years which can be made to produce silver and gold in commercial quantities. Increased production may be expected in our silver industry and with it there will result a general increasing activity beneficial to all business.

Over-zealous promoters and anxious investors should approach the revival of silver mining in Arizona with some degree of reasonable caution. Every hole in the ground is not a potential mine. It is probable that many wild claims and much untruthful propaganda will be circulated in an effort to catch the inexperienced investor off his guard.

Let not the dishonest promoter gain a foothold and cast a blemish on an economic development which holds so much hope for the worthy ones.

I pledge my full support and the cooperation of all agencies of the state to further the interests of the miner, the prospector and the mine developer.