The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-27

( Montana has adopted the plan of Colo-
RADIO and Michigan, and has located her
school of mines at the city of Butte.
No intelligent American needs to be told
that Butte Is great mining center. It
wears unchallenged it's title 1.-The great
est mining camp on earth.' It is about
to add to this the claim that in it's new
works at Anaconda it possesses the
greatest and most modern metallurgical
plant that was ever built. IT, then, the
first requirement for the successful op-
Grafton of a school of mines is to be
found in it's location in a great mining
CENTER Montana has made good begin.
ming.
We have said that the mining school
came as a result of these rapid Develop
ment of our mining industries imme-
diately after the close of the civil war.
Let us see how great that development
was.
In the year 1870, the total cash value
OF our mineral products was $16O, ,00O, 900.
In 1880 it had increased to 1888, ,00O, 900; in
1890, to $62000O00O, and in 100, to $1,157.-
100000; that is, it nearly doubles itself
each decade.
Special and Practical Training.
This development has not come solely,
or in an important degre as the result OF
the discovery of new mineral resources.
1t has not come solely as the result of
the employment of larger capital. Every
important factor in this increased pro-
duction is to be found in the improved
methods employed in the various pro-
cesses Of mining and in the treatment
of ores.
These improvements have been made
as the result of experienc on the part
of the practical MINER guided in many
cases by the discoveries made in the
laboratory Of the trained metallurgist,.
or from his scientific explorations in the
field. The carrying out of these i'm
proved methods in the mine and smelter
requires the employment of large num-
Der Of men who have received special
| and practical training. This gives rise
! to the demand for the mining school.
What should be the leading features Of
a mining course? At the outset it will
be conceded that it should not attempt
to give a general education. Its sphere
is as distinct and separate as that occu-
pied by the school of law, medicine,
theology, or civil engineering. It's con-
stant aim should be to prepare it's pupils
for the practical and intelligent dis
charge of the duties that devolve upon
the modern mining engineer. This re-
quires a careful training in the higher
mathematics, chemistry, mechanics,
mineralogoy and geology.
These studies are pursued in our coll
leges and universities, but, just as the
student of medicine is required to get
his knowledge of anatomy in the dissect-
inng room, Notwithstanding the fact
that he may have completed a full uni
Versity course, so the mining student
must acquire his knowledge of chemis-
try and the other sciences related to his
special work in the mining school labo-
ratory, where constant reference is being
made to the practical application of the
knowledge acquired, to the work await
ing him in his chosen profession.
1t is of vital Importance to him that he
have frequent opportunity to visit large
mines and metallurgical plants where he
can see in actual operation all that is
latest and best in the various lines OF
work with which the school is ere eavor-
ing to render familiar.
Necessity for Rapid Work.
Once admitted to the school. the pupil
is required, from the beginning to the
end of his course, to pursue the ex-
perimental method in arriving at co.N.
clusions. Familiarity with processes OF
analysis is considered of more import
ance than acquaintance with formula
ries and theories. In view of the abb
solute necessity for rapid work in the
assay room and other parts of metal
lurgical establishments, much attention
is given to training the pupil so that he
may readily acquire this rapidity of
operation
1t is claimed that the graduate of the
mining school comes forth prepared at
once to take full charge of large mining
enterprises. No such expectation is en-
tpr a rafa tD IA rra
uate ofAny other professional CT tech-
nical school. The mining graduate is not
encouraged to over-estimate his quail
ficat.onH He is taught that his diploma
simply 6ertities that he is prepared to
commence, in modest way. the work
of mining engineer, that he may en-
ter this great industrial laboratory with
out driving the manager crazy by his
stupid laundering or awarSwardness.
1t holds before him the hope that in
good time he may be found able and
worthy to take positions of high trust
and responsibility, with credit to himself
and profit to all concerned.
With respect to our own Montana
school, it becomes me to speak modestly.
We have only begun our career. This
is but the first semester of our second
year. -
Tho state has dealt very hbera.ly with
us in respect to equipment and main
tenance. We have a fine. large huli6"e:
as the result of the national. danation Of
100 coo acres of land. and through legis-
lative appropriations We are in possess
SION of about $40 600 worth of equipment
in laboratories and scientific apparatus.
About 400 teachers are in attendance
reaching Missoula by special from Car
rison Yesterday.
The reception and dance at Elks' hail
last night was enjoyed.