The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-08-19
Pertinent Remarks and suggestions FOL
h Friends Of Our Mining Interest
to Weigh Well and Reflect
Upon.
EDITORIAL Rooms OF THE
Engineering and Mining Journal. Z
New York, August 6, 1870. }

Engineering ana 1Mthtny JOhTnut:
New YORK, August g. 1879. }
Editor Butte MINER:
DEAR SlR-Attcr an absence OF more than
three months, l find on my return to this
office your very complimentary editorial con.
tanned in the MINER Of May goth. My pro-
fessional work in Utah detained me much
longer than 1 had expected and it was with
great regret that l was obl'gel to defer my
visit to Montana to Il mOie "convenieht
season. At the same time acknowledge
the very courteous reception which you had
bespoken for NE and ii you will ALLOW me l
will make a few remarks upon the subject of
your article; viz: The services which mine
managers and owners can do their respective
districts by furnishing full and reliable infor-
nation concerning their properties and the
elements which 60 to make up the value Of a
mine.
Montana has already an established reputa-
ton for rich mines and the columns Of the
Engineering and Mining Journal have re-
corded from time to time discoveries which
have attracted much attention from our capi-
talists. 1t has always been the aim of the
Journal to promote legitimate mining indus
try and to deprecate sensational mining and
injudicious invcstmentsin dountfu properties.
We firmly believe that mining investments
may, with the same degree Of prudence as is
deemed necessary in any other class of busi-
ness, be made The most profitable that capital
lists can embark in. But whether it be from
a TOO eager desire to grow rich suddenly or
from what other cause, it is certain that men
WHO ale circnmspect in amy ordinary business
become perfectly reckless and wild when
they are dealing in mines. This spirit which
eliminates under 4 passion for stock gamb-
ling, is encouraged and ~fostered by thousands
whose interests it SubServcs, and amung the
most potent instl uc,Ors of thisd emolalizing
school are not Il few of our newspapers.
1t is perhaps natural that We should expe ct
to find advocates for that which ''puts money
in their purses" but it is nevertheless to be
regretted that those who control the public
press should so completely ignore tic de-
moralization which the practice Of their
principles invariably involves. 1t is Will,
great pleasure, therefore, hat we note the
upright course which the MINER has takenin
intoxicating the lessons of business morality
and in seeking to induce those in authority
to make a practice Of furnishing such infor-
nation concerning mines as would from its
very example tend to frus. rate the plans of
those seekingt to float s. wild cat"
Nothing can in the cn0 be more injurious
t" a mining district than the Investment of
capital in worthless mining properties or the
floating Of grossly exaggerated mines, were
they really good; and those who stand by
and allow such transactions to be CONSUME
mated simply because they do not wish to
Interfere with their neighbours business, ale
in a measure responsible for the effects such
transactions produce.
AT the present time the interest in mining
is growing with unexampled rapidity here in
the East and we believe that large amounts
Of foreign capital OF England, France and
Germany will seek investment in our .Amerl-
can mites in the next few years.
Their" is GOOD reason to look for this in tic
present condition of the foreign industrial
markets but the floating of Il few .Emmas,"
:. Ca'lhnus,' "bId Tele.rapl.s,' AVID surl,
Ike will O discourage foreign investors
ana turn their means in other directions than
those which we have Indicated. To cucour-
age a substantial and permanent interest in
mining. whether it he among foreign or
domestic capitalists, it is Necessary hat MIN
ing investments should be profitable; while
to discour' ce and intim;date capitalists it is
simply necessary to sink a few lar; sums in
some worthless " grossly exaggerated Nine.
Montana has been comparatively free from
sperulatioNs vt the class mentioned: hut with
Il %reviving Interest in mining there will NOT
I've wanti''. those VIII" will seek to float their
mines and prospects at values far higher
than the properties will justify. And should
hut a few Of these schemes he s,,mma
tho general mining interests of Montana will
suffer immensely, as it will throw discred;t
upon many good properties and drive capital
to other fields. ~
Thanking You agai. for your kind and
'a'ter'ns invitation and r~orsratula,ing you
upon the success Of the MINER, and hor,iro
maj az u" very distant day We may be able
to visit Your district, we remain
Very respectfully yours.
r.. p. ROTnwEI.L,