Bisbee daily review., 1903-07-03
CAUSES UNDERLYING THE
 ABANDONMENT OF MINES
By George Mitchell.

In travelling through our western mining states the abandoned mining camp is not an infrequent sight and occasionally people are possessed with the idle curiosity to learn the history of the deserted village. Many of us are more concerned with the live camps. passing by the empty buildings, content with bestowing on them the most casual glance. Nor can we be blamed. for the successful busy seats of the mining industry throughout our western country are far more interesting. They are world-renowned, and we point with pride 10. mines that have paid their hundreds of thousands and even mil lions in dividends.
 But still, in out-of-the-way places and odd canyons we run up against the idle mill and shaft-house, and we stay for a moment to inquire the req sons for the shutting down of the mine. Doubtless many of them en- 3oyed a prosperous career and hand somely paid their owners as long as the ore bodies lasted or could be proftably worked. Many never earned dollar, possibly through no particular errors in judgment or man. agement on the part of the operators, but by occurrence of unforeseen cir cumstances, all combining to make a genuine case of bad luck; whilst oth- CTS are but remains of wildcat schemes well equipped properties, where, in many instances, the wheels did not once turn; and still others stand as monuments to the inventive genius of the new process" man.
 They nearly all represent the spend ing of accumulated wealth by some who are able to afford it, and by those who are not. Often they have en- tailed the loss of hard-earned savings.
 Insuficiency of subscribed capital at the outset kill concern before it has been given a fair trial, and over capitalization often has the same ef- feet.
 In California quite recently we have an illustration of the latter case, where nice little property was bur dened with an equipment altogether disproportionate to the possible out put; whereas there have been many cases of an adequate equipment nat being provided, thereby causing fail ure.
 The general investing public today is indebted to the mining press of the country for curtailing the Notation of wildcat schemes. An influential con temporary, in recent issue, exposes the actions of certain promoters. and such writing, when well substantiatee, will gain for itself the appreciation of not only the general public, but of all rightminded mining men. lc all walks of life we find men who make their living by misrepresentation, 10 put 1t in a mild form, and the mining business is by no means exempt from this class. However, with fearless press to show up their methods, we can rest assured that gradually this class will be compelled to turn thelr attention to easier game.
 Then we have the saltei mines to reckon with. Occasionally they have salted out of recognition, the fraud be- ing apparent. But usually the aim has been to salt judiciously and not excite suspicion. In one case, known to the writer, the purchasers of the salted mine persevered with it, and. by aid of efficient superintendence, made a paying mine out Of what the original owners considered worked out property. Unfortunately, the re- verse frequently happens, the new owners soon discovering that they are ii possession of mere hole in the ground.
 ! Bad management is also responsible for many of the failures. It is sur prising to consider the number or mines where the management IS intrusted to men not fitted by any particular training or aptitude for the vocation. They may be very esti-