LUPTON : GOLD, SLATE, A^'D SALT MINES IN GREAT BRITAIN. 243 
gold in the quartz was obtained, the remaining 5 per cent, being lost. 
Such a result is very good. It is not the intention to express any 
opinion as to the future prospects of any particular mine, but it may 
be pointed out that the rules that govern success are simple, and are 
as follows : — 
1st. The vein must contain on the average a sufficient quantity 
of gold to repay the cost of working, including interest on the neces- 
sary capital. The necessary capital, it must be remembered, does 
not include the large sums sometimes paid in purchase of future 
profits. 
2nd. When a rich pocket is worked a good share of the profits 
should be set aside and applied to the development of the mine, 
otherwise the enterprise will collapse as soon as unprofitable ground 
is encountered, which is sure to happen sooner or later. 
3rd. The best machinery must be employed, and a sufficiently 
large out-put of quartz rock maintained to reduce to the minimum 
the cost per ton of the necessary fixed expenses. 
4th. Expensive London offices must be dispensed with, and 
salaries only paid for competent direction on the spot. If these 
conditions are rigidly observed, the mine will pay well if the vein 
contains on the average 5 dwts. of gold per ton. 
In ancient days the value of gold was many times its present 
price. Five hundred years ago, in England, gold was worth seven 
times its present price, and therefore other things being equal, a gold 
mine would then be very profitable which would now be ruinous ; 
but other things are not equal, the invention of dynamite, of com- 
pressed air rock-drills, of improved stamps for crushiDg the rocks, of 
improved concentrators, the greater security of the capitalist in the 
present stable order of society, and perhaps a lower rate of wages, all 
tend to counteract the present cheapness of gold as compared with 
five hundred years ago. 
The method of mining for gold as found in quartz veins is similar 
to that used for other minerals found at a steep angle, and is a kind 
of pillar and stall. First the vein is cut by a cross measure drift, 
next levels are driven in the vein, and cross-cuts are driven up and 
down, afterwards the pillars of better quality are worked out, leaving 
supports for the main roads and shafts. 
