Bisbee daily review., 1902-08-20
WHEN TO QUIT
A New Prospect or New Prospect.
 ina Reqion

When a prospect has had a shaft put down 100 feet, or cross cut tun- nel has tapped it at a depth of 100 feet under the hill and found little of promise. that prospect, as a general rule. had better be abandoned. If it does not show promise at about 100 feet. the chances are that it will not show anything promising or big at 800 feet, says Mines and Minerals. The common infatuation of miners Of
 richness with greater depth is. in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, a fallacy.
 When a new district has for year or more been turned over with pros pect holes from 50 to 100 feet in depth and nothing worth calling pay ore has been found. that district had better be abandoned.
 When a district, despite it's favor able surroundings shows very little float scattered over it. it is bad sign that argues unfavorably for the exploration of the district. If these general rules were observed thou sands of dollars that are now useless ly expended in prospecting and in hole in the ground" investments would be saved.
 Generally speaking, vein that IS going to prove biz mine shows it. self definitely on the outcrop. or by float scattered over the hillside. There are exceptions. of course, but they are exceptions rather than the rule. The finding of an abnormally rich assay in a pocket in a prospect by no means argues for the future rich ness of the vein. Such accidents are common in all mines, and experienced miners are rather shy of specimen" mines than otherwise.
 It would be far more encouraging to find the vein as it went down increas- ing in size. and in a larger body of low grade ore. or to find richer min erals gradually coming in as a con- comitan of the ore.
 Water in large quantities encoun- tered in the early stages of a prospect
 is an unfavorable sign. for it gener- ally means that with depth the water will increase rather than diminish. and the extra expense of machinery pumps and haulage will require the ore to be above par in richness to make it up.
 Distance from a railroad or smelter . cred A large low grade property may warrant a concentrating or other mill upon the spot. but a small v7'" e uui-es very rich ore to counterha iance the cost of freight and transD0- tic-, not to mention treatment. !. is one thing to find a prospect and ancther to know what to do with it when found
 An experienced expert can gener- ally form some idea or 'siZe up'' q prospect by examining the material of the dump thrown out. If it s fairly well mineralized the chances
 may be good. but if the dump is little mineralized or hungry" looking it is rather against the prospect down be low.
 When a little ore is found in a dis trict there is often a mad rush of
 prospectors and investors, and the area is prospected with holes like a collender while hotels. saloons. etc., group like magic before people have the least idea whether the district will be permanent. In a year or two or in even less time. if we revisit
 the spot we find empty shacks and
 most liberal accommodations for our
 selves and horses in empty houses,
 and an air of desolation reigning over
 the once populous little town. Never
 was the proverb, don't count your
 chickens until they are hatched" mere
 applicable than in the maJcritv of
 new mining camps.