Mohave County miner., 1915-01-16
Low Operating Costs and
 the Future of Mining.

The year 1914, although not generally considered remarkable year in point of advancement made in the methods of ope rating mines, still witnessed a considerable advancement in number of properties where the necessity of low-cost operations were vital to profit able working.
 The successful operation of mines has become more and more question of reducing the expenses of all opera tions from the mining of the ore to the marketing of the ore concentrate or metal products. This is due largely to the necessity of handling the so-called low-grade ore.
 The old-time gold miner who merely condescended to work the rich pay gravel of the placers, or the rich out crops of gold-bearing veins, did not need any great amount of business or executive ability to make success of working according to his own standards. But in the operation of the present-day low-grade mines great foresight and managerial skill is imperative to assure success.
 The conditions of inning have so changed that it is the low-grade mines that are paying the steadiest and most certain dividends. This is made pos sible only by the continual advancement in mining methods. Profits are not now measured so much by the grade of the ore as by the quantity handled and the degree of economy practiced at every step. The magnitude of the re- suits achieved are illustrated by opera tions of the great dredging plants on the gold placers of California, the Homestake of South Dakota and the Alaska -Treadwell of Alaska, the great porphyry coppers of Utah, Nevada, Ari- zona, and others. The Homestake has paid in dividends to date over over 34,- 900, 000$; the Alaska-Treadwell, nearly 15,0OO, ,0O0$; the Utah Copper, over 1000, OOO$, and the Nevada Con. over 17,OOO, OOO$.
 The great copper mines of the Lake Superior region really belong to the so-called low-grade class, yet they have been remarkable dividend payers as will be seen by reference to the divi- dend tables published in this journal. As an instance may be cited the Calu- met & Hecla, which has paid dividends to the total of very close to l25, 000,- OOO$.
 The grade of ore, then, is of less con- sequence than the size and uniformity of the deposit and the economy with which the product may be handled and converted into money.
 The progress that has been made in recent years in making it possible to proftably operate low-grade mineral deposits has has been due to great changes in mining and the application of up-to-date business methods. There is no reason to believe this advance ment has yet reached its highest point, or anywhere near it. It is not at all improbable that what we now call low grade ores will some day be looked up- on as rather high-grade.
 The significance of every forward step in the development of ways and means for handling and treating low grade ores can be appreciated when it is considered that by making available for profitable mining, slightly lower- grade mineral means the increasing of our known ore reserves by millions of tons, the future of mining, then, looks bright despite the pessimistic walls of those who are endeavoring to create the impression that our ore reserves are being rapidly depleted. Mining and Engineering World.