Gilpin observer., 1899-02-23


works as joining TIE movement"
Ex-Governor ]. b. Grant of the Oma.
ha & Grant works was asked regarding
the consolidation, and said: 81 am not
at liberty to say much in regard to the
consolidation, but it is true there have
been some negotiations pending in regard
to consolidating the large smelling inter.
ests of the country. AS to what the out
come will be, as yet we do not know, but
the plan is feasible. Some years ago a
movement was started to consolidate this
industry but it fell through, and the
heads are now endeavoring to revive the
old plans"
A New York special to the Denver
News of the 18th says that the firm of
Guggenheim g. Sons will not go into the
combine and that it is true that COM
bine of the smelters had been formed.
The financial agents of the combine,
Moore & Schley, will not give any of the
details about the matter for the present.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR A MINE MAN.
AGER IN SOUTH AFRICA.
A correspondent OF Mines and Miner
ais, in responding to Californian seek
ing information as to the requirements
and qualifications Of mine managers
under the Transvaal government in
South Africa, gives the following an
swer, which appeared in the London
Mining Journal of recent date:
"a mine manager must hold certif-
cate of competency from the Transvaal
government in order to be allowed to
take charge of mine in the South AZ
rican Republic. This certificate is to be
obtained if the applicant succeeds in
passing an examination in the following
subjects: General knowledge OF mining,
mining laws, geology, mechanics, engines
and boilers, surveying and assaying. The
examination is held before a board of ex-
aminers composed of three government
officials and two mine managers. The
examination in law includes the mining
regulations, the gold law, pass law and
liquor law. A candidate for examination
must have had practical experience in
mines for five years, and have passed
through the curriculum of recognized
mining school. In some cases manager
may be permitted to take charge OF a
mine for three months, provided he ap.
plies for examination within that time.
Another thing is often overlooked by
foreign mining boards of directors, which
is very important to the welfare of q
mining venture, and that is that the ge
ology, mineral formations and general
mining conditions prevailing in the Trans
vaal are vastly different from those of
amy other country in the world, go that
it by no means follows that man, how
ever well he may be up in mining in 9th
er countries, can successfully tackle mine
management in South Africa. The Rand
gold formations, for instance, are unique
in the worlds history: they stand alone
in their geologicala and meteorological feat
ures, and hence can only be understood
by practical experience, and it is owing
to this fact that Transvaal has been the
grave of many hitherto splendid reputa-
tions. Men who have been shining
lights in the mining world have come
here and made dismal failures simply be-
cause they had insufficient local expert.
ence upon which to base their judgment
and simply judged from analogy and
comparison with the experience gained
in other countries where geological and
mineralogical conditions were very dis
similar"
If the same care YVES exercised in Col
Grady in the selection Of mine managers
as in South Africa, there would be fewer
failures in mining than has been in many
cases even here in Gilpin county.