The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-12-21
THE PLACE FOR 1T.

-TWn INTONlCfc fnOrpagi0T
Importance of the great mineral regions OF the
Rocky Mountains, and the vast area of country
which il appears from recent explorations remains
yet uDdeveloped, viii doubtless furnish many in.
teresting subjects for discussion during the ap-
preaching session of Congress. Prominent among
these will be movement for the establishment of
a great National School Of Mines liberal and
comprehensive basis-an institution similar in its
general scope and organization to the great mining
schools of Europe, upon which we are now com
PEELED to rely for nearly all the scientific aid en-
plOyed in the reduction and amalgamatOn Of our
ores"
We find the above in an exchange.
The establishment of National
School of Mines is one of great impor-
tance to the great west. We western
ers are inclined to ignore the usefulness
of scientific men and pin our faith to the
skirts of the practical men, because they
have been most successful. Yet to main
tain that science is useless, is to write
ourselves asses. The fact has been that
scientific men generally have come here
file with fine spun theories that fade
in the presence of rugged nature, and
as soon as they lay those aside which
are false, and adapt their science to ma
ture, we enrol them at once as practical
men. Science is speculative, but its
speculations are, or should be- based up
on established truths. 1t takes actuali-
ties as basis and builds fabric of ad-
vanced theory thereon. 1t follows that,
starting upon false basis, or none al
all, the theories are likely to be errone-
Gus. a perfect structure must have a
sure foundation. Here is where the diff
fculty with scientific men begins. When
they come to examine the formations
and characteristics of the minerals in the
western belts of mountains on this con-
tinent, they find that they do not cor
respond with the baseless, impractical
theories taught in the Atlantic or Eu.
ropean schools and they either return
to launch light literature against tn,
Almighty Architect Tor the incompTe-
/ hensible manner in which He has ar
arranged the foundations of the earth
or, with commenGable sense, accept the
situation, as Mohaned is said to- hav,
done. and become our most useful anC
successful citizens. There is every ar
gument in favor of the establishment o
of mining schools. We have the mos
extensive, varied and richest minerals
of any of the nations. They are tn,
! backbone of the national resources, ,illim
liable, and but scarce prospected. Edu
cation is as necessary in this branch a
any other. The midnight student bend
ing over crucible and retort has stake'
discoveries that have yielded millions o
treasure from the earth to man. Th
location of a mining school is an impor
tant point in securing its usefulness. A
we look at it, it is just as sensible to 10
cate Pathological seminary in the Des
ert of Sahara, or an agricultural colleg
on the Rock of Gibraltar, as to establish
a mining school in New York, Bostol
or Washington, intended to educate il
students in gold and silver mining, vii
tually limited to the Rocky Mountain
and the Western Slope, and upon tn
importance of which is based the propC
sition. By locating it in any of the grea
mining States or Territories,its student
would be brought in actual contact wit
facts their researches would be pract
cal and their theories builded on real
ties science would be advanced and a
assisted; the endowment would retur
many fold to the national Golfers, an
/, America would take the first rank in il
telligent and economical mining. w
hope to see this school established, an
established where it's results wonl
Justify the expenditure and add to OF
9 wealth and intelligence. The place
west of the Missouri.