TKANSACTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC SECTION. 149 



MINING. 



In presenting the subject of mining before yon this 

 evening, I shall not attempt a general historical or 

 scientific discourse upon this ancient and important 

 department of human industry, nor attempt to show the 

 leading part it has played in the discoveries, development 

 and progress of this world. The subject (like the busi- 

 ness itself) would be too deep^ too extensive, and too 

 intricate and too intimately connected with the very 

 formations of the crust of the earth upon which we live, 

 and the wants, conveniences and luxuries of mankind in 

 all ages. It would require more time and a greater knowl- 

 edge of history, science and philosophy than is at my 

 command, to enable any one to do justice to the theme 

 as a whole — therefore the subject of mining presented 

 this evening will be simply treated from a business point 

 of view, and will consist of a brief description of opera- 

 tions and incidents which have come under my personal 

 observation during the past thirty years of actual busi- 

 ness, as mining engineer and manager in various parts of 

 this Continent, with such remarks and rules of business 

 deduced therefrom as may occur to me. 



In undertaking the task, at the request of our worthy 

 President, only a deep sense of duty, as a member of this 

 society, impels me to its performance, trusting the 

 members and friends present will have patience and 

 charity, if the subject is treated in too personal and 

 crude a manner. 



Mining life is not well adapted for the cultivation of 

 rhetoric or belles lettres. The language of mining com- 

 munities is generally more forcible than refined, and 

 of few words, and a residence of thirty years principally 

 among such people, ten years of the time among people 

 who did not even speak our language, prevents me from 

 being able to clothe my ideas with words which clearly 



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