The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1922-09-23
Those Interested in Mining.
mining and Engineering Journal-Pres

(Mlnlng and Engineering JOurnal-PreSS. }
Those more or less astute groups who are gradu-
ALLY extending their control larger areas OF the
metal and mining industries controlled by bust
ness men; the enterprises founded in finance and
based marketing; and mining operations, which
constitute the speciality of these considered
hardly less conservatively than the banker considers
his loans. Hence they move slowly and with
perating caution they not popular they examine
and turn down. thousand prospects. But though
powerful and growing they numerically the least
of the mining fraternity. At the other the
line is the group who entranced with the Joy and
hope and gamble of what of riches may be hidden in
the earth; the knights of the pick and burro the
drivers of year-ong crosscuts and drifts. These
some knowledge; much hope; and "a wonderful vision
and faith. They are a kindly and gentle folk; and
their philosophy and world outlook, bred thousand
nights OF meditation the desert or in the forest
by and large better than those of the shrewd fnan
cia judges at the other end of the mining line And
between the two ends of the line, close behind
financial business, major mining group the min
ing Enthusiastically appraising calculating
and cautous and therefore also altogether popu-
lar, though as class much respected in mining
elons for their hardness and outstanding qualities
When comes the mining man." the enterpriser pro-
moter varying in judgment and principle with an eve
open at once to intrinsic merit of properties and
milking the public, and yet with a modiucum of
visionary hope of splendid bodies great reduc
non plants. II he wins, the public has a chance
win grandly with him. if he loses, it will be in most
cases the public which really loses not he In the
midst of his great vision he is shrewd enough to
nave PROVIDED against Such contingencies. The in
vestng public has not they have not provided as he
has for a strategic rreat.
Just outside the line stand the camp followers of
the mining army-those who profit by money that
goes into mining whether it is lost or not They
viii profit most if it is not lost, then more and
more money will circulate around them. But in any
case some of the money that circulates whether
bound for for the hole of mining
ventures, sticks to their fingers: they are first
and last simply for money being spent. They are the
average citizen of mining and mining districts
sorekeepers, real estate functionares and pro-
fessional men of all grades. They nemplate
with equanimity the putting Of two dollars into the
ground to get out fifty cents: they believe in it
Why shouldnt they? To them, then all mining coun-
try is good gamble They love generous plunger
but they want others to fork the money: if they
themselves invest at all, it will be shrewdy These
are the greatest boomers of mining speculation the
boost don t-knock peope-they and the fy-by-nigh
curb brokers of New York Francisco ct al But
they want George to do it,
With the exception of of these camp follow
ers and some of the promoters the whole mining army
and natural Development 1t would be difficult to say
whether the shrewd business man and organizer the
engineer. the honestly sporting enterpriser or the
prospector is the most useful The omission of anv
one would make the position the others
impossible-they could not exist Every man then
who had his eye real mines and prospects and pins
his hopes getting money out of the ground is an
asset 10 the industry. But the who hopes pos
ing as mining booster. to get his money not out
of the ground, but slyy from the pockets of the
public which he picks while he is hurrahing for
mining is asset, but a poisonous evil and A
disgrace a noble industry.