The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-15

capital, operating mines in this coIn-
try and in Africa, Is perhaps the
most in evidence in the mining ip-
dustry 1t Is commonly said
that the Englishmen are doing this
or doing that, and the statement has
been made that the British mining
companies are grabbing up everybody
in sight. 1t Is added that the pay IL big
as the field Is great, and a ready in
stance Of the handsome remuneration
awaiting these fortunate graduates Is
found in the experience Of John Hays
Hammond, who, II ts said, receives $780,
900 year.
Such statements are misleading. It IL
unQuestionably true that there are not
enough competent mine managers to
supply the demand. But authorities
controvert the assertion that the grad
yates Of technical schools Immediately
find tempting places waiting for their
appearance in the fields Of the practical
work. 1t is true that men Of ability of
John Hays Hammond can command
very large salaries for their services In
managing Mines but Mr.. Hammond.
when he went to Africa for $50, ,O00 had
already shown his capability and won a
high reputation in the United States.
He Is a graduate of Yale, but he did not
step from the university into the $50, 1000
place.
MISAPPREHENSION
1t would be hard to show that in pro-
portion more graduates in mining en-
cheering make shining successes than
graduates of law, medical, or theolo-
gical school. There are not so many in
the classes In the mining schools as at
the other institutions, and of the grad
yates in the various branches Of min
ing those whose work is to be gold min
ing-the branch commonly refervd %
when mine managers are spoken Of
are very few. When they get through
their college course or their term Of
special study they SCATTER to work
wherever there are mines. So q num-
Der, In fact small, tends to appear small
Ter because less Is heard Immediately
of the individuals. This being so, and
news being heard of lack of compe-
tent mine managers, the conclusion is
sometimes jumped at that there is q.
~
nate. In time there Is one.
Rut the graduate Of a mining school
Is not ready to take the direction of q
mine. 1t is accepted among mine own
ers in these days Of scientific mining that
book knowledge Is essential to the sat.
isfactory operation of mine, but Il
has to be supplemented by an actual.
practical working knowledge of the
mining industry. which can only be OBJ
tanned by active, persistent, and intel
igs,t labor in the feds and under
ground. So the graduate has some
thing to do before he is prepared to Of
fer himself as q competent mine manag-
er. Some graduates seek work in offices
or with other engineers, some in the
mines. After this they are on the plane
If they have been diligent and have ma
turai ability, where they are likely to
receive big offers to go and take charge
of mining properties. There are good
mine managers who are not college
graduates. but those of them who are
not nabobs the product of an earlier
and less utilitarian day, are not the ones
who are making s6O.OC0 year to start
in on. although some times they may
have good salaries And they are not
the one who are making their million
or million and half Of dollars.
HAS TO BE SEASONED.
The graduate who goes out to a mine
ID likely to be looked on at first as some
thing Of a hothouse growth and has
not to bring the stores of his intellect
IN hoor ,,pOv, tho r,ro DtScol v,rnb,oc,s 80