*It Is Time Again...But Where Are The Juniors?

As a sidebar, do I see the sorry state of mineral exploration by individuals having been partially the result of losing a battle with big government—brought to you in part by funding from large mining companies? Yes. Remember this: The majors would love to see a system where rights to mineral exploration goes to a lease system, which would effectively do away with the dreamers/explorers in our "last of the Old Western world," without costing them a cent.

In my home state of Alaska I have been developing a prospect that needs road access. There has been a road surveyed that at one time was shown on road maps as proposed. It costs me $20,000 per year to maintain my claim holding. The state has funds to support fishing, and most recently tourism (i.e.: large foreign cruise ship lines), but no respect for the mining industry, except to build Cominco (a big major) the road they needed in the Far North to process ore that averages less in silver and zinc values than mine.

Perhaps the decision makers in government find it easier to understand the lobbyists with PAC money, than an individualist who can't afford fancy legal and public relations representation. If the attitude is, as has been stated to me, "let the professionals develop our mining industry!" they overlook one thing—most finds being mined today originated with the small prospector. The Cominco Red Dog project mentioned above—the one that qualified for a road—was actually discovered by a bush pilot, who really didn't make that much for all his effort.