Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-06


There is no pursuit followed by men, in which their
physical industry and eIertions required that de
msnds more scientific knowledge and practical ex
psriencs, than that of digging integently and un.
derstandngly into the dark bowels of the eartb for
the boarded treasures il contains.
The old Cornish miners who dug tin for the Phaui
clans long centuries ago. probably thought they
knew all that il was necessary miners should know
But since then, how great has been the change-and
particularly there-whers men follow the ever vary.
ing and lifting "lodss" through their dark caverns
thousands of feet beneath the surface, with mach
certainty as the hunter pursues the new made trail
Could those old miners, who delved after the ores,
only as long as they were in eight wake to the re-
ality of the mighty stridea which science and eIpe
rence have made 10 mining matters alone, during the
lsst 500 or l00 years, how greai would be their as
tonishment! Yet We have seen, within the last few
weeks, men digging as iguoranty into the ground as
ever our orefatbe did, without science, without ex
perienoe and even without common practical know.
LEDGE though fortunes were to be lost or won on the
result. The Investigations of science, and the long
and dearly bought experience of our predecessors
are ignored, and we delvs again as they dslved Of
old, to learn over the lessons of thousand years.
Could many of thoae, who are spending their time
and their fortunes in digging unsuccssstuy for
the minerals of our mountsIns-ths copper,
the iron and the oosl-see how eystemaical-
ly and inteligently the old coal miners OF Penn
sylvanis or Englond 90 to work, or the copper and
IRON miners OF the old world and take lessons from
them, thsy might learn more in day than years OF
unproductve labor would bestow. 10 searching for
minerals, or 10 opening out mines veins of coal
ores, particularly in new regions, The knowledge OF
the simple and uneducated miner alone 10 not enough.
The mining engineer only can undertake successfully
this important part of the mining profession. He
must be practical, and not a theoretical geoloRis;
ha must understand thoroughly The country whose
dark, deep depths be Ia about to eIpore-its forma
tions their "dip and "sfrke ts rocks and their Pc
culiarities. He must also bs mlnerslogist and an
engineer, mechanic, and, above all, miner. With
those qualifications, mining may be proftably pur.
sued but without them, to come extent, It cannot !!
Therefore, those who commence mines should always
secure the services of professional man. to make a
right commencement, If they would sot Wisely.
Many miserable failure might be prevented, and
the development of our mineral resources might pro
grsss surely aud safely, II not rapidly. Many con-
aideraons involved in the location Of mines. 1t
Is not always best 10 sink shaft drive tunnel
the spot where the vein is discovered Veins of coal
or ores, always, or generally, range through large
extent OF country, and plenty Of choice locations are
generally afforded. But 10 making selection, availa.
biliiy and convenience must be considered not only
in favorable site for the nine but the advantages
FOR transportation, facilities for ventilation and DRAIN
age, and above all, for permausnce and the best op.
porunites in following the direction Of the vein or
veins ed minimum.