The Elk Mountain pilot., 1915-01-21
The First Move.
MiuinS Press.

&
the American Mining Congress, MIR.
w. &. Swart made some pertinent
constructive suggestions. Afte-
pointing out that there WAS gen
erul impression that the lucky pros
pector finds a mine ready made, he
showed that what was usually found
WAS IL prospect that is, simply
surface indication Of possible ore
beneath. 1t generally takes both
time and money in liberal amount
to ascertain if this is of possible val
lie, andthis is development. 1t Is
the part OF mining which involves
the greatest risk and offers the great
est reward. 1t is distinct from pros
pecting though that fact is not gem
orally understood by the public.
Mining" Mr.. Swart said, is more
apt to suffer from lack Of develop
ment than from lack of prospect
ing" Continuing, he said:
In spite of all unfrendly criticism
of pretensions to see underground,
use OF yellow legsins, or partialitv
toward offices in the high buildings,
the fact remains that nearly every
successful mining operation OF con-
.equence, old or new, is today in
the hands of experienced technically
trained men. These are the men
who select, who reject. wh'. discrim-
mate, who decide on the place, time,
direction, and amount of expendi-
turc, and who plan and execute the
work. No man does these things
for any considerable time success
fully without becoming a business
man of high order. Leadership is
his by every right.
In one of the classes recently
graduated from certain mining
school were four young men who re-
solved to pool their efforts ard go
to mining directly, instead OF ac-
cepting salaried positions IL survey
ors or assayers. Al the end of five
years they are in far better financial
condition than the average of their
classmates, they have had more real
experience, and they understand
what accepting responsibility means;
but above all, they stand absolutely
ut the head of mining affairs in their
community and are reaching out
steadily for larger things. They
have made good, and in making
good they have secured an unhesita-
ting local following in every mining
enterprise they will take over. This
is the kind of leadership have in
mind. No irresponsible promoter
can capture that community. The
one necessary thing is to guide and
systcmatlze local activity, and it can
be done properly only by the trained
men. They must first show conf
dence in themselves, then build up
the confidence Of the community in
their ability, Integrity, and uas.lf-
ishness, and the rest is easy.
A company of ten engineers was
recently organized in Colorado with
modest capital, and this company
is already successfully operating Sc
lected properties. When these men
began Systematically to put faith
behind their works and money be-
hind their judgment, they took the
first necessary step. They have al
ready secured the confidence and
following of the communities in
which they operate. No one believes
that ten experienced men can be Sc
riously mislcd, or that they will ever
adopt anything but a policy of alb
solutc fairness and integrity. Every
one believed they would win and
they have.
This paper is not an inquiry into
what is wrong i'll mining. 1t sug-
gests that ii something IS wrong
with mining, here is one construct
i've remedy. This is n workable
plan, details of Which will vary with
location and conditions. 1t is already
in successful operation, but it is pos
sible only to body of trained men.