The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-24
SCARCITY OF MINERS
THE PREVAILING CRY
Mining Journal Advocates the
Opening of Training School
for Miners.

From mining camps in all parts of
the West comes the same story. More
men are needed, both in the mines and
the mills, says Ores and Metals, Good
wages arc paid, but of skilled and re
spousibIe workmen there arc not enough
to meet the demand. This complaint Is
not peculiar to the mines. Operators
buying equipment hear the same tale
from the machinery makers. Delay IN
filing orders is caused by inability to
get men in the shops. Manufacturers
arc now taking steps to provide them,
selves with capable workmen IN ade-
quate numbers. They arc using their
shops as schools as well as factories,
and turning out trained workmcn TO
whom they are also giving the benefit
of classroom. lccture-room and laDora-
tory instruction. In this way, the
manufacturers are not only increasing
their own resources, but they are also
drawing Young men from n class of
low productivity and adding them to II
class of a high productivity. They are
raising the productive capacity OF the
nation.
Conditions in mining camps are espe.
cially favorable to the establishment oil
trade schools for the training of prac-
teal miners and millmen. The mine IT.
self is an excellent school. In nearly
all mines green men are frequently put
in the slopes and work into good
miners Mining as a trade can bc
learned only in a mine. Nevertheless,
better results could be obtained by
more systematic effort along this line.
and the matter would we'll repay atten-
ton by operators associations. In
mines as well rs shops, the efficiency
of the workmcn may be increased and
the progress of learners made more
rapid by suitable classroom instruction,
by lectures and informal talks, by lab
oratory training, and by access TO orc
and rock collections and equipment cN-
hibits. The expense of providing in
struction and training, If undertaken
collectively by all the operators of
district, would not he heavy for any
individual, and the improvement IN the
efficiency and character of the work
men would be worth many times the
cost Probably it would be most satls-
factory. where q considerable number
of operators decided to unite in carry
ing out such plan, TO hayo one mine
set aside as a training school and placed
in charge of enough capable forcmen
to provide adequate supervision and
instruction for the unframed workmen,
the extra expense, of course, falling
upon the ASSOCIATION.
To provide opportunity for learning
mining in the mines viii not be enough
must be brought to the attention of
young men Of a desirable character and
presented TO them in an attractive man
ner. There are plenty of sturdy young
Americans who. If offered the choice,
would take the pick and drill in pref
erence TO the ledger or typewriter. In
no occupation other than mining are
the opportunities for q capable and am
bilious man to get ahead moro numer-
Gus. Not only are there many minor
positions of responsibility, but the cx-
tent 10 which the leasing system has
been established offers exceptional adj
yantages for the workman TO use the
savings of year or two in setting him
self up as his own employer. Proba-
bly, in no other industry is Independent
operation on a small scale more promis-
ing. Provide the opportunity and mako
the facts known. and there VIII he no
difficulty in getting good raw material
in abundance TO man the mines and
mills, no difficulty in converting this
raw material into skilled and efficient
labor