Gilpin observer., 1899-06-01

Herald-DemOcrat, 1t becomes matter
Of some interest to know whether such
enterprises cannot be made a perma-
nent feature In the industrial life of
the city. There Is no camp in the West
where the leasing system is carried to
the extent that It is in Leadville, and
often with good results. There is prob
ably not merchant or professional
man in the city who has not spent
more or less money in leases, and no
doubt great many will say that they
have not been successful. This is no
doubt true to n large extent. The rea-
son is not hard to find. \ and b, min
ers, come to G, business man, with
Il leasing proposition. They have Il
good lease, where some ore can be
: found with Il little work. If G will pay
for the powder, fuel and other neces-
. sary expenses, A and b will operate
the mine, and possibly take in ID and
Il. 1t is probably not good policy to
discourage these enterprises, and yet
it Is hard from a practical mining
standpoint, to see how any results are
to be accomplished. The sphere of Op-
erations is entirely too circumscribed.
The development work Is slow, and
the chances against success. Such
proposition may cost the merchant
from $50 to 800 n month, and at the
end of four or five months, not seeing
results, he becomes disgusted and
quits.
But suppose the cooperative plan
were enlarged. Instead of one business
man dozen We're enlisted at a NOM
inal assessment of 500 month, that
twenty-five or thirty miners put their
time, less actual expenses, against
this money, is 1t not reasonable to sup
pose that some tangible results would
follow? AS matter of fact the
amount of work that could be accom-
plished would more than likely open
up mine, on Il small scale, and even
II the property no more than paid ex-
penses, SO that the merchants We're not
out of pocket and the men made good
wages, it would be n distinct benefit.
The scheme of cooperation could be
carried still further and take some
such shape as was originally outlined
by the old Home Leasing Company.
Here, instead of ten men putting up
500, the proposition was for 100 men
to put up $40 month, and as a mat
ter of fact no difficulty was found in
securing the necessary number. but
the formation of the Home Mining
Company swallowed up the other ell
terprise.
There is field for profitable enterprise
along the line of suggestion which the
Herald-Democrat breaches somewhat
timidly, for fear that to some the idea
may appear fanciful and impractic-
able. But it is only in appearance
Might not the various trades, profess
siOns and occupations of the city each
undertake a cooperation mining enter
prise, each company recruited from
those engaged in similar businesses or
occupations? The idea is new to many.
no doubt, and yet not so new in prac-
tice after all, except that it has not
been carried out to the extent to which
it Is capable.
For example, take the physicians
There are several leases in which from
three to four doctors are Jointly inter-
ested. These leases are looking well as
there is quite little capital back Of
them. But If all the physicians In this
city could get in on II cooperative en-
terprise, each one assuming what pro-
portion of expense he could bear. the
sum available for mining would be in
the aggregate large enough to admit
of mining on quite pretentious scale
There Is lease OH Fryer hill In
which three or four well known mu-
sicians are interested. They have
shown great energy and pluck. have
bought fine plant. and by placing
good. practical mining man in charge
are likely to make n success. But the
scope Of enterprise could be greatly en-
larged If all the men in this line were
20 be enlisted.
There are two leases where different
groups of BARRIERS are operating in n
small way. Three tailors are interest
ed in another lease, and several black
smiths In another. 1t Is therefore quite
potent that the scheme of enterprise
suggested has n very healthy embry-
otic existence, and that men who have
the confidence of their fellows and
who are capable of organizing their
own trades and occupations. have an
excellent foundation on which to work
1t Is essential. of course, that good
practical mining men be selected to
carry on the actual mining operations
otherwise failure would be almost In
evitable.
Mining is business peculiarly
adapted to the cooperative plan. y
dozen men or 10. bound by ties of self
interest, II nothing else. can accom-
plish much along the lines indicated.
The idea Is certainly worthy of consid
Grafton.
After referring in complimentary
terms to the success of the Home Mill
ing Company. the Mining Reporter sug-
gests that other camps can take les
son from It.
Too much effort the paper says. Is
spent in striving to secure outside cap
ital Too little confidence Is felt In the
resources of the camp or district; and
instead OF going ahead and accom-
plishing there is much waiting for 9th
crs to come in and garner the wealth
which they have not courage to de-
vclop.
Every mine, every tramway, every
mill or reduction works owned and OPP
Grated by local men and capital means
very much to the welfare OF the com