The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-28
MINING AS A BUSINESS.
Reputable and Prominent Men En-
gagged in This Enterprise.

gagged in This Enterprise.
Just now it is noticeable that the
mining industry is calling forth a good
many comments from all sides. This
is as it should be- Mining enterprises
of the present day represent an enor-
nous amount of invested capital. Few,
if any, other enterprises have the same
claim upon the public purse. Interest
grows with every discovery of minerals,
says the Western Mining World. Signs
of ore, no matter where found, in The
mountain or valley, in the sands of
Africa or the SHOWS of Alaska, no mat
ter, climate, risk or remoteness, are
the signals for the stampede Of men
and money Idle capital has a keen
scent, and it can as q rule be depended
upon to strike a bee line prompt and
direct to the richly filled vaults of
mother earth.
1t is easily captured by the ShreWd
and unprincipled promoter who, ang-
ling in a shoal of golden fish, generally
succeeds in landing the coveted prize.
History furnishes no end of examples
of this kind. The greed for gain is now
and always was more strongly mark
ed in those who, in a financial sense,
need it the least. Nor is it out of the
usual experience of human nature that
men with more conscience are always
in evidence when the opportunity of
raklng in the ducats is afforded them.
In mining enterprises there was a
time, and the clock has not run down
vet, when the goose to be plucked and
the man to bag it's feathers were in
abundance. 1t is, however, to be noted
that change for the better is showing
itself The ethics of mining are i'm
proving, and although the rogues may
be as many and the fools as numerous,
experience has not been without its
beneficial results. Mining is being
lifted out CT the gambling pit, specula-
ton is less haSty and more strictly hon
est, and more reputable business men
are engaged in mining transactions
than ever before.
This is a healthful sign and is doing
more to place mining enterprises on
legitimate and permanent basis than
ANY other means that could be devised.
OF course there is always more or less
Cf uncertainty in mining returns. This
is inseparable from the situation. I'm
til the subterranean vault is opened,
there must be more or less guess work
and speculation as to its contents.
Science, however, is not so likely as
when less intelligent or experienced
to make any grave mistakes. 1t fol-
man does the spoor of the giraffe, or
a mound the circle made by a stag or
hare. Its decisions are seldom guesses,
and the lay Spectator has his risks
minimized. The facility for securing
trustworthy Information as to the
standing and character of firms inter
ested in mining developments are
largely increased, and men with a rea-
sonable amount of caution and pru-
dence can in nine cases out of ten,
look before they leap" These facts
considered, mining enterprises are less
hazardous and the investor more Sc
cure. The elimination of abuses has
been slow but continuous. Fraud is
having a frightened bride. Speculation
is less a private vice or a public craze.
Mining enterprises are less vagrant and
spasmodic. and the class of men en-
gagged in the business are of better
class than at one time dominant With
abundant resources of raw material;
cleaner methods of business and the
more systematic building up of
great industry, the mining interests of
the country have a broadening and
brighter prospect of stability and
higher place in public confidence.