The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-08-16
SILVER MINES.

The auesti IN is often asked: Are silver
mines inexhaustible? the query is not SO
easily answered. There are, we believe, a
very few instances where silver mines have
given out. But we know of no instance
where true fissure veins of argentiferous ore
have failed to yield the precious metal. 1t is
true they may be worked o such a great depth
that they become Improbable, or as in the
case of the Comstock lode, their working
may be met by such serious obstacles as to
render further progress not only Improbable
but impracticable. AS a rule throughout the
world it will be found that where silver mines
have been worked they are worked now. or
may be worked if the proper machinery were
Oh the ground. There are mines in Mexico
that were worked by the Aztecs before the
conquest by Cortez, that are still worked as
| plotitably as ever. The old Spanish mines
that were opened long before Hannibal's
time, and from which the Dons Of that per-
iod obtained the bright metal that adorned
the housings of their chargers. yield enOrm-
Gus profits to. day. For over three hundred
years the South American mines have con-
slantly enriched their owners and are now
great wealth producers. Those in Freiburg
that were opened III the elev enth century and
worked continually ever since yield their stea-
dy increase. There are mines in Hungary
worked by the Romans before the Savior's
time that still yield an abundance of ore.
The same be said of the mines in Norway,
Sweden and Russia, and iu nearly every other
place where silver mines have been opened.
They continue to be worked. their output Of
ore is not lessened nor its richness decreased.
On the contrary. they are generally
more productive now than at any
time during THEN past history.
With these lights before us, it may be safe
ly said that silver mines are inexhaustible, or
in other words that their profitable working
is measured only by the means available for
hosting the ore to the surface. II is known
that in true tissure veins silver bearing ore
becomes richer as depth is attained. This
increased richness of the output is marked
and generally keeps even pace with the
depth, so that the additional cost incurred
for hoisting is offset or paid by the greater
pruduc,iyeness Of the ore. Bottom has not
yet been touched in any of the mines above
named, and from present indications they
may be probably worked for several cer-
turtles to come. Those in Mexico and South
America are on the same great backbone that
supports the two grand divisions of the
Western Hemisphere. They are known to
be rich and centuries OF labor have failed to
exhaust them. Farther north, but on the
same silver. producing range, are the treasure
houses OF Colorado and Montana. There is
every reason to believe these will prove as
itch and as permanent as those which are be-
ing worked further south. In the absence of
a valid reason why they will not, We are JUS
tilted in asserting Chat the silver mines Of
Montana may be worked for several centuries
to come. There is nothing to prevent it.
TIE mines are here machinery is ObtaiEa
Die; ores can be produced in paying quaint
ties: silver is a legal tender to a fixed
amount aud as long as mankind covets
wealth they will dig and delve for it. For
ages after the present generation of men shall
have passed away the mines Of Butte will re-
suunh with the echoes of the pick and shovel.