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worked by private citizens, and this the Government has recently done with 

 regard to several mines. As observed at the commencement of this paper, the 

 want of capital is an obstacle to private individuals taking the initiative in the 

 establishment of large mining works, even in places, where there can be no 

 doubt about their profitable nature. 



FORMATION OF PEIVATE COMPANIES. 



Instead of constantly applying the floating capital of the country to the crea- 

 tion of new banks, part of it might be more advantageously used for the for- 

 mation of companies, which besides other industries would devote their attention 

 to mining. Such a company would have to become owner of all the mines in 

 an entire mining district, in order by consolidation of neighboring mines to be- 

 come possessed of the great advantages to be derived from a common manage- 

 ment, common working of the mines, drainage, reduction. 



CENTRAL REDUCTION— WORKS. 



Another not less important measure would be the erection of central reduction- 

 works and also of central dressing-establishments, at favorably situated places. 



Suppose for instance, that such a central establishment for the working of all 

 the ores, as well from the immediate as from the more distant neighborhood, 

 were created either by government or by a company, at some favorably situated 

 point on the coast of the inland sea, say in the vicinity of Kobe. The copper — , 

 silver — , gold — , lead — , sulphur-ores would be delivered from the mines — 

 whosoever their owners — at the smelting-works, where they would be accurate- 

 ly assayed aud, according to their ascertained contents, paid for at fixed rates. 

 The advantages, which centralization offers, not only in respect to the manage- 

 ment, but also to the technical superintendence of the works, composition of the 

 charge, utilization of the roasting gases for the manufacture of sulphuric acid 

 &c, would enable the reduction-works, organized on the latest system, to 

 pay the mines a higher price for their ores than the mines themselves, with 

 their defective smelting methods, costly administration, high charcoal-prices, 

 are at present able to make, and both parties would thus be gainers by the 

 arrangement. The cokes or coals would have to be got from the South, Karatsu, 

 Nagasaki, Make. 



These reduction-works would work the ores from the following mines, which are 

 all situated more or less in the neighborhood : Copper-mines : Tenwa, Tsubouo- 

 uchi, Tshibe, Wake, Akasaka-Ida, Beishi, Kumayama, Kawato, Tada, Kanahira, 

 Ono-Omodani, Hosono, Maibira, Shikama, Wurushiyania; the lead-mines of Man- 



