Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-05-20
Selling Mines.


property, as disclosed by the develop
ment. The character of the vein, the
size of ore body, the probability of its
permanence, the grade Of the ore. the
facilities for mining, cost of transporta-
ton to reduction works, and the ex-
pense of reduction. These must all be
considered, and always control, and form
the basis from which you make your
estimate as to the value of the property
and the price which should be put upon
it. In offering a mine for sale the own
er should have care that he does not
put the price too low, or too high, but
try to form true estimate of its worth.
This is important, and is often a hard
thing to do, and the owner would do
well as a general thing to call to his
assistance some friend who has had ex-
perience, not alone in working mines
but in selling them For should you
put too low an estimate upon your
ground (Which is not likely, you might
find too late as the saying is, that you
had let bird go and could not catch it
again. And on the other hand should
the price be excessive, you might hold
your property forever and never make
a sale. And in the latter case, you
might never know what was the mat
ter. For the capitalist who contem.
plates the purchase ofyour mine, if he
is not an expert, generally employs
one, and he will have his employers in
terets in view as well as his own repu-
tation at stake. You may. depend upon
it under these conditions that he will
know the price you ask for the mine be-
fore he comes to see it, and his greatest
care is, to not recommend his principal
to pay more for a mine than it is worth.
For this reason he will weigh, and well
consider every point in favor of or
against the mine, and if he thinks the
price too high he will not tell you So
1t is not his business to discuss that pro-
position with you, or to remark upon it
to any other living soul except his en-
ployer. In his report, after describing
the property, and commenting on its
merits and demerits, and the probable
chances of making it success, he will
probably say this. IF the price asked
was so and so, would recommend it as
n promising venture and trust to future
development, but at the figure named
cNnnot recommend it," That would
end the business, and although in the
course of years you might get another
customer, or you might get twenty, in all
probability they would conclude the
same, and you would never k LOW where
the trouble laid.
Again it IS often the case that the
mine owner is not too high in | is price,
but he puts his mine in the hands of a
middle man to sell, with the understand.
ing that he, the middle man, is to have
all that he can get above the figure nam.
ed in the bond. This is not good
plan, for it too often occurs that your
promoter is not himself a mining ma n,
and has but poor idea Of what the
mine is worth. But he has an extensive
acquaintance among business men, and
those having surplus capital which they
are anxious to invest in something
which will pay. And some of these are
free from prejudice against mines, and
in fo rt rot OFT RI
investment for gain. When your mex.
perienced promoter strikes such party
with plenty Of money, his cupidity i:
| liable to become aroused, and he Is very
| likely to ask double, aye four times az
much as the mine owner ever dreamed
the mine was worth. Of course the
would he purchaser don't know but
what it is all right, but he sends an ex
pert to examine the ground, and he
soon pricks the bubble, and the dea
falls with dull thud." We have al
read the fable Of the two foxes whC
found hole in the fence and got into
the pen where the farmer kept his heLs
And one was greedy and gorged him
self with chickens, while the other
more wise, observed that the hole
where he came in was rather small, anC
so ate sparingly. When the farmer
came out in the morning with pole the
"foxes both flew, and one went through
but the greedy one stuck in the hole
Moral-Never ill your sack so full tina
you can't tie it.
Again, in showing or representing
mine, don't misrepresent, it is much tht
best policy to be honest. At the sam,
time you are justified in putting the bes
foot forward, so long as it is your owl
foot. You are justified in dressing you
mine up to make it look attractive ant
like mine. See that your lines in al
your work run straight; that your or,
pile is walled up neatly, and your shat
is well proportioned and true.
Again, when you send away ore, sent
the best, and say In your letter that i
is the best. Because the customer viii
always expect you to send the best yo
have, and when you don't do it you arr
putting your property at discount
Honesty does not compel you to cove
up your best ore and expose the poor
est, but when the buyer asks you
question tell him the truth. Be honor
able, be fair.
G. w. ROBBINS
Mrs. Mary Ellen Lease is billed to d.
liver her famous Lecture "Tha SIGNS {