New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-24
MINES AND MINING.
SECOND ARTICLE.

ley MIYEs-CAUsEs OF FAILURE-CoNDI-
TIoNs or SUGGESTION a, y -lo.h CO'i
PANY DID IT" WHITE PINE EACllE slhNI-
SPECULATION TO BE DEPRECATED-ALPINE
COUNTY (CAL) MINES = CENTRAL PACIFIC
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MINE-A MERCHANT
UNDERMINING RETROSPECT FOR 1S6S-TliE
pusTNEss OF INSTRUMENTATION OF IN
vESTMENT-A PERSONAL MATTER.
THE RISING TEMPEST.
The increasing attention now being given to the
development of Gold and Silver Mines, consequent
upon the fast-rising Etempest of excitement about
"White Pine" will Justify me in presenting to the
readers of THE TRIBUNE some further facts on the
snbiectof Mines and Mining" for their informa-
ton and guidance in making investments
1t is lust such prOre nearly all the newspapers
of the country are aiding to produce, by the highly
colOred accounts of these new mountains OF sold
silver that has time and again., cost the trusting
public millions of money 10 enrich few nnscrupu-
ious Spectators. have been through, and seen the
results Of many mining eXctements IN Callt0Inla
and in regard to this latest one ask the public to
examine with the most searching scrutiny the enter
prises land the promoters OF them that VIII I'M
doubtedly be offered during the coming season. More
OF this, however before closing my letter.
IMPORTANCE or MINING
The national Importance of the development OF our
mines and of thereby increasing the volume OF the
precious metals q means of increasing the wealth
OF the country and lesseg the burden of the public
debt was recognized by Gen Grant i'll few remarkable
words Of his Inaugural Address >,
"Why." said the President II looks as though Prov
dence had bestowed upon us STRONG bon the precious
metals locked III the sterile mountains OF the Far WeSt
which forging the Key 10 unlock 10 meet the
very contingency that Is now upon 1S m o they
be necessary 10 increase the 1acnues 10 reach nes9
riches aud it may be necessary Also that te teneIdl
Government should give It's ana 10 secure lhis success
70 unlock' these treasures possess in the super
able employment; and in the improvements by which
mechanical, chemical aud metallnrgeal science enable
us to extract the of the valuable contents OF
tne ores ~ d % more free from contincen,
fbana 9th i'm Wli
M to ppo con6dence injurious TO the general
welfare, and involving honest enterprises IN disepue
not deserved by them. - -. ,-y ...
NV former article on Mines and Mining" prepared at
Mr. Greeley's request, and published in THE TRIBUNE
some weeks ago, has been responded to by hundred
letters of approval and inquiry from every State and
Territory OF the Union and from EuTOpe-showing how
wide and deepseaed is the interest felt In the subject
From OF them, written by Mr.. A. Delano banker Of
Grass Valley. resident OF that great center OF gold
quartz mining since 1850 make the following interesting
CkTsEs OF FAmURE-coNDIrIoNs OF SUCCESS.
II received THE TRIBUNE containing your essay on
'Mnes and Mining in California and Nevada, and have
a s ha RC II us Snd ae It sets forth facts they
existas they have existed You have given the true
causes Of so many failures in mining IL has always
seemed strange to us that business men should appoint,
as superintendent who had never seen mine, or
who knows nothing Of the first principles OF mining which
is as much business as printing or navigation
Should company OF capitalists undertake to conduct
the of printing establishment would they not APP
point practical printer as their superintendent they
would laugh at any suggestion for appointing mer-
shipowner who should be asked to appoint a landsman
as CAPTAIN Of his vessel Would not in such the
printing Office soon be knocked into pi and the ship
stranded lee shore Why then. should the working
of mne requiring ali intimate knowledge OF the course
aud DIP Of veins, Of faults! slides and dis s ,
tons Of the qualities and methods OF treatment OF the
&c. be mtrusted to men VINO are utteiy gnIrdnO
on all these POINTS, Theory without practical knowledge
Fn6Wiedee without theory There have been not less
than ten failures from bad management to one where the
mine itself has proved worthless so wen understood
pdeed is the business Of mining at this time that an ex
perenced miner tell the approximate value OF quartz
lodes at glance as wen as eAPelOS eau JuuNo "a "
Tbe Ppreka Mine Of this town. when first opened only
paid 81 per and looked upon as worthless yet at
the depth 200 feet 1t paid from e 70 $3.50 per tun and
ontS IL was sold for 100000 and in less than one year
profits Of the mine returned the whole amount OF the
purchase and more. and has continued 10 pay all the
"T6e Helvetia Mine now called the North Star, you
will recoect bankrupted its owners, Messrs Conway
Co.. in the early days OF mining II was taken hod Oh by
hsT PsE S an aRd iSG ~ o omen for in o
The Opbr Mine, owned by the Empire Company, az
them taken bold Of by Capt Lee Co. put into shape at
expense Of $4,000 splendid mill built at cost OF
100000 has since paid and Is paying straight
Inent worth quite as much as the North star.
HOW A NETWORK COMPANY DID 1T.
could give you many instances 10 prove tnat mines
oftener failed from bad management than from poverty
OF the ore. know aNewYork company owning a good
mine IN this vicuity-One which will pay, and would
nonied sn,,erintendent living in San Francisco 200
miles distant. This gentleman who knew nothing Of
VISITING it three four times year Being Jolly
good fellow, whenever he came up from the Bay City,
good horses good wine, aud good company were In
TequislOu; expenses up; what work done tnef
hcient employed the result OF all which was, TO run
the man into The ground and sMpwIeck me enterprise
OF in this case, as in those mentioned by you,
and mining condemned as worthless by those
who their money through theiOwn most culpabe ig
nOrance and consequent msnanagement In every in
stance, the successful mines OF Grass Valley as else
where have been made by proper scientific and eco
nonicai business control poor manager will ruin a
rich mine, while competent one will make very ord
nary mine pay handsomely
The White Pine District, Nevada, is just now absorb
ing public attention The old 'Washoe excitement 49, in
fact being enacted again, With interest No doubt
rich deposits there; but IL Is, and will be, ike
all such excitements, so many OF which we nave seen IN
tins country where one wins. hundreds VIII fall AT
proved yauabea the rest is speculation. Everything
- in couflsionJunppg claims dsputlng titles &c &c
over 20 companies been Incorporated in California
how many Ia NeNada do nj rang
ing from 500 O0O 60 S0e0 eaeh representing in the
gregate probably SOoOoOO s located WITHIN the space
OF a few nnesl presume New ToiK ana the Ausntc
States will be flooded with White Pine stocks the coming
Summer; aud thousands are liable 10 DO dgawnlnto the
Of the new excitement TO the loss OF tAe honey
and creating additional dstrust for legitimate mining"
MORE ABOUT WHITE PINE
This new distinct is situated about hundred miles
south-cast Austin, and hundred aud twenty-five
miles from EkO the nearest station on tue Cetial facll
ic Railroad IL s IN sterile almost u1el1ss lanso ~ VI
mountains from 900 ~ 1900 feet above the leyeI OIhe
se; consequent ~ the climate is Of fearful severity III
Winter, and IRON tie rarity OF the Atmosphere very tr
ing 20 the constitution at all seasons But few OF the
compaies organized White Pine have proved the val
Of their MINES; ana utter confusion 0I ute PeVa'
which will lead TO ner1uHable ana costly sutsat law
Whatever OF value has been monopolzed by San
Fraocisco capitalists anu speclatot,s "a 90
organized the OF one day the STOCK OF wheh Is
likely be put the market under tue lever ~ e
excitement proceeds pOCketed as IN former tnes
while not twenty will ever be WORKED, except ID
states are cautioned against rushing 10 White Pine
Nothing but loss suffering, death can result rom
fore people reach them from TINS side 2OOO VIII DC
upon the ground from tho Pacific slope, ana PahdelpQh
nm viii DO let loose soon again
ALPINE COUNTY MINES. i -
The hedges In Alpine generally very large, Wen
deaaed, and 81 far as developed exceeding re gUr