| Show THE PICK AND SHOVEL MINER there are two classes of men who are employed in our different camps as miners go into any of our big mines and one will find that the majority of employees are what might well be employed pick and shovel miners these as a general thing are good men in their class they can drill an upper and put in a shot with skill and perform almost any task assigned to them by the shift boss but as a rule they are not thinking men they are not observing they take no note or thought of the formation and have but little idea of the character acter or value of the ore in the mine they have no adequate idea of mining as an industry du stry they do what they are told to do and no more they are the right men in their place but it would not be a safe plan to pick from their ranks a man to act as superintendent or manager of the property in which they are employed another class and it is limited is composed of men with more than ordinary intelligence telli gence and ambition of men who strive to rise in their calling of men who nurse within their breasts the desire to rise above the station of the pick and shovel miner ask them a question and they can tell you the value and character of the ore bodies in the different portions of the mine they subscribe for the various mining journals and technical books and papers when off shift they employ their time in the study of questions of geology metallurgy and the treatment and reduction of ores they become thoroughly informed regarding the different phases of mining and milling they can see at once the meaning of orders emanating from the superintendent perin and foreman and are quick to grasp the results sought to be attained by the running of a drift here of the sinking of a there and in the making of an upraise they are a valuable adjunct in the furtherance of the mate material fial interests of the company by which they are employed while at work he makes careful note of any change in formation and of any indication of ore that may present itself if a stringer makes its appearance in the wall rock he calls the attention of the shift boss to it and although a common miner is now and then able to assist the management in the finding of a valuable ore body the indication of which would generally be passed by in silence or in ignorance by the pick and shovel miner in due time this intelligent miner this miner who employs his spare time in the study of mining and geological problems while his are playing aluff or carousing around camp is advanced to positions of trust he is made shift boss assistant superintendent and later on one may find him superintendent of the mine in many instances he is raised to the position of manager and he is deserving of all of these promotions and is entitled to his advance in pay the features alluded to constitute the difference between the pick and shovel miner and of the miner who thinks and who never loses an opportunity to advance the interests of his employer and to enlarge his scope scope of learning and understanding and yet we find mining companies new companies especially who on the point of economy will place their properties under the management of the pick and shovel miner at regular miners wages rather than such such vital interests to the hands of the intelligent practical and experienced perien ced man who as a reimbursement for his services asks for a salary commensurate with his duties and pay that brains should demand over brawn no mining company should expect its superintendent to employ his time in the tunnel breast with pick and shovel there are more important matters to which he should give his attention and the save at the spigot and waste at the bunghole policy which guides such a company will end finally in the closing down of the mine in the failure of the enterprise |
