646 MINING ENGINEERING 



life; it gives a more certain tenure of office to the mining officials; 

 and, consequently, results in a more conservative policy in the 

 management. It effects a more complete extraction of all the ore 

 in the deposit, a better avoidance of wastes and a more complete 

 utilization of all the side products. On the whole, the system, when 

 wisely administered, leads to excellent results. 



Its effects on the early development of the mining-schools were 

 also favorable. The close relation between the mines and the mining- 

 schools made it easy for the one to assist the other. The graduates of 

 the mining-schools were as sure of employment in an honorable pro- 

 fession as are the graduates from our Government military and naval 

 academies at West Point and Annapolis. Historically, this connec- 

 tion has lent the air of distinction that clings to the profession of the 

 mining engineer apart from his function as a mere money-getter. 



On the Continent two grades of mining-schools have grown up. The 

 Bergschule and the Bergakademie. The Bergschule trains working 

 miners for the duties of mine foremen, while the Bergakademie 

 trains young men of the educated class for the duties of the mining 

 engineer. 



The system here outlined possesses many advantages and is admir- 

 ably adapted to the countries where it originated. But it would be 

 impossible in America. In the first place our Government gives away 

 its mines and does not attempt to control either them or the mining- 

 schools. No official connection either exists or is possible between 

 them. Moreover, though there is much to be said in its favor, the 

 sharp distinction drawn between the Bergschule and the Bergakademie 

 in Europe is at variance with American ideals of democracy. 



It has become an axiom with us that not only genius, but also 

 talent, ability, and capacity of any kind, are too precious to the entire 

 community to allow them to go to waste. We err, indeed, by going 

 to the other extreme. But there is no doubt that the wonderful in- 

 dustrial progress of America is largely due to that equality of oppor- 

 tunity that is here practically open to every young man of ability. 



The American Temperament 



It has often been claimed that the American temperament is due to 

 our peculiar climatic conditions. As a matter of fact nearly all the 

 climates of the globe characterize our country. And in order to dis- 

 prove this theory one has only to cross the narrow line that bounds 

 our country either to the north or to the south to find a relief from 

 the strenuosity of the American temperament. The American tempera- 

 ment is due, not to climatic conditions, but to a mental attitude toward 

 life. When a man feels that his future depends not so much upon his 

 own efforts, but mainly upon the position to which he was born, he 



