Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-06-15
NUMBER "a.
MINING AFFAIRS.


pr ize. And il has been so from the first.
There were disappointment and failures
while the placers of California were yet
in a virgin state. Men packed their
blankets out of the mines in 40, satisfied
that they would no longer pay wages.
The army of "dead broken began 10
muster even that early. Thoro were
tramps in those days luckless, spiritless,
worthless wights-just as there are now.
There were feeble, Inefficient persons who
could not, and vagnbonds who would not
work, mining having always been afllict-
edswith its full share OF tho incompetents
and dronos. But not in these has it found
its greatest drawbacks. Paradoxical As
it may seem, it has suffered most from
men Of opposite tendenccs-tro the
sashing, go.ahead fellows-who, visiona-
ry, careless and wastefu have so often
defeated their own endeavors, and dissi-
pated what the moro prudent and frugal
had gained. And to this day we have
found no sufficient corrective for this evil.
After all we have suffered and lost We
will not go about mining as we do about
every other kind of business.
If a man having too little money would
start hog ranch, ho finds another who
has some funds, and formirg partner
ship they two carry on the porqine estab-
lishment with as~lttle noise as circum-
stances will permit, The same whentws
or three men conclude to embark in
lumber making, they associate themselves
together, put up n saw-mill and run it
as quietly as possible. And SO OF tho
mining which has to be conducted In
way altogether different. For carrying
on this, however small the enterprise,
company, with Board Of Directors and
Il Secretary, must be Incorporated. An
office must be hired and furnished. A
set of books must bo provided always
one for recording assessments and anoth
er for containing tho blank certificates OF
shares, which certificates are usually en-
belished with some significant device, rs
n miner delving with pick, to show that
the hard work Of the concern is 10 bo
mostly dono OH paper, or u goddess of
liboriy, symbolical of tho freedom with
which the directors shall bo permitted TO
onbezzle the corporate funds. What uso
is made of this machine in n majority of
cases is well enough known. When ono
of these Incorporated companies has ever
achieved marked and permanent suo-
cess, II hundred have yielded up tho ghost
after short and Improbable career or
survived only to flch money from the
pockets of tho shareholders. OF tho loss
es incurred through stock gambling, noth-
ing in this connection need DO said.
In regard to the Inter, II is certainly
time IL was purged OF its more palpablc
and lOngstanding abuses. Rightly mr.
sued, mining for the precious metals ON
this coast ought TO be tho safest and best
paying industry in which our people conld
engage. Our mineral territory is rich IN
this class OF deposits and OF almost ilimit-
able extent. The mines are open to all.
They .havc not been and never can be
monopolized to an injurious extent. The
natural facilities for prosecuting the bus
mess are generally good. Its Il hoalthful,
manly occupation, incapable Of being
overdono or excessively crowded. For
its products there is always u cash mar.
l,et. 1t never suffers from competition.
Where rightly undertaken and prudoHtly
carried on it Is attended with rs little
uncertainty ms most other calings. With
TO have been far more successful than it
has been. What makes lailuro hero
the more excusable Is the faet that they
might and should havo beon avoided.
Tho first thing to be done in correcting
past mistakes is the observance Of greater
economy both at the outset and in cur
rent expenses. The substitution of linn
tied partnerships or mere associations
might in many cases be substituted for
incorporated companies. For tho man
agement Of every enterprise a man OF
practical experience should be selected
the practice Of appointing persons to
these positions merely out of considera-
tions of friendship or to obligs somo
memberof accompany, being bad one.
The plan Of letting out work by contract,
where practicable, has generally been
found to work WE'LL Companies or par
ties owning properties that are likely to
prove lasting should erect comfortable
dwellings for their workmen, as by this
means they will draw into their service
men OF families, who, besides being moro
permanent and reliable, are more apt 10
take an interest in the business of their
employers. This, too, by reducing tho
cost Of living to the laborer, enables him
TO work for less wages, he being at the
same time more comfortable and inde-
pendent. In some parts OF California
where mine proprietors have pursued this
policy pleasant hamlets with largo
youthful and contsnted adult popula-
ton have grown up about their works.
After a time the workmen are apt to buy
these dwellings with the ground about
them, and feeling settled, begin to plant
their places with trees, cultivate gardens
and finally make for themselves hand
some homesteads.
As to our boys, let them DO turned out
into the mines and there set to work earn
ing livelihood. 1t may be little rough
on them at first, but once they get used
to it they will come to like the business.
Mining Press.
CONSTANT occupation prevents tempt