OF4-11/02/09 9:25 AM
CASHING IN ON CALIFORNIA'S NEW "GOLD RUSH."
The Osgood File. I'm Charles Osgood.
Supply and demand are the two factors that control the price of anything --- whether its food, fuel, or any commodity.
In the State of California --- whatever its economic problems might be --- the price of produce from artichokes to mushrooms, from melons to grapes to zucchini --- is as endlessly fascinating as the price of oil.
But Brent Shock doesn't care that much about those things.
SOT - Brent Shock, with Gold Prospecting Adventures
"We're not the Mushroom State or the Artichoke Capital --- the Golden State!" (:04)
Ah, gold! In California, you see, there's gold in them thar hills. And the price of gold --- which was 660 dollars an ounce two years ago --- is now over a thousand an ounce.
That's why Brent Shock's phone is ringing a lot. He's isn't in the business of teaching people how to grow things in the ground but how to prospect for gold.
SOT - Brent Shock, with John Blackstone - CBS News Correspondent
"(Blackstone:) You know when the price of gold goes up, your phone is gonna start ringing. (Schock:) The phone's gonna ring, yes, exactly. It's great, because everybody gets to make money!" (:07)
The story of California's new "Gold Rush" after this...
((( SPOT )))
Tourists like Kathi Martin love panning for California gold with Brent Shock.
SOT - Brent Shock, with Kathi Martin - a tourist - panning for gold together
"(Shock:) That's what we're looking for! (Martin:) That's right! (Shock:) Now, that's not a little speck!" (:04)
So, she's caught the fever.
SOT - Kathi Martin
"I have gold fever. When I see that gold in my pan, it's like: 'Ahhh, there it is!'" (:05)
John Gurney does it for a living.
SOT - John Gurney
"If you do it for a living, you have to sell your gold. This'll pay this bill, this'll register your truck, and --- so you sell your gold as quick as you get it." (:06)
And right now, there's lot's of folks in California looking for work, just like in 1849.
SOT - John Bonilla
"Prices are high, there's no job out there --- yeah, might as well get some gold and pay my bills!" (:05)
John Blackstone asked John Bonilla...
SOT - John Bonilla, with John Blackstone
"(Blackstone:) When gold goes to 1,000 an ounce, does the atmosphere change around here? (Bonilla:) Oh, for the people it does, especially the tourists. I mean, they come in left and right, and they want to find what the prospectors have been finding." (:10)
Not easy, though.
SOT - John Blackstone
"As Brent Shock gives lessons to novice prospectors, he also warns that it's hard work. After all, if it were easy to get rich this way, would he be sharing his secrets?" (:11)
No...
The Osgood File. Charles Osgood on the CBS Radio Network.
The Osgood File. November 2nd, 2009. |
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