Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1897-11-30
MINE DEVELOPMENT.
"A fronteoIe Industry. A Suggestion
by j. W. Pinder, Mining
Engineer.

Ihose who have made intelligent
observation of the possible mineral
production Of Nevada, cannot doubt
that great wealth and prosperity will
some day attend the efforts of Iegiti-
mate enterprise in the proper devel-
opment of the numerous and promis-
ing deposits known to exist within
the state.
That Nevada Is dilatory in this par
tlcular cannot be denied. Almost
everyone has claims, more or less, but
few possess the means with which to
develop them. And there seems to
be Little real interest manifested in
procuring the necessary assistance of
those who have such means. But
there Is one feature connected with
the mining industry which is appar.
emily but little understood, and that
Is the matter of mine development
or to make it clearer, the lack of mine
development.
There are almost as many prospec;s
as there are claims. And there is one
very prominent idea In the minds of
prospecting miners and that is, if they
have 30 foot shaft, or a 100 foot
tunnel on the lode, they have a nine.
But where one good prospect has these
there are hundred of less develop
ment. If the people of the mining
districts doubt this assertion let them
cast their eyes over the mining fields
OF their own section and figure on the
developed and undeveloped lodes, and
they may realize what they ha We
within their grasp in the way Of gold
en- wealth, with no one grasping for
it. Aud whyP l will answer: Be-
cause the amount Of development
does not justify the thousands of dol
lars generally asked for the property.
In these later days of greater expert
ence there must be something to show
for the demand, and it must be so
developed that it may be estimated by
measurement, as to width, depth,
length, quantity and value per as
says, less the probable cost of mining
and reduction; and on this showing
it Is very safe to determine whether
the demand is in excess of the esti-
mated value. There are many other
points to be taken into consideration
when purchasers estimate values,
where question Of hard cash is con-
cerned, that have been taught by long
experience. And here let me say:
The period when holes in the ground
have value Ii passed; there must be
developed merit for coin.
The markets are Hooded with So
called mines" and when an offer is
critically investigated even in the city
before the property itself is examined
lt-too often falls short. And il the
prospect does present acceptable
Ieatures and enough to induce the
expenditure of time and money to
examine the property, In nine cases
out OF ten, there is something to be
discounted.
AT the present time there ia an &C.
active demand for good deyeloped
properties, and / win say right here
that 1t ID less trouble to sell a fairly
developed property than II is to find
one. know Of five requests in one
day, recently, from Euelisb and
Anne rican capital, all wanting well
developed, active producing proper.
ties mot 80 much the production .,
bullion as Of ores, as a guarantees 20,
milling or smelling proposition
with sufficient development nnor
which some safe computation ma n
value could be made to justify tho
price asked. 1t is fact that IL IL nj
most impossible to meat such do
mand 9.
A prospect having shaft so feet
deep, and drift so feet on the loda
having nominal" value of cay $40.
600 would hardly be looked at by
Il faw,.A ..I - A. A.