154 MINING. 



will be described later on to illustrate what is meant by 

 these statements. 



The obscurity and uncertainty attending mining oper- 

 ations, owing mostly to the out-of-the-way places in which 

 mines are located, have always given to the mining busi- 

 ness a sort of gambling character that has attracted the 

 venturesome and reckless classes of mankind. This has 

 had a corresponding effect upon the whole business in 

 all ages, never more noticeable than in our own times, since 

 the discovery of gold in California. This gambling ele- 

 ment has been the cause and means of the great growth 

 of the mining business in this country, with all its at- 

 tending circumstances of good and evil. It was the 

 prime cause of the Spanish discoveries and conquests on 

 this hemisphere, but is the bane of all real legitimate 

 mining operations to-day. 



Mine gambling requires different qualifications for its 

 operations than real mine working, in fact it is gambling 

 of the worst kind. Success is not left even to chance and 

 the very worst side of the gambler's character is re- 

 quired for successfully managing the mine gambler's 

 business. 



The Gambling Mining Company organizers and man- 

 agers do not require real mines. Mining ^prospects are 

 of far more use, especially if in the neighborhood or 

 adjacent to some well paying mine. They are gamblers 

 and require all the qualities of heart and mind of 

 gamblers, and more too, for a gambler may deal fairly 

 and honorably with his associates, or even with the public 

 at large, in order to be successful in his profession and 

 enjoy an honorable reputation ; but of all the ways that 

 are dark, that of the dishonest mining manipulator is the 

 darkest, and those who enter his net may well leave hope 

 behind. 



A knowledge of human nature and the science of 

 gulling the public are the great requisites for managing 



no 



