Show 0 OLD MINES AND PROSPECTS it is an old saying that once a mine always b a mine this is very largely true although there are some exceptions to the rule the life of a producing mine is governed by conditions it is often the case that in its operation a state of affairs may arise on account of which it is deemed best to shut down A decline in metal quotations for instance a change in the character of ore a prohibitive cost for power a heavy inflow of water or various other features which make mining unprofitable it is not very often however that it is necessary to close down because of an utter lack of ore excepting in the case of a mine that has been worked very extensively for years and which has been a heavy producer and it is also very often the case that conditions condit ons which caused the practical abandonment dorment nt of a property temporarily at least may be overcome so that successful operations may be resumed metal quotations may prove materially just as they have during the past six months new methods of ore treatment are constantly being evolved so that the changed character of ore can be handled profitably electric power lines have been installed in almost every mining camp of note in the west and improved pumping machinery makes it possible to handle water that handicapped operations a few years ago this being the case therefore why is it that so many really good mines in almost every portion of the west are allowed to remain idle and practically abandoned it is a strange condition of affairs when whenn men are willing to spend a small fortune in the development of prospects when in numerous districts there are many idle mines anine which have been quite extensively devel aped which have been equipped for successful operation in whose workings large bodies of payable ore are known know to exist and which could be placed on a profitable producing basis again at a tenth of the cost that would be required to transform a prospect into a breadwinner bread winner and yet such is the case it is a step in the right dired tion when work is begun in the development of a prospect for all mines were prospects once but why neglect the property that has already reached a producing stage jl a mine which can be operated at a profit profit t I 1 now even if conditions unfavorable in character caused a suspension of activities a few years ago there are many men in salt lake city who own interests in mines which were productive ten fifteen or twenty years ago but which have since been idle in these mines if they only knew it if they only realized the opportunity now presented a source of big revenue awaits them a fortune beckons them and yet they complain of hard times and micawber Mic awber like sit around and bewail the fact that the mining industry is not what it used to be |