Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-30
Incompetent Mining Engineers.
Awriter in the Aka of Monday, says con-
corning Mining Engineers

corning Mining Engineers:
Many are the complaints against incompetent
Mining Engineers, and few there are VINO OrinB
forth the necessary particulars Of the qu'Ni"en
tons that the right kind of men should possess
for such Office. have no doubt there are a great
number employed such, who never khc" tnc
backing OF foot OF ground for mining purposes
nor the hanging WALL of the lode from the loo'
and are daily duped by the amount OF WORK per-
formed by those employed under them wnele
wages by the day or month is the rule anu efe"
contract 100 No one can detect the lack OiJuue
ment, oh the part Of the superintendent, sooner
with regard TO the value of q fathom OF gfouh"
or the amount Of work that should be pcrloriheI
per day than the workmen and, as Is custoEaT y
they laugh at his ignorance, knowing, as thef u"'
that no better could be expected for want OF eA
perience. Admitting that there are but lew
any, perfect, think the mine manager shonIu DC
a man of the stamp am about 10 Introduce De- DE-
fore you and Your readers, and. in doing SO, VIII
endeavor 10 give my reasons therefor Us pro
coed, in the clearest light possible FOR poor W.T.
tcr: First, and foremost, the lode or lodes otins
discovered before. hand, he should be somewhat
ii not thoroughly, cOnvGrsant with the khow!'
edge of breakng-in, and of the value OF opening
the various kinds of ground, so thai ne Snouiu
not be laid over by the workmen; out know
when he gives fair price, such Us Lave anu ie'
live" for labor. He should also understand the
most advantageous spot to commence operations
mine, and never full 10 take good look before De-
ginning Us millions of dollars may depend on
starting right. As general thing, we pl'ch III
where the lode looks best in the groupings, wien
an everlasting evil may attend 1t Tor permanent
and profitable working; seen, and acknowledged,
too late to remedy. The superintendent should
also be able to act as a surveyor, and Keep the
working plan of the mine; rs such, he Will rehder
assistance of important value. For instance, the
latter shows him and the owners the exact state
of the mine, so far as developed. al glance.
Spur VEINS etc, bearing, well as the man loue,
aud where the junction of the two Is expected at
such points. He should make his mark where
generally an Improvement will take place. which
gives the shareholders all idea how to manage
their affairs, especially where buying aud selling
is the 20. Further, it shows, from the undeTue
and pitch Of the lode whether the levels, above or
below are extended IN the same If not, the dis
tancc in the undcre between the Two, or more
levels will speak for itself, and put the supcrin-
tendent at once on his guard, enabling him to hnd
the lost and ottentimcS most productive part oil
the lode. | have witnessed, ~ well as many
Others too, II separation scarcely visible, where
strinecr or branch had split OFF from the longer
portion of the lode and in opening on 1t distance
of six feet only, an immense course OF ore was
the result The two stray often considerable
distance apart which accounts for the dlhereEce
in pitch. aS shown Oh the PLAZA, with other levels
For want of the assistance OF such guide, many
good NINE mas UeCn lost .hOTtoNeE AC HhVuIu
understand the most congenal Stratas OF formal
ton for prlucing minerals and metals so rs to let
dead ground stand when it is not advantageous
10 work il for the purpose of taking out the pro-
ductive portion of the lode. He should also be
acquainted with the results OF crosS.courscs,
Slides etc., which are the cause of the sudden
disappearance of the lodes. ottentimcs considered
lost or given out, but not SO, have only short
distance from the spot abandoned with symptoms
in sight generally, though probably delicate, are
plainly visible 10 IN experienced hand With
men of such knowledge which | consider the
principal points, the balance required 10 make
them competent il often with themselves.
In conclusion, may remark the question may
arise. Where are such men to he fOnndt' They
are few ] believe; but many superintendent
there are, leaving ont surveying, mapping, and
book keeping How much better would it be
even TO have such. with good clerk paid TO ac'
company them and the assistance Of Il surveyor
occasionally, than TO have men who lack the prin-
cipal points on which the working Of the mine
depends and yields, to open and carry on the
same Double the amount required In fact,
when say double, just AS likely :hrce times, and
probably not done right then.
Nv belief il, that most things require learning;
and give me the boy 10 manage 4 iniue who com
menced his career 4 miner when he was not too
big to obey orders and listen TO experience With
such to take the lead, | feel confident that less
complaints would appear in your and other pa.
peers, and that announcements of dividends would
be more frequent.