The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-02-15
OLD PROSP[CTOR
ALWAYS OPT|M|ST

If you are a mining engineer, In the
course of your travels it is inevitable
that you will make acquaintance with
that distinct type of American citizen,
the p%rospector. Your visit, even though
restricted to a short half-hour, is re-
membered as a half-hour of pleasant
association; and if you should be for
tunate enough to spend several days
with him, you are made perfectly at
home. You will find that his furniture
and supplies are simple; that no extra
style is put on. and that economy of
means and operation characterize his
home. In such circumstances you rel
ish your liberal portion of beans or
cakes better than more elaborate food.
With many traits so well defined, he
properly Classics himself as posi-
lively as races of people fall into
classes, and many of these traits have
a good influence on his associates. His
few demands from and satisfaction
with life, his unwaivering faith, pleas
ant nature, generosity and philosophy,
all help create a character whose hap
piness is contagious to all.
In the colder climates and higher
attitudes, his home is liable to be a
coy log cabin Of his Owl design. In
the warmer and desert country, a tent
W his purpose all year. If his
camp is somewhat inaccessible, as is
often the case, a burro or two for
packing supplies, and occasionally
ore, is considered a necessary part of
the equipment. For a more compan-
ionable friend, there is usually a dog,
suspicious and clustering at first, but
quite friendly after he sees his mas
ter's hospitality to the visitor.
You are not a stranger, although
this may be your first meeting. Your
host does not ask you if you want to
see the mine" He would consider
such a question inane. You could
have come for nc other purpose; and
since the property is often but a few
steps away, you are soon looking over
the dumps or walking through his
tunnels, while he breaks off a bit of
rock here and there for your inspee-
ton. With his mind completely occu-
pied with mining and his conversation
ever taking that trend, you find in a
short time that he has a dialect of his
own relating to discovery of the elu-
sive ore. Foremost among such min
ing terms are: "Hangin' WALL" "out-
CROP" apex" and blowout" with
which his speech is sprinkled lib
orally.
Usually you will find that the size
of the ore body to be Opened up" is
regarded with an almost limitless
optimism. 1t is a mountain or ore"
and this causes many to accuse the
prospector of using this optimism as a
stock in trade for f~avorably influence
ing capital. There may be cases of
this kind. When the %prospector first
discovers or acquires his prospect"
some of his optimism, no doubt, is
intentional. After holding these
dreams for years, however. and re-
citing them so many times, they be-
come realities to him. No doubt, If
the truth were known, in many cases
this prospector firmly believes every
word when he tells you confidentially
CT the huge deposit which he is going
to "open up in a few more feet" And
this sincerity covers a multitude of
sins.
He takes considerable care to ex-
pain the geological and mining fea-
lures in detail, but usually your ideas
are sought with eagerness after he
has given his theories. This, because
you are an expert" 1t is here hat
you must show diplomacy. For quite
frequently, as the years go on, the
value of this property" has mounted
to a staggering figure, less than which
it would be useless to offer him for
his barren tunnels, those few back
breaking feet, won from the solid
rock by perhaps years of toll. In
this case you do not have to remain
long with him to find that his belief
of immense riches to be uncovered is
so unshakeable that you would rather
attempt to turn back the tide than to
speak your true opinion of his mine.
in the hope of saving him years of
fruitless labor. Rather than even
strain the friendship he manifests,
you reluctantly join him in his dream,
congratulate him on his good fortune.
wish him the best of luck, and take
your leave with his pleasant good
wishes ringing in your ears.-[The