The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-02-26

Scientific Press)
In offering this paper 1 have tw
principal purposes in view: (1) to in
dictate confusion existing in the pub
lie mind through the use Of the tern
mining geologist" by two distinc
professions; and Cd to discuss certain
disadvantages caused by this confu-
sion.
The accomplishment Of these pur-
poses will necessitate plain speaking
it viii involve an ingredient of carica-
ture and ridicule. But if there are
statements which seem discourteous
to honorable names. l disclaim any
intention of making them so. The
bearers of those names are justly
famous in a certain branch Of mining
geology, so-called. If there is another
branch. into which they sometimes
venture and in which some of them
are not w0rthly proficient. then there
can be no objection to an examination
Of the facts. indeed the very men in
volved viii be among the first to ad-
nit the facts. once they are establish
ed
The two professions Cor two
branches of mining geology) to which
reference is made are those concern
ed respectively with mining litigation
and with the search for ore. For con-
venience the work of the first may be
termed court" geology and the work
of the second "ore hunting geology.
Two Distinct Professions.
The belief that these are, in fact,
two distinct professions is supported
by several arguments The ore hunt
ing geologist. ideally, possesses a ju-
dicial temperament. He has the pow
er of poised and suspended judgment
of seeing each object from various
viewpoints: he has mental suavity;
he can understand and welcome the
thoughts born OF other minds. He
has both Imagination and patience
he is vigorous without being contro-
versial. He has an active ingenuity
in the search for truth he will travel
far to complete a concept, or to gain
impressions from a distant ore de-
post and apply them to the study of |
one that is nearer home. He pos
sesses not only honesty of purpose, /
but ability to distinguish the source |
of an idea; he will see his own mo-
tives, and will know unerringly when
some i'll condition of the body has
cast a shadow on his mind. He win
have his principal professional inter
est in geological reasoning and its ap-
plication to mining. He will prefer
the discovery of an ore body to the ac-
quirement of a fortune in money
As a matter of fact he can not have
all these characteristics, but he must
aspire to them lest he be stamped in
to one-sided conceptions The com
plications of his subject, and the
youth and incompleteness of its tech
nique make a thorough going judg-
ment exceedingly difficult. Prejudice
is the ore hunters devil and preju
dice tends eternally to fill in where
knowledge is deficient. The man of
digniied and grave demeanOr is urg-
ed from without and within to use
his convincing personality, which is
always available, in place of that {
logic which, despite laborious efforts, s
must often say Il do not know" Ju- /
diciously written geological reports
will usually contain confessions of ,
ignorance Rare indeed are such re- :
ports and common are those that in I
a logical analysis, fail to carry con- 7
in effect, rest on some /
obscure prejudice. a
The court geologist, on the other ,
land, needs the mind of an advocate
He must be "dextrous and able in ex t
planning the grounds of his opinion" n
lie is suitable for court work in pro- r.
portion as he has the ability, though fl
aking sides and maintaining a par o
isanship, to convince the court. 1t /,
s not a scientifically sound structure f.
hat he must aspire to. but one that h
ooks good to the court. His reason II
ne may be defective; for the court 3
will apply no very stringent tests: in G.
geology. the court is no more than O.
N amateur critic 1t is not so much n
ogic as personality that will speed b
he argument. If the witness bears h
look of wisdom and deliberation, if 81
lie has a convincing address, he will Of
20 far toward victory. a.
Danish Calm Thought. p
During the trial in court prejudice q
jumps to the front. The trial is al
anne. The witnesses are sportsmen' e.
hey act with a superb team spirit p
hey will do or die. Success prom m
SEES a delight that awakens pre- lie
ominant motive. The formal look II
lg models and maps, the long night ii
the hurried consulta- vi
ions. the interminable rehearsals Of in
are controlled by CT
hat motive: they Danish calm
bought Who can be both advocate
nd Judge? in
Let us consider the Elm Orlu v d
lutte & Superior lawsuit of 1915. On ne
ither side were five principal geolog- su
al witnesses shrewd spectator dc
aid: Here are five Of the most en- 81