Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1884-08-09
BETTER UNDERTAKING..

In connection with the Improvements
in mining machinery of all classes,
which are making rapid advances from
year 10 year, it is to be hoped that an
equal improvement in knowledge con-
corning the proper use OF mechanism
used in mining operations, may prevail.
The history of past activity in almost
every mining field is marked by monu.
ments Of folly in which the wrecks Of
mining pl ants are prominent feature.
There appeared for time to be a ten
dency in the minds of those commenc-
ing the work Of extracting ore from The
earth, to Immediately invest in some
kind Of mining machinery, even, in
some instances, before the location was
determined upon, or the mine secured,
and in hundreds Of cases, certainly be-
fore the character OF the ore was deter
mined, or the requirements Of the mine
fully investigated and understood. The
results Of such procedure might easily
have been foretold from the beginning,
as it could only in exceptional eases
have come to different conclusion.
One peculiar feature of all disastrous
operations, is that in no case SO far has
the failure been attributed to the real
cause, but to the ignorance, inexperi-
ence and rascality Of operators have all
been covered, with shadow Of reproach
cast upon the fair name Of the great
mining industry, whose future will vim
dictate its true character and show in the
clearest light the mistakes and pertidy
Of those who have attempted by false
Misrepresentation TO cover the record Of
their own mistakes.
If business man should make an
investment in saw or grist mill, he
would not be likely to send either to a
locality were neither timber nor grain
was produced, or could not be procured,
and it would be certainly strange if he
should intrust the management Of either
TO parties who were totally inexperi.
enced and ignorant concerning the du-
ties they were to perform. Should he,
however, for any reason, make such a
mistake, it would require no unusual
foresight to predict the result SO far as
financial investment was concerned.
Yet the history of mining operations is
marked by thousands OF instances which
show more lamentable lack of the first
principles necessary to insure success.
So frequent have been these mistakes,
so certain and unanimous have been the
results, so often and almost without ex.
cepticn the loss and disappointment,
that the people, not fully comprehend.
ing the cause, have generally come to
the conclusion that the cause OF the
failure must lie in the mine or ores
themselves. The most positive assur-
ances Of permanency, profit and success
is held in public opinion to be almost
synonym for uncertainty, loss and fail.
ure.
For time this industry must suffer
from this unjust reproach, which has
been cast upon it by those anxieus to
hide their own mistakes and misdeeds,
but the undisputable record of substan.
tial output, the steady returns from
careful investments, and most thorough
investigation of all facts connected with
its history and development, will at last
place it in its true position before the
people, and capital will again seek it as
one of the most reliable and safest
fields wherein it can operate.
When thss time comes there will be
need even for miners themselves to learn
something from the experience Of the
past, and labor more faithfully for the
interests of the future of their camp
and locality, and less for present and
selfish advantage, Aiming Rt9ieaO.
NELLIE BRACKETr has appeared
again as witness in the Sharon trial,
this time for the defense. She contra