Williams news. [microfilm reel] (Williams, Ariz.) 1891-19??, 1903-11-14
THE EASTERN INVESTOR


thing, whether he buys shares in a
new mining company, or joins 9th
ers in the purchase of prospect,
expect returns almost before his in
vestment is a week old. He should
not be blamed for this, for he has
heard SO much about big returns
from mining operations that he has
reason to believe that new mine
will turn out the precious metals
almost automatically and in a
steady, inexhaustible stream, little
dreaming that before a prospect
can be transformed into a produc-
ing and paying mine that it must
be extensively developed, that thou
sands of dollars must be expended
in exploration and mine equip
ment, and that large areas of
ground must be blocked out and
prospecting work pushed ahead of
extraction before heavy and steady
production may or can be main
tained.
Those unacquainted with mining
operations cannot well understand
the delays incident to the develop
ment of a mining proposition. They
cannot understand how it is that
mine, reported by experts to con-
tain ore to the value of thousands
and even millions of dollars, can
not begin the payment of dividends
within a few months after work has
begun in its operation. These peo-
pie want quick returns. They want
quick action on their money; and
sometimes. because of delays, they
become discouraged, disgusted, and
begin to condemn mining in all its
branches.
It is slow work sinking a shaft
or driving a tunnel. But two or
three men can work in a shaft or a
tunnel at time, and but few feet
of advance can be made in a day.
If mining company had million
in its treasury. no greater haste
could be made and it is only until a
mine is opened by shafts, tunnels,
cross-cuts, wines and upraises that
an army of men can be employed;
and, to work a large number of
men successfully and proftably,
the mine must first be equipped
with necessary machinery, and it is
often the case that extensive re-
duction works must also be in
stalled, which, for good, sound bus
iness reasons, should not be done
until the management is fully sat-
isfed that enough ore is blocked
out and in sight to justify such ex-
penditure.
But, when all these things are
accomplished; when an abundance
of ore is in sight in the mine; when
ample arrangements have been
made for it's handling, either direct
to the market in crude shape, or
after first being sent through the
mill, then the ore will 60 out by
the hundreds of tons and the money
will come in by thousands upon
thousands.
1t is the same way with farming.
The seed must be first sown; the
crop must be cultivated and the
harvest must be gathered. The
calf must be full grown before it
can be marketed as beef; and the
farmer or stockman who expects
returns before the seed has sprout-
ed or the calf weaned from it's moth
er, would be the laughing stock of
his neighbors and friends.
So it is with mining. Returns
be expected until a large
amount of preliminary work has
been done; until the prospect, pass
ing through various stages of de-
velopment, can take rank as pro-
ducing mine, equipped so that
steady output can be maintained.
If the investor cannot wait until
this period arrives, he had better
refrain from making any ventures
whatever in mining affairs, and
turn his attention to "get-rich-
quick" Investments offered so freely