| Show THE tightfisted TIGHT FISTED OPERATOR nothing is ever gained by delaying the development of a mining property for a period extending over five or ten years when the desired results could be obtained in one sometimes such delays are caused through lack of funds through the financial inability of the mine owner or operator but it is often the case that valuable mines are owned by wealthy people who grude every dollar going into their development and who postpone active work year after year because it really hurts them to put up the money required to place their property upon a producing and paying basis an instance of miserly and profitless mine operation recently came to the notice of the writer and this is but one of the many such to be found in this western country where owners know much more about raising hay and grain horses and cattle than they do of successful mining operation in this case some eastern men of means obtained possession of one of the most promising gold mines in the west in order to fully develop and equip this property fully or would be required and under proper and skilful management all the time that would be required to place the mine on a profit making basis would be from twelve to eighteen months and yet the management decided to expend but a year although the full amount necessary was available the consequence being that for six years or more but little has been accomplished and the indications are that the mine will be non du dur ing the life lifetime time of its present owners and all because they are so closefisted close fisted that they hate to see so much good money expended in a lump they would rather have it in a bank vault or safe where they can see it often and gloat over it not having the brain capacity to realize the fact that the small amounts they are yearly squeezing out is in reality just so much money virtually squandered such a company is a curse to a camp and a blackeye black eye to the mining industry and greatly retards regards the development of any mining section in which it operates two or three such corporations or individuals in a district is more of a nuisance to its growth than is the knocker the claim hog or the sharper for the very fact that they are able to maintain active and extended operations and fail to do so opens the door of suspicion and points forcibly to the conclusion that the mines of the district are valueless val uless or that some disreputable scheme or practice is back of the delay in forcing development equipment and profitable production |
