Show THE WEAK LINK IN THE CHAIN in mining operations with many mining companies there is a weak link in the chain somewhere the company in the management of its property may think that it is pursuing the proper course course but in many instances its career is suddenly checked because of some oversight or neglect because of a miscalculation calculation mis or failure to realize actual conditions and this is especially the case when it comes to mill building and the process to be employed in ore reduction prior to this period in mining operations success has generally attended the efforts of the company or at least such was thought to be the case but when it came to mill construction it was here that the management falls fall down and failures of this character have often driven mining companies into bankruptcy instances are common in this western country where thousands of dollars have been expended in mill construction and equipment and to no purpose and at almost a dead loss as it has been found when the plant went into actual commission that the process employed was not adapted to the ore to be treated such experiences shows that there was a weak link in the chain that someone had blundered somewhere and that no matter how complete the plant how expensive its machinery the mill is a failure another costly blunder another weak link in the chain is the building of reduction works when there is not enough ore in sight in the mine to keep it in operation for a year or more after its completion ion and monuments to such folly are to be found in almost every mining camp in this intermountain country I 1 one reason why such mistakes are of such common occurrence is the fact that ii ft is easier to raise money for mill building than it is for almost every other feature or purpose connected with the mining industry as the ordinary man of means in looking for a safe investment naturally thinks that if a mill is in projection the property for which it is intended must of necessity necessia essit 7 be amply able to supply the plant with wit h 0 ore 8 when it is ready to be put into commission more cases of failure in in mining can be h traced to mill building than to almost any an other dause cause in the majority of cases the process employed is not adapted to the ore and yet it is hardly ever the case that a mill is planned and installed until testa teg have been made to determine the best pro anro cess to be employed in ore reduction some times exhaustive experiments are made mad and yet it is often the case that the process decided upon has proven inadequate and a positive failure when the mill is given a trial run the consequence being thattie th that atthe the plant must be closed down 0 or r alterations made in its design and the method employed in III recovering the values that will cost almost as much again as the amount employed in the installation of the original plant it is these weak links in the chain that are productive of so many failures in mining this condition existed in the early history of mining in the west the situation is not changed today and fifty years from now many instances will be cited of the abandonment of mining enterprises because of failure in mill construction and operation |