The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1915-04-10
American Mining Engineers

The American mining engineer has enjoyed an envi-
able reputation both as an examining engineer and as an
efficient operating official, says Engineering and Mining
Journal. lie has obtained in some instances eminent rec
ogn1tlon outside his country, but as a rule his field has
been the United States and Mexico. Must he not enlarge
this field?
Long ago the British engineer found himself com
PEELED to look to the world as his field of activity, and we
think the time is not far distant when the American mining
engineer will also be forced to this view. We are not re-
terr1ng to the present surplusage of engineers, due largely
to war in Europe and Mexico, but to the notdistant flu
ture when the scope OF employment for mining engineers
in the United States will find itself narrowing. There are
still extensive mineral deposits to be developed in this
country, but they will be, in the main, of low grade, in
Volv1ng larger operations than in the past, but fewer posi-
tons. There is no doubt that the cream has been skinned
off, and it may be that the total number of positions open
to mining engineers, as such, is declining rather than in
creas1ng in this country.
It the American engineer would remain in mining, he
must consider the world his oyster and prepare for it's
opening. Not only must he prepare himself, but he must
educate Our capitalists to a realization of the foreign OPP
portun1tles; and our governments weak-kneed policy in
the protection OF its citizens and their interests abroad
must be altered. 1T IS a we'll known and mortifvine fact
that American mining engineers abroad permit themselves
to be mistaken for Englishmen, owing to the superior pro-
lection that the British government affords it's Deonle In
deed, 1t has happened that American engineers have aD-
pealed for, and obtained, aid from foreign consuls, after
being denied by our government officials. Let us hope
that the time will come when our government will see TO
1t that American citizens are accorded protection equiva-
lent to that which British and German subjects eniov in
the pursuit of foreign trade.
The American nation up to this time has been busy
with the development of its rich country and has not ven
tured far afield in its Investments. There are noteworthy
exceptions to this, but in general it is true. AT present
only a comparatively limited number of our mining enei-
neers direct their attention to the mineral possibilities of
Genital and South America. Then there are the enormous
mineral resources of the Orient. We have in Asia today
two striking examples-the Ridder mines in Siberia and
the BaWdwin in Burma-wherem modern metallurev has
unlocked some remarkable deposits that were too refrac-
tory tor the anclents. To be sure, American engineers are
connected with both of the enterprises cited. but these en-
Slneers represent a comparatively small group who have
recognized the extraordinary mining opportunities in some
OF the httle-developed countries of the void.
The diversity and extent of the mineral resources Of
this country have afforded an excellent training Ground
for our engineers. Their efficiency, both as examining en-
glneers and as operating officials, has been proved. but
were 100 new mines opened in this country tomorrow, we
would still have an excess of engineers. Is not the time
at hand when the American engineer must take a major
in foreign languages and geography and follow his British
brother into foreign lands?
In a Rockford, ILL.,, hospital there is a sign which
reads: Nc Children Allowed in the Natern;+u WOLF