The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-11-23

which has been adopted. 1t will be
seen therefore that while it would
cost fully 100000 to cut the Metro
politan vein with an independent tun-
mel the same thing can be even more
satisfactorily and rapidly accomplished
for about SIS, 900 by cooperating in
the Rockford enterprise. To those
who are responsible for this proposed
expenditure the sum of 500, 900 may
not seem \ very large item but q
good Wining property can be pur-
chased and good deal of mining can
accomplished with such q sum, and in
our opinion, it is no trifing amount to
waste.
1t may be argued that if the Metro
politan company would drive its own
tunnel that it will always be indepen-
dent of other corporations or interests
and that with its own tunnel it wi |
not be called upon to pay toll for the
removal Of ore from its own workings
such as would be necessary were the
property to be operated through say,
the Rockford tunnel. But while this
argument may sound plausible it is
actually not sound. For the difference
in cost 10 SIS, 900 and this sum would
remove an enormous quantity of ore
through the tunnel and and might
reasonably be expected to be pro-
duced from above the level At which
the vein would be penetrated by either
stance that an average charge of 50
cents per ton was made for tram
ming ore through the tunnel to surface
and that the ore had an average value
Of $25 per ton. This would mean that
the sum of $75. 900 would transport
$50, 600 cars of ore to surface which at
$25 per ton, would make = total pro-
duction of $3, $50. 600 and which would
take about five years of working days
to produce, even were the property to
yield as much as s1OO per day.
All these facts which have out
lined are, think. well known to the
management of the Metropolitan COM
pany and if they are not also known
to the hackers of the corporation. who
live in the east then it seems to me
and I take this opportunity of call
ing their attention to the matter and
trust that it may have their considera-
ton. Few business men however
wealthy they be, fling away money for
the mere purpose of spending it.
know that some of these people who
are interested in the Metropolitan are
cited as being good business men
therefore ! cannot believe that they
have given this matter due consider
alton, otherwise they would not have
acceeded to this totally unnecessary
large expenditure.
We offer this criticism in the
most friendly spirit and for the
purpose of encouraging sane mining
methods. 1t sounds like a pretty big
boost for the Rockford tunnel but it is
an instance where the particular tun-
mel or company involved is immaterial
The Rockford tunnel happens to be the
tunnel which can best be utilized and
the hackers of the Metropolitan COM
pany are those who we feel are finan-
cially sinned against.
1t is such propositions as we have
alluded to that make good mining men
shudder while they smile. They shudder
because they dread to see much need
ed capital SO unwisely expended and
they smile because they wonder who
it is that can possibly be induced to ex-
pend capital in this apparently needless
manner. Such mining methods as
these often cause unnecessary failure
in mining and that in turn helps to
bring this great industry into bad
odor. They also dislike to see good
properties closd down for no apparent
purpose and in Clear Creek they
point to Mr.. Brownlee's purchase, the
Stanley mine as a striking example
of such instances. 1t is remarkable
with what persistence the Stanley mine
remains idle year after year. In the
district it has the reputation of being a
property Of merit. But 80 far, Mr..
Brownlee's energies seem to be d.
rected principally toward growing q
green lawn and spreading few buc-
| kets of yellow paint over numerous
buildings. They say up in Clear Creek
that Mr.. Brownlee is fixing" up the
mine for sale and we are heartily in
accord with the good people of that
district who hope to goodness he will
will soon get through with his fixing"
i and do something which will cause the
| oror,ortv to he orerafod and benefit the