Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-07
COMMUNICATION EROM RUBY
HILl
RUBY HILL, March 6, 1876.


EDITOR SENTINEL: From reports iu
circulation on Ruby Hill / infer thai
the Richmond Mining Company has
already let, or are making arrange
ments to let, the whole Richmond
mine OH contract. A good deal Of the
ore now taken from the mine is ex-
tracted on contract by the ton, and the
company's manager having found it a
convenient way has concluded to let
the entire mine.
There il no doubt that the contract
system, If honestly carried out, is an
economical way to work mines. When
honestly carried out it is open to COM
petition. Tenders are called for in the
pubic press, and the proposal Of the
lowest responsible bidder is accepted.
When this plan is adhered to there is
no room for middlemen. The COM
pany gets its work done at the lowest
rates. The profits from the labor of
each individual miner are small, but
taken together where there Is a large
number OF men employed, they az
gregate q good sum at the eud 0f the
month.
On the other hand, the contract plan
when not carried out OH the square is
the worst system that can he intro
dueed-the worst tor the company
adopting it as we'll as for the miners.
1t is to-day the cause OF many mines
in Nevada lying idle, which, il they
had been legilimaiely worked. would
be productive. This is especially the
ca.o with mines owned by English
companies. English capitalists reside
at a distance from the scene of opera
tons. Their representatives seldom
come on LIE ground 20 examine the
mines or the means that have been
adopted to make them ~remuneratiye,
and when they do come sufficient OPP
portuniiy il not afforded them to make
themselves thoroughly acquainted
with al. the practices of their agents.
Their agents are generally appointed
in England. They expatriate them
selves from their own country in the
hope Of realizing an independence in
n few years. When they come here
they set To work with n good will to ac-
coiuplish the desired object. Many of
them bring with them a clique of cous.
ms or followers. All the lucra i've Of
fees are bestowed On these followers,
and new offices vreated for their spe .ial
benefit. They get contracts at far
higher figures than would be given to
mers strangers. Those who are not i'm
the ''ring" find il advan'ageousto con.
nivs At il and hold their tongues. In
the parlance of the miners they are Sin
with the superintendent and it is the
safest way not to Interfere with them.
Like our State politicians, these men
are very fond of talking about retrench-
ment and economy. With them.
oiny means reduction of the wages. II
the mine has failed To pay dividends, it
Is owing To the high price of labor. a
show of economy is made by an at
tempt TO lower the wages or increase
The hours Of labor. Accent is put into
the company's pocket with the right
hand, while a dollar is taken out with
the left.
l do not positively state that the sys-
TEN of mine management laid down
here is exactly applicable to the Rich
mond, but certainly events for the last
four months point that way. Offices
have been created and ore contracts let.
The ore contracts were all let to one
clique; the were not open to conpeti-
1919 "
cretly. 1t WAS not generally knc W
that n contract was to he let until
1t WAS declared that 1t had been
let. The men who hayetiiese ont acts
make from 500 to $500 per month. In
the meantime the superinte ndent, To
divert the attention of the public, as
we'll ~ The stockholders from this state
,hs ,.as sSe s,an,nve, ;n by
ed silver dollars.
] will here say a few words about
me recen, at'e',,pt 70 introun'e lne
law nh ,ha oiium IF his measmrs 70
,Iys char,e Of one man Mr. probert.
Tn;s /. moi rirbt. ,,,a hi,na s,,o,,,d h.
dividsd n will hs rems,nbered that
Wr Probart was ~fnr,na,Iv acting sm.
,,.ri,tandent for ,ha Ri,.hn,ond 1,on
,anw While in th.t c,,.citv ha nay
a. ~ anv ohnnIious chanwes.
H.. -cn,nni;ad in III h;s ,c,,,,ns viii ths
astahlished usa,,a. nf tn. iistrirt. nor
Lowa T ower haar that ha aucrnach.d
on rha nrivileyas Of his snIordina,e
nn,cars Ills ,-nanay.,,aut WAS marked