Bisbee daily review., 1903-07-03

mable, upright gentlemen, but are most certainly at the mercy of their subordinstes, and cannot be expected to achieve success in a business of which they have no practical knowl- edge whatever. Mining directorates are largely composed of business men of the very highest standing-men who have amassed wealth in their particular line, many having succeed ed in making their own or their firms name a household word through out the country One would naturally suppose that such men would bring to bear on the mining proposition they are interested in all the business acumen for which they are disting- uished, and place their mining inter- ests in the hands of duly qualified men. These same directors would not trust the charge of their own factories to any but trained experts in their respective manufacturing lines, and surely the same good sense should be applied to the operation of the mine.
 After reading some of the letters lately published by certain we'll i, known mining engineers, discussing the advisability of drawing distinc- ton between the expert geologist and the everyday mining engineer, the layman is apt to imagine that large majority of our abandoned mines have been reduced to that dereiiet 1s.od;+;.o hv f,f,rra ax sk1 r,~+ os ] the owners to at first cali in the ser vices of the expert geologisE. It is true that knowledge of geology is essential to accurately determine the formation, and is indispensable to the examination of mining district. but some of us will agree with the writ CTS who maintain that the average mining superintendent possess suffi- con kpowled-e ot ltis sca-.6e tu wrestle with the problem that con front him, and that the expert" ge- ologist's opinion is not of so much practical benefit as he wouli have us believe.
 Geologists have played an impor- tant part in carefully analyzing we'll known districts where the operations have been extensive, and we can, from their observations, make very helpful deductions and comparisons in opening a new district where sim liar geological conditions apparently prevail. Some of the mines that died "a-borning" may have been start ed in localities where mineral does not occur, but we can not believe that the ordinary mining man of the pres ent day makes spch -,istakes.
 And although we cannot, in these enlightened days, remain satisfied with the old Cornish saying, Where it is, there it is,'' regarding the occur renee of mineral, yet it is we'll the discussion referred to remark, that pay mineral has been found sometimes where geologically it had no right to be. After the prospector has demonstrated it's presence the av- craze superintendent can be trusted to develop and work it to best advan- tage.
 The speculative element in mining is attractive to many; moreover, it is a very clean business, because howev- CT much profit is extracted from the mine, no one else's interests are in- jured in the process, there being no cut-throat competition connected with it. Consequently, there are many ready to invest in the various enter. prises, and the failure would be less if they were not so ready to be in fuenced by the glowing reports of engineers endowed with more enthu- siasm .aan common sense.
 The deserted camp is an inevitable eyc-sore in all mining countries. but as time rolls on it is gratifying to ob- serve that improved methods of treatment and transportation are re- storing many idle plants to their pristine condition of industry and profit.