Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-12-01
A MINERS QUALIFICATIONS.

In the course of year we receive,
says the Mining Industry and Review,
many letters asking advice upon all
sorts of question, some of which we
can not venture to answer But few
days ago one came, to which we ven
ttre a reply, even though it may deal
with a hackncyed subject. But 1t Is
fate Of most good things in this world
TO become haekneyed. If they
were not good they would not become
such Our correspondent says he ~
boy Hlo hes only been to common
schools, but has been brought up in
mining camp and understands a good
deal about mining He wants to know
If he goes to a mining school TO finish
his education, whether it would not be
better for him to stay long enough to
learn assaying, and then spend the 9th
er years he would be Obliged to spend in
school in practical mining work, rather
than learning things lie may never
want 10 practice. He says, what is
the practical use to Il miner of most
things in the four years course| Then
he says, with great deal of truth,
that mining engineering as a prOfcs-
sion has become a work Of specialists.
One ia n metallurgist, another a sur
ycyor and another a miner, and what
use Is a knowledge Of a speciality TO
ono who does not intend to practice itf'
The questions are such as go to the
heart Of all education, but they show
hack of appreciation of the magnitude
and depth of the science Of mining. We
can give mo better idea of our concep-
ton of it than to liken special course
in mining engineering to a special
course in any branch of the education
of a physician. What would be thought
of q physician who studied only dis
eases of the eye or nose emitting all
the Balance of the medical school
study? What would be thought of a
physician who knows nothing of sur
gerry, if it were possible to conceive of
such? The good physician in any spe-
eialty must know thc human system,
which is complicated and dependent
one part upon another. III he does not
it Is certain he will score far many
more plumbers than if he did. So it is
with the miner.
In the end the greatest value of any
school study is the power of inteili-
gent observation which 1t cultiyateS !:
and all intelligent observation is based
upon knowledge To use common
ever -tldN hlONlHtlEC W mus aux lIt
idea, we can refer to the mineralOgiSt
lie walks along the river gravel bank
or some railway cut, and sees a thou-
sand things no other sees. There are
forms and colOrs which are interesting,
and may be of value which only he
sees. The Eotanfst walks through ii
field, and sees a sensitive life; stamen,
pistIe, oyals, calyN, corolla and host
of l,it1frg 20 md finds i'm tlg1f1 in
struction and delight. where another
sees only weed. flower or bush. The
geOloglst sees in every cliff and rock
and bank lesson, and reads things
never dreamed Of by one ignorant Of
the science. 1t is n knowledge of these
sciences, obtained in study, which gives
one something to see The eye can see,
in a true sense. only what the mind
gives it to see. The trained mind eye is
able to see endless minute differences,
where the unframed eye sees nothing.
Most people are like those heather gods
the Bible tells Of. who have eyes and
see not. cans and hear not, noses they
have and they smell not" 1T Is a great
mistake for any miner or student Of
mining to think there Is anything in
surveying geology, mineralogy, me-
chanics or chemistry which he studies
In school that does not train him in the
power Of observation in some direc,
tions which are valuable and neccS.
saly. The difference in this power Of
observation. coupled with the power Of
understanding what he sees. is the
principal difference in mining engineers
and successful mining men. No mat
ter If You are not intending TO be Il
mataliurgist. or surveyor, or geOlogiSt,
or machinist. or draughtsman, If Won
study these things you will see MANY
things yen win need to see which
would he only blank if Won never stu
died them Besides the end and aim Of
study. ana life. for that matter, is hap
piuess while success or money-m1king
Is only an incident TO the end. All
knowledge a man can acquire adds to
happiness. and for this reason, If for
no other, all study is valuable.