Gilpin observer., 1909-08-05
THE PRosPEcToR
AND HIS eURRo.

II have often placed my money on
the red, and played the jack to win,
said the prospector to his burro, but
l have never yet bought prospect
or stock in a mining prospect with
out first visiting the prospect OF
learning all could about the com
pany and the value Of its holdings
When l play the wheel l can watch
every move of the dealer, and If
fairly good run for my money; but
If l go 1t blind on a prospect or buy
stock in any old wildcat that comes
athwart the horizon like bob-tail
flush, have no more show OF a
winning, or of even getting my mon
ey back, than the old-timer does
when he invests his savings in a
gold brick.
mo man ever buys a house with
out first looking at it. II 1t pleases
him he looks up the title and de-
mands an abstract. But this same
man will take flyer in prospect
and invest great wads of long green
in mining stocks when he knows
nothing about the prospect and less
about the mining stock. 1t is fact,
also, that most men make an inven-
tory Of the woman he is about to
marry. He wants to know IL her
teeth are Of her own growth. II the
fine color she wears is the result of
good health or of the paint brush
and II she cooks the good meals he
enjoys at her home, or II her mother
is really the chef; and yet this man
will take such long chance in min.
ing operations that commission
should be formed to inquire into his
sanity.
1T Is amusing to me-" continued
the prospector, Ito see how mildly
innocent some men are when they
come to mining investments. They
seem like babies in the woods, throw
all caution and business-like methods
to the winds. and rush into the whirl
and excitement of mining just as II
they we're out for time and about
to get a corner on picnic lemonade
In tie first place, they know nothing
practically. about mining, and less
about the value Of a prospect other
than the fact that a mine is a hole
in the ground; and this hole has a
terrible fascination to them, so much
so that they begin, at once. to throw
good money into it as fast as they
can. Most of these fellows would
make good pitchers in a league team
for they can stand at a distance
sometimes several thousand miles
and hit the hole at every throw, ant
this practice Is maintained for weeks
and sometimes for years, or until the
foolkiller happens along or friend,
and relatives step in and cry foul.
And yet, all along, these simple foil
fondly imagine they are engaged In
active and legitimate mining. They
are proud of the fact that they are
interested In the mining industry
and that, in time, they may give &c
the world another wealth producer
another dividend payer; when the
facts are that the prospect is abso
lutely worthless, and that, when 10
Gated. 1t was never intended that Il
should be a mine.
Il want to tell you. Old Ions
Ears" concluded the prospector
good Intentions are all right wher
one knows Just what he is doing
but all wrong when ignorance is bacl
of IN action connected with min
ing and the investment Of money
A man might mine with good inten
tions in an ash heap, but he will
never get profits or dividends from
such source; and yet; this same
money. II expended in the develop
ment Of a prospect in a mineralizet
county. on strong and permanen
vein, would probably make barre
of the yellow boys for the wise in
vestor; and there you are. and ther
some. Salt Lake Mining Review.