The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-04-06
Naming Mines.

The following remarks from the Engineer
ing and Mining Journal ON the subject OF
naming mines, are pertinent and apply with
force to the western mining fields:
Of all people, the Americans are the most
servile copyists-exercise the least invention,
or even rational selection, in the designations
they give to localities. If the philosophy of
names received a little more thought, a vast
amount of uncertainty and mistake would be
saved. The matter is very far from being one
of Indifference, or of sentimental interest
only. A name is a call word, and is nothing
if not distinctive.
There are in the United States, IS Spring
fields, &c Washingtons, 80 Jeffersons, with
Jacksons and other popular ~favorites in pro-
portion. We have always admired the tact
and wisdom OF the unknown genius who,
when the people of Summit county, Ohio,
insisted on naming their county seat sESum-
mit," deity turned it into Greek, and, by
calling it Akron, gave the town a name of its
own. The Citizens of that thriving place
should raise a monument to his memory.
Unfortunately, after our fashion, the name
has been plagiarized, and there are now seven
post-otices called Akron. But as there are
II SUBMITS, the inhabitants of the Ohio town
still have ample cause for gratitude.
Our purpose just now is to call attention to
this subject in connection with the bestowal
of appellations on new mines and mining
districts. The present nomenclature is tothe
last degree confusing. There are "Americ .n,"
american Flag" "Champion," Columbia
"Comstock," "~Centennial," "California,"
'Dolly Varden,' "Eureka,'' sNorth STAR
s'Sunset" and "Wheel of Fortune mines in
senseless iteration, and so of fifty other SINH
lar titles. We once asked an otherwise very
sensible San Juan miner why he called his
location the Bobtail. s'There is a big mine
of that name in Gilpin county," he replied;
'may be this one will turn out like it," 1t
was strange that he did not perceive that this
was the best possible reason why he should
have chosen another designation. If his mine
turned out we'll he would feel it a misfortune
to have its record COMPOUNDED with that of its
namesake besides which, IN that case, the
action would work a double injustice.
When you organize a new district, Messrs.
Miners, don't call it "Gold Hill" There are
five important ones of that name already,
besides a greatly larger number of less prom
inence. That is enough; try something else.
a good name at first, but it Is used up. Your
intention about the matter is to give the mine
a name. Do 1T. .
Another suggestion. The mining news
published in Western newspapers is largely
for the benefit of readers at a distance from
the localities where it is gathered. The
Emma" or the ''Susie" mine is we'll known
in the Office OF the newspaper; but when the
item is read a couple of thousand of miles
away, the particular Emma or Susan reported
upon has become nebulous. Give district or
county.
We shall one day, no doubt, have some sort
Of a bureau Of mines at Washington, and we
hope one of its regulations will be that two
mines of the same name shall not be patented
in the same state or territory. The post-otfice
department has a similar rule in regard TO the
names of post-ottices. Meantime, after calling
the attention of miners to the matter, We in
woke their charity and good sense not to add
to the present confusion by the further multi
p~lication Of names already used overmuch.
Colonel John w. Forney writes thus plainly
in his Progress: "Women,' says he, shave
small faith in the honesty of women. They
tell you that at receptions, parties and the
like, small ornaments are always carried Off;
that card and photograph albums of reception
room tables are regularly %plundered and that
artificial and growing flowers are clipped and
torn to pieces if they stand anywhere within
reach of visitors. 1t is always women who
are suspected of these thefts. If women are
right in their opinions of women, and you
look for the explanation, | do not think that
you need look far. A lady may do with
impunity what a gentleman would never
dream of doing, and she knows it. A man
dare not gossip, for if he does any one is in
jured thereby punishment is swift, sure and
severe. But to gossip is the privilege of the
lady, and she is never called to account. So
with this older and graver sin. Suppose tor
instance, it was positively known that a rich
and aristocratic dame had deliberately stolen
one of those things what would be the result:
Nnthyp- ~ N,-,o IL .F,, --@,ll Ia,
hushed up. But suppose it was a gentleman;
well, he would be ruined forever--as much
as if he Vas caught picking a pocket in a
crowd"
A Powerful Italian.