Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-02-01

Not long ago a couple of mining mel,
both strangers to each other, met in the
reading room of the Walker House,
Harley, Idaho. The conversation tur-
ned on the mineral developments of the
West. and presently one OF the men re-
marked, eff you want TO see mining on
big scale, just go to Southern Utah. y
"How big?" said the other quietly.
"Why, the Big Hole mine that 1 am
connected with has the deepest shaft
and the biggest workings in the world u
"How deep?" said the little man.
"You can't measure it, because if we
stopped work long enough to see how
deep the shaft was it would materially
interfere with the bullion produced. We
dropped line once and reeled 1t out
until it broke with its own weight.
When boy falls down that shaft he
strikes the bottom grandfather.
"Must have big pay roll?'
I'VE used to send the money down to
the hands in cages until the workmen
got so deep that we didn't get the Win
ter account settled until way along in
the Spring. So we started bank and
telegraphed the money orders. That
system saved us an awful weaI aud tear
on the cages. The miners live down
there and rear their families. They've
got an underground city bigger'n Salt
Lake, with a regular charter and munci-
pal elections twice year. They pub
lish two daily papers and literary
magazine.
81 never heard of the magazine, said
the stranger.
"Of course not, it would be year
old when it got to you. Besides they
hold fair every year aud have horse
races every Saturday. Finest four mile
track in the world, lit with electric light.
No mud. no dust, always in the same
condition. Perfect paradise for sports.
What do you think of that for a mine?'
Here the stranger who was Califor-
nian, threw his leg carelessly over the
arm of chair, and lighting fresh ci'
gar. replied in deep. earnest tones:
Il don't think much of your mine.
You work too much for small results.
When your mine plays out you have s
lot of machinery on your hands. and
where are you? You mine after primi
tive methods, like all new countries. II
takes experience and head work to tackle
the industry in proper shape. With
your mine you must he on the ground
in person, and have any amount of mel
to look after that or this department.
"Now, / have a bigger mine thai
yours. 1t is located in Storey County
somewhere in the northern part, be
heve and run 1t up TO the handle Will
one or two assistance"
"How deep might the shaft be?" asked
the other.
'lt might be pretty deep if L allowed
the men to rush forward and overdo tn,
the thing, but at present there is NJ
shaft at ALL"
"Hoisting works up?"
mo, no hoistings works-not if
know it. You can fool away a good dea
of hard coin on hoisting works"
"How in thunder do you run you
miDe?"
"On the assessment plan, sir. That
the latest and most improved method
We have a big map of the mine hung VI
IN the company's office made by one o
the most competent artists on the coas
Now, when we have a good map of tn
lower workings we don't need any work
to speak of. We photograph the Savag
hoistings works from the top of til
Norcross and Hale trussel works-a
entirely new view-and call it by ou
name in the bullion brick. 1 keep a ma
in Virginia at $50 month to superb
tend the location and write week.
letters. and stay in my office in Sa
Francisco and levy the assessment
every 60 days; that's rs often as the La
allows. am the President, Board {
Trustees, Secretary, Treasurer and ever.
thing-more especially the Treasure
OF course draw a salary for all the offic'
and when 1 get through drawing salari,
, 1 turn the rest over to the agent in Vi
I ginia to pay of the hands. By not en-
5 ploying any hands he saves enough
pay himself. My regular income fro
that is 5000, 900 year and never a pie
struck in the ground. This is what
l consider scientific mining, sir, You 6
the silver out of the pockets of the stoc
holders and leave the vast argentiferol
{ and auriferous deposits in your clai
, for your children who can go rig
2 ahead and develop the mine just
7 quick as the public quit putting u
!, which isn't at all likely to happen.
soon as man drops on the game he di
and the newcomer will have to learn f
: themselves. As long as people are bol
: Nevada and California my mine W
run on like chronometer clock.
e But" said the Utah man, ''my sty
t of mining keeps lot of men to work
$50 does mine" quoth tae gold
! gate chap. Thousands of men are VIC
e king night and day to pay the asses
a ment. 1t keeps the country as busy
!, a beehive" and. he saunterend to t
y telegraph Office to order assessment \
= Sc.