The Alaska sourdough., 1911-12-26
ADVICE TO PROSECUTORS
(By J. P. Wallace in "Ore Deposits for the Practical Miner. 'O.

One canot correctly judge the value of an ore with the eye. The ap- pearance of ores of the same general character often differ so widely in diff ferent localities as to defy the most ex perienced eye Sometimes the precious metals occur in such minute particles and are so generally diffused throughout the rock as not to be recognized. In other eases they may be wrapped up or combined in with other metals or sul- phides, and thus hidden away from view Whether sulphides carry values or how much they may carry we can not tell The assayer who handles So many different ores seldom ventures a prediction as to values. Mining men of the largest experience have but little confidence in ocular inspection. Elk perience has shown that unless one is question his opinion of it's value IS not to be trusted. Only the conceited and self-opinionated will tell you the values of ores by inspection.
 Most good lodes have more barren than good ground, and there is no good lode without it's barren spots Hence it is a wise rule to sink your shaft in the best ore Should no outcrop of good ore be found, it is best for the pros pector with little means to allow some one with snrnlns mone-- +o an the sink ing. The notion so often preached that one has only to sink to get good ore is a delusion. It is against the experience of good miners the world over, and is rarely verified.
 When capital comes to your camp, don t misrepresent your claims. Deal fairly. Attempted deception will on ly drive him from you. Tell him exact ly what you have, if you know, and if you don t, lose no time in employing a competent man to inform you. Don't hang on year in and year out to that which does not show real merit Bet ter sell out for a grubstake or abandon it.
 The prospector should always ''stay with' vein which pays only small profit, because it is reasonably sure that chimneys or shoots of much richer ore will be found somewhere in the vein. No expert, however learned, can fore tell where or when the chimney may be encountered. Only development will reveal this.
 The miner should study his vein close ly and observe every seam however small that leads off into the wall rock If it contains clay, tale, oxidized ore, fragments of quartz, spar or lime, it requires attention. Oftentimes large and valuable bodies are discovered by fol lowing mineralized seams The largest bonanza in the famous Comstock and one of the largest in the Copper Queen of Bisbee were brought to light in this way. There are many irregularities and peculiarities in veins that should be carefully looked into. You cannot know your own mine too well.
 Even with the best of management, it is an exceptionally good prospect that will pay the cost of development. This is not always due to lack of good or sufficient ore, but generally to lack of proper facilities for the mining and reduction of it, and to the fact that all work is preparatory; it is the blocking out of ore that costs and the stoping of it that pays the profits.
 The price of mine should be largely determined by the showing made by development. The value of the ore extracted and sold lessens the present value of the mine to that am ount. It is the amount of pay ore yet