The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-01-11

arhore is a stage in the mining in
.,rv and a necessary one; namely
49, the discovery of mineral bearing
.o,nd the getting it in shape to be
18th while to bring to the attention
oonitalists. People like us would
,.a 70 know what to do to put our
nrooerties in shape for engineering
examination
This letter might be answered in
.oyaral ways and il referred to half a
avon authorities would probably
bring forth as many different replies,
aroraj of which might contain sug-
0ostions of value to the writer of the
Litter Not knowing the worldly cir
oumstances of people like us" not
,,nowing the character of the deposit
tbe writer had in mind and not know
10 exactly what he would propose to
do with the attention of capitalists"
when obtained, the reply must assume
certain premises.
presuming that people like u.s. are
nrospectors with plenty of vitality
Int with little capital, with plenty of
oood common sense but with few
strong financial friends; presuming
that the deposit is a vein or an out
crop of low grade precious or base
metal. and presuming that the capital
ist Is to be asked to become the finan-
cial partner or sole owner of the pro-
nerty. an answer may be attempted,
hit even with these comparatively
simple conditions it will be unsatis-
factory; for there are no two pros
meets that are just alike, there are no
fixed rules or methods of procedure to
he adopted and circumstances will
often point to the most logical course
to pursue.
The prospector who finds a cropping
containing ore sufficiently rich and of
such size as to warrant shipping from
grass roots needs to look for neither
friends nor capitalists. Such a for
tunate individual might more appro-
priately ask how to protect himself
against friends and capitalists, for
under such circumstances they will be
more likely to search for him than to
be searched for.
There are several ways of securing
money on the supposition that it is to
be spent in the making of a mine;
some of the ways are as crooked as a
worm fence. There are as many ways
of selling a hole in the ground-ways
that will not stand close inspection,
Notwithstanding the fact that they are
often used and often succeed; but the ,
capitalist of today whom our friend !
wishes to interest is one who must be /,
shown before he makes an invest
ment. We presume that our CORE
spondent is neither the lucky one who |
has found cropping of ore that may
be shipped to the reduction works just !
as broken nor the dishonest one trying
to sell hole in the ground, but a !
legitimate searcher for ore who has
found that which he believes will lead
to something of Importance.
Our first suggestion to one who has
found such deposit is to let it alone
unless he has the courage of his con-
victions, unless he Is willing to put in
his own time on 1t and is willing to
sweat blood in demonstrating that it
Is worth development. Unless he Is |
willing to do this, and does it, he had !
better not waste time setting his
stakes, for the prospector of today Is
up against it unless he has something
of real interest to show. In earlier
days, when rich finds were more fire.
quent, neighboring claims with small
exposures and little work done could |
often be sold or financed upon the
strength of adjoining properly but |
conditions have changed, and the finds
of the prospector of today are often |
far from any rich neighbor, where !
they must stand entirely upon their
own merits, and without some COM
mercial ore in sight or excellent indl-
cations of finding it, they will not be
eagerly taken up.
Having found something that is
worth good hard work, our suggestion
Is to start that work at once at the
most promising point where conditions
permit and stick at 1t until it Is i'm
possible to go further with the means
at hand, Do not attempt to stake the
whole country or cover the whole dis
trict If a new one with your claims.
II you have been the first on the
ground and have taken the
best, leave some for the other fellow;
let him have something to work on. II
ne strikes pay he won't hurt you, and
mis- finding ore under a less favorably
disposed surface showing may even
help you. A large number of claims,
II honestly held, means scattered and
ineffective work, while a small number
Well located permits of the assessment
work being concentrated at one or
TWO points and the effective accomp-
lishment of results.
If your circumstances permit, do
not stop when the annual assessment
work is done, but keep digging as long
as you can and then put in another
round just for luck: don't stop until
you have ore in the bottom or ore IN