The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-16
WORKING A SILVER MINE.
New Workers Pay Dearly for Their Expert
ence-$150,0 900 Sunk

q dear experience for some New Yol
capitalist" mining expert said, il
troduc ng the subject to group
gentlemen smoking socially in dow
town office. without giving name
can give the two years history of
speculation that is sample of man
others. l was here in New York, NJ
exactly waiting for something to tur
up, but at least at leisure, when Sc,
eral gentlemen called to see me an
ask about mining property in Mexico
One is the owner of big bushes
block, and two are at the head of larg
manufacturing interests. They were
with the others eager to invest in sill
yer mines. 1t was when the late Graz,
was at its height. The money for the
Start could be subscribed in day, am
the only obstacle was in finding mar
10 go and locate the mines. They had
heard of me and had come to suggest
the subject to me. We had some very
plain talk about mining, and it finally
ran into what they were to do for me-
Ihey were willing to pay my expenses
ana give me good salary to go to
Mexico, find some mines and start
Them That was well enough so far
as 1t went, but il didn't go far enough.
i knew that [ could find mines there
that would be profitable if | had the
money to start them, and, knowing
that, did not intend to allow half a
dozen gentlemen to make fortune
and leave me out in the cold. So |
said Gentlemen, will go to Mexico
and find mines for you if you will paw
my expenses. l don't want q salary
until after they are opened, but | do
want an interest-a fifth If 90 into
this thing | go in intending to make
S15O,O 600. | know where | can find
mines, and all | need is money enough
TO start them with.
at may seem a trihe singular that |
L had knowledge of mines that 1 had
not made use of before, but l had lived |
Pm Mexico about fifteen years, ard l
never had money enough to open
mines that L knew of, or knew that l
could locate. Some of the mines open
ed originally by the Indians, have been
handed down from father to son, and
"a man has to live among the Mexicans
some years before he can sift the truth
from all the stories.
AFTER several conferences the gen.
tlemen agreed to my plan. l was to
nave $4,000 to start with, and to be
the local manager after the locating of
the mines. They were apparently
willing to do the fair thing for me,
and L was willing to do my best for I
them. 1 never did like living in Mex t
leo, but l put that feeling aside and t
started. q
1.-The government of Mexico gives
very fair concessions to miners, and
lad no trouble in locating four mines,
If which at least two would prove a
thought. l sunk Shafts U
n all four to secure them, and was X
working along all right in two Of them
7hen down came one of those mining u
xperts from college. He looked over
he mines, and, of course, thought he 81
new more about mining than L did. >,
lie didn't attempt to interfere with nv ~
'ork, and didn't have much to say fo
him. He thought the mines were
cher than L did, and he also thought IN
lie ore could be smelted for much
mailer cost than l estimated. After e'
while he returned, and soon another TT
'efessor came down He apparently 81
lew everything. He was called the de
cretary, and was paid $3.50 month,
nile | was working along for $40. WI
q $40 month is a mighty little to no
e on in that country. Before long
had two clerks and storekeeper IN!
'rking for from 300 to $3.50 a month. do
couldn't speak word of Spanish.
had to hire an interpreter. no
All this time had been interesting
ne Mexican friends in the scheme ao'
l. having faith in me, they support =,
me in what | was doing. When 'hS
professor took charge l quit and =,
Mt to New York to have talk with Ina
stockholders. A company, with SOL
sident, vice president, treasurer. mo .
rotary, and directors, had been Or
lized in the meanwhile, and had re- sen
7ed my share of the stock. | de- youo
bed the situation at the mines and v
ired to know what the next steps WIN
I'D be. We were then smelling u ej
ut $50 to the ton. / had figured IRA,
cost OF smelling from Sl2 to S15 a -
although the professor had tig- va" n
d as low as as $3.50 a ton. Ii was n,
lily agreed that l should return and l
tlnue as working manager, while aea'
professor was to take charge of the PRIV
noes. Nnen L returned L found
the professor had sunk shaft l.
e back of the house. had made spec
my mind long before that it would II
pay to work that lead, and had III, arall
ndoned it. The other mines were his
n the mountains, and were good ''i I,'
harder for the tender footed pro- ~
or to reach. Besides he had had A am
BILE with the Mexican laborers. GIRL
the wages of Mexican laborer
he thinks you are robbing him. The
mad to have heavy sticks of timber w
led up to the mines in the noun Ada,
S, and l had employed a number bano
lexicans to carry them up on their Is .
llders. They could carry up i've of on
x sticks day, and l had paid She
l by the stick, each man making yybv
1t 20 cents day. The professor h,a
ght that was too much, and had in th
down the price. The men quit and
ing, and he was in the lurch. sasse
York went along that way for We a
lie, and the professor became dis choo
ipH II., -,