Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-10-03
MINING EXPERTS.

Y JenVcr Mining Industry, iS the
foundation Of all opinions upon
which sensible predictions Of what
mining developments will show.
Reasoning from analogy is method
of reasoning which is founded upon
the common sense and experience
Of mankind, and il applies to min
ing as it does to everything else.
Experience teaches that when a
bank cashier becomes hard drinker
he will not long remain bank
cashier Experience teaches that
the confidential or trusted clerk or
cashier who is familiar with gam
bling rooms sooner or later becomes
defaulter. Experience teaches
that the mere hant who devotes
more time TO wine and women than
he does To business makes no sue
less. Experience teaches that fail
ure awaits the mine superintendent
who devotes his time to fast horses,
wine aud fun. Experience teaches
that the oretaceous rocks overlie the
jurass,c. So we never expect sue
cess from the drunkard cashier. the
gambling clerk, the dissipated bust
ness man or mine superintendent,
and when we find crctaceous rocks
we expect to find jurassic rocks un-
derl, ing them. Ordinary observa-
ton leads men TO expect these
things
In mining we have the same an
alogy. In the old mines Of Greece,
where silver and gold were produced
more than three thousand years ago,
and where the first mining lawsuit
arose, in the Spanish mines where
Hannibal obtained the sinews Of
war, in the Cornish veins where the
] Ancient Britons delved for tin and
copper in prehistoric times, in mod
ern American mines, and every
where in the world where mining
has been conducted, certain facts
have been observed and recorded.
In the study Of those facts the stu
dents of mining and the competent
mining engineer secs, or should sec,
general truths from which generali-
cations can be evolved. As his
view widens, either from observa-
ton, experience or study, he learns
TO expect that conditions which ev
erywhere have preceded certain re-
suits will continue elsewhere to pro-
duce like results, and he thus learns,
perhaps instinctivcly, perhaps log
ically to reason from analogy.
What general truths this reason
ing from analogy leads to, consti-
ties very largely the science of
mining geology A knowledge of
what they are and what they are
not is an important part of the
equipment of the mining engineer or
expert. And it il well to state that
the great majority of our so-called
mining experts know nothing about
them. Most of them draw their
conclusions from their own narrow
and circumscribed field of uxperi-
ence, with little knowledge of what
exists and has been observed and
proven outside. They are no more
competent to pass good judgment
upon the correctness of generaliza-
tions than they are upon tie com
position Of Jupiter.
A good illustration of the folly OF
attempting to draw conclusions
from limited observations which are
applicable to all mining regions, can
be found in the old Phillips book
where the author attempts to lay
down laws derived from his observ-
ations in Cornwall. which are OF
general application. Among scores
of inaccurate statements is one to
the effect that good veins n,v'r
have their vein matter outcropping
above the surface. While this may
be true as to Cornwall. it is not true
as to other places. Had Mr.. Phil
lips been called upon to pass jndg.
ment upon any one of the hundred
of valuable American mines he
would have condemned them be-
cause they cropped solidly above
the surface.
Coming nearer home, we find a
good illustration OF the valueless
character of much so-called expert
evidence at Leadvillc and Aspen
Fissure vein miners, in the early
DAVIS Of these camps, condemned
them because they did not conform
To what their limited field of obser-
walton taught them what q good
mining camp should be. In other
words, they generalized from in.
sufficient data Aud the word and
advice Of these practical assure vein
miners deferred many man from
, a profitable investment, The WORLD
is full Of expert blunderers, whether
J they he chemists that search fol
: poison in the bodies Of the dead, th'
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