Development Work

There is considerable development work going on now all over East Kootenay.  Prospectors in order to hold their claims must do the necessary assessment work; while investors whether individuals or syndicates who have acquired claims are desirous of finding out by proper development work the precise nature and value of their investment.

            In Golden division there has been a scarcity of labor and also inadequate means for transporting supplies; whereas in Fort Steele labor appears to be plentiful.  Golden division could be doing with some of the surplus labor in Fort Steele.  Laborers who are working claims have a tendency to over estimate the value of their service and expect a higher rate of remuneration than they can obtain elsewhere in any other employment; very few of them have any skill as practical miners, and if the country is to be opened up and developed they will require to be a little more moderate in their demands until the wealth has been actually obtained, or else it will mean, getting labor from elsewhere at more reasonable rates or the development on a more limited extent of the great mineral resources of the district.  Capital can easily do without labor but labor cannot exist without capital.