Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-07-24
A. WORD TO PRosPECroRs.


Under the caption of "a Word to
Investors" in our last issue, our re-
marks were confined to a brief state
medt of the difference between a dev-
eloped mine. and an undeveloped mine,
as they appealed to the would-be in
vestor, who desired to place his money
where it would yield the best return.
The subject presents mony phazss and
in our limited space We can only
touch upon few and that very brief
| ly. This week we have word to say
to the prospector and miner.
1t should be the care of every pro.
spector who desires to dispose of his
mine and is interested in the welfare
Of the camp where he is located, to
see to it, so far as it lies in his power,
that the buyer becomes interested in
a good and genuine property. 1t is
fully as important to the prospector,
and to the people who are living in a
camp, as it is to the buyer, that the
enterprise should prove success. We
cannot afford to have q stranger come
into our district, pay out his good
money and make failure. 1t should
be constantly borne in mind one sue
cess calls, two. and two call four, and
four calls for a boom, where capital
flows in like an irresistible tide. 1t
will be no trouble than to dispose of
your holdings, and that too at a price
far in advance Of what you would be
justified in asking when there is no
I excitement and the camp is dull.
Occasionally there comes q man famil-
lar with mines, shrewd operator, who
knows a mine when he see it, and
knows what to do with it when he gets
it. But most of those who seek to in
vest in mines are men who know moth
ing about the business, or the different
methods for reducing the ores and OBJ
tanning the precious metal. They are
as general thing. business men, who by
care and attention to their ayocations
have been successful. They have a
few thousand dollars which they can
spare. and they seek to invest it where
it will be bringing them the largest in
come. When such a man comes among
us treat him as an honored guest, be
honest with HIM, don't misrepresent,
don't eXaggerate, but prepare yourselves
to show him where his profits are to
come from, and explain every step and
stage in the operation, from the time
the ore is taken out till the pure metal
is obtained. To do this, you should
post yourselves on the cost of treat.
ment by the difierent processes, as well
as ascertaining the different constitu-
ents Of your ore. Do not represent
your mine as q free milling PROPOSE
ton when the ore is only adapted to
smelling, and to erect stamp mill
would only ruin and bring disaster.
Tie investor don't care whether it is
free milling or refractory, all he wants
is to be able to take his pencil and
figure out that it will pay, or at least
the chances are in his favor OF course
in presenting all undeveloped property
there is always the element Of risk, and
the greater the risk the lower should
be your price. Give the investor every
opportunity ty make himself as safe as
circumstances will admit. If he de-
sires to further Investigate the property
before putting in his money, fix the
price and give him bond for 2, 3, or
1 months providing he shall develop
the property continuously up TO the
time the bond expires Have care
though, don't let any shrewd manipu-
later tie up your property to speculate
Upon it without any cost to himself,
there should always be work done or
money paid
But when your customer takes hold
in good faith help him to make a sue
cess, give him the benefit Of your ex-
perience in the business. Another
thing, don't be envious or jelous. When
you see your customer, to whom you
have bonded your mine at q low price,
opening up bonadza, and taking out a
fortune right under your nose, rejoice
with him, sign the deed and let it 60.
He deserves good luck for his enterprise
and has done with his money what you
could not have done with your muscle
alone. You have got enough out of it
to pay you well for your time and labor,
take it and go and find another one.