Show importance OF LITTLE MILLS in glancing over our exchanges it is pleasing to note the large number of small milling plants being installed and operated in many parts of the mining camps of the western states A few years ago it seemed to be the general opinion and belief that there was but little use in mill installation unless a large and costly plant was built and these as a general thing were erected for the treatment of ores from mines which were but little more than prospects the result being that many failures were recorded now however common sense is is gaining in ascendancy and companies owning small mines claim owners who have a small tonnage of good in sight are begian beginning ing to realize the fact that the way to build up is to begin in a small way at the bottom and with a small reduction plant in operation lay the foundation for greater things there are many cases where owners of good little mines of promising prospects with favorable ore showings have been unable to interest capital in mine development develop men t and mill and who have almost lost hope of receiving assistance from men of wealth and means in a number of cases however such mine owners have realized the fact that they themselves are independent of the investor and have equipped their properties with small milling plants some have resorted to the old time while others have put in one and two stamp mills or small chiliano Chi lians and now they are sending in small bars of gold bullion every few weeks and are in position so that they are immune from the effects of hard times and are almost in ignorance of financial depression at the same time they are developing their mines and paying for this development from the output of their little mills they are putting in needed mine equipment and when the condition of their properties will justify they will put in larger reduction plants until at last they will have attained a position in keeping with their original ideas of the kind of a plant a producing mine should have A dozen little mills in successful operation in any district are of more importance and value to the district than is one big plant that has proven a failure these little mills grinding out the yellow metal or producing a profitable grade of concentrates have a most stimulating effect upon the mining industry they mean ready money and encourage others to follow successful example they mean that a small property with a small mill can be profitably operated whereas without the mill it would be practically worthless it means also that the owner is not compelled to spend months in a generally fruitless endeavor to interest capital in his enterprise for he is taking out the real stuff every day and at a rate that will eventually make him independently rich |