MANAGEMENT OF QUARTZ MINES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 142, 30 July 1872, Page 6

MANAGEMENT OF QUARTZ MINES.

In this, —probably my last letter on the above subject,—l wish to offer a suggestion which I believe would prevent in a great measure the useless expenditure of money on worthless reefs, check dishonest speculation, and enable shareholders to obtain the very best practical advice as to the working of their claims. This, T believe, can be accomplished by selecting a few of the most experienced mill and mine managers as a council of reference, for all companies or parties of quartz miners who may desire to obtain their advice. lam well aware that there would be difficulties to contend with in bringing this idea to a satisfactory completion ; but it all depends on the way in which the persons interested would initiate the affair, —as unless the directors and managers of companies, as well as the shareholders, aid and assist to the best of their ability, it would be a hopeless task. Being fully convinced myself of the great advantages to be obtained, I will enumerate a few of them ; but I must first reca- ' pitulate the reasons of the failure of some companies, and of the unsatisfactory condition of many others. Passing over the financial arrangements, (which the proposed council would have nothing to do with,) capital has been wasted by the making of roads and I races, and the erection of machinery, on 1 claims that no experienced man in his senses ; would have expended L. 100 upon; and, also, ; by erecting ridiculously inefficient machinery j upon claims worthy of a really good plant. I Claims have been rendered worse than value- ' less by raising, at a ruinous cost, stone that! would have paid well if a few hundred pounds had been Judiciously laid out in preparatory j work, and by rooting out the best of the I quartz until the workings resembled a rabbit-1 warren more than a mine. In justice to the ; mining managers, I must state that these tilings have generally been done not through ignorance on their part, so much as through their being hurried and forced by the directors and legal managers to get gold quickly, in order that a dividend may be declared, no matter what subsequent expense the company ; may be put to. Those fatal mistakes could have been avoided if a council such as I suggest had existed, and their advice been taken. We will suppose that a reef is found, and very good prospects obtained. The shareholders are of course excited and overjoyed : some of them, perhaps the majority, arc in favour of at once putting up expensive machi- j nery, or making roads and races. Under I past or present circumstances, they may or may not ask the advice of some man in whose judgment they have confidence ; but even if they do, it is with a predetermination of acting on their own opinion. Experienced man sees this, and finds it more politic to pretend to agree than to say anything he knows would only be construed into an undervaluation of the claim It still more frequently happend | that the person selected as an oracle is a publican, storekeeper, or some one following more menial occupations, who has happened to fluke into a payable claim by previous purchase, or some such chance. Yet, strange to , say, such men will give their opinion in a more dictatorial manner, and will bo more likely to get it accepted, too, than a really experienced man would. I will now give you my opinion as to how this club or council might bo appointed. ! i Let a few of the most irspnctabJn an I in/fit-| j ential shareholders (business people pro- : • ferred) meet together and select four or five I of the best and most experienced mill and j | mining managers ; communicate with them, and, their consent being obtained, appoint! them, with full power to add to their num- ; her. I consider that more than five should , not bo thus appointed, as they will he best ; | able themselves to select other competent ; | men ; and I would recommend their election iby a few' respectable men in preference to (that by public meeting, as in the latter case I less eligible men would very probably be I chosen. If it should he deemed necessary ! that the public should be consulted, lot a . meeting appoint the gentlemen with whom I the appointment of the council rests. The , advantages to be obtained from the advice of i such a council require a further explanation, : which 1 w ill try to give, thus A company Teel doubtful as to the prudence of erecting ! machinery, or of executing some preparatory I work involving the outlay of considerable I capital. As 1 said before, any of this council iitiUvldmtlhj would feel disinclined to say anything derogatory to the prospects of the mine, or displeasing to the shareholders ; but wore their opinion as a body taken, their professional reputation being at stake, they would unhesitatingly declare that further prospecting was required before undertaking works of such magnitude, if, on the other hand, they I considered there was ample show to justify the outlay, their verdict given to that effect would greatly smooth the way for a poor party desirous of getting machinery put up on the security of the claim. Secondly.—lt would be a protection to purchaser's ; as any person wishing to buy would be greatly guided by their opinion if given, and would be suspicious if he found that their opinion had not been asked. Thirdly.—Their advice as to the kind of machinery,—such as size of wheel or boiler, power of engine, weight of stamps, Ac. Ac., —would prove most valuable. Fourthly.—-They would relieve managers from the very heavy responsibility under i which they arc frequently placed of recommending expensive works or improvements. | And not the least advantage would probably i arise from bringing those men into terms of I more friendly intimacy, as on their evenings of meeting a mutual interchange of information would take place, which would redound to the benefit of their employers as well as to their own improvement. Crusuee.