The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1895-11-09
FNATICAL FOLEY.

The mining world is both cursed and
blessed with theories and theorists. Ii
is rather remarkable that most of the
theoretical curses are men who spurn
and ridicule theories, and believe only
in the practical man. They are in bliss
full ignorance of the fact that their
spurning and ridicule are based upon
the theory that only practical experience
has merit. They are themselves slaves
of the very thing they ridicule. The
commonest manifestation OF hidebound,
theoretical prejudice is found in the
"old miners" who glory in being prac-
tical men, who visit newly discovered
camps aud pronounce judgment upon
them. Ono never saw new and good
camp yet in which there was not plenty
of men of this stamp to curse it. The
visitor to it in its early days will find
strings Of them leaving the camp, de-
claring there is nothing there. 1t was SO
at Leadyille, at Cripple Cresk, at Butte
City and at every good camp on earth.
1t is SO now at the Gunnison gold belt
at Hayn's Peak and at La Belle, and
will continue to be SO as long as there
are new camps to be discovered.
The trouble with the practical man is
his erroneous theory, and his ignorance
of the fact that he is acting on theory
His observation and experience has
been confined 10 one or very few min
ing camps. In those he has uncon-
sciously formed theories about the in
dications, peculiar ores or geological
conditions that are necessary to make
good mines. When he does not find
those things in a camp, his theory
causes him to condemn the region. A
theory to be good for anything must be
based upon wide experience, study and
knowledge of the subject. Tho purely
practical men never have these, and
many others who profess to have them
are woefully lacking.
| The fact is there never was a good
mining enterprise undertaken which
was not based upon theory. The prac.
tical man sometimes hits it, often
bluunderingly, and just as often blindly
grouping in the dark misses a good thing
which theorist afterward finds. A little
bit of stringer or veinlet leading away
from vein means nothing nothing to
the practical man. Years alter he has
Jailed in his mining venture, or perhap.
extracted what he thinks is all its value
the theorist takes hold of it-cross-cut,
fo- the stringer, or follows it and finds /
bonanza. This is but one illustration o
many common experiences. Good min
ing often consists in following wise, co
herent and well digested theory to it
conclusion.
Probably no mining region on eartf
shows this more conclusively than il
Leadyille. The great wealth of th'
camp to-day is coming from ore de
posits which were found by prospecting
in accordance with theories. Toda.
more prospecting OF the same kind, in
volving the expenditure ultimately of
score of million dollars, is progressing
with as much certainty of meeting sue
cess, considered as an entirity, as
farmer has OF reaping crop when h
plants seed.
And it is in mining in this respect a
in everything on earth. Theory lies a
the base of all. The state, the church
education, science, all rest on theory
The practical is necessary; is worthy Q
all respect when it is where it belongs
but its test OF value is "on what theor,
is this practical founded" Mere &C
tivity, intense practically may be aim
less folly.-Mining Industry and Re
view.