358 University Geological Survey of Kansas. 
hope that the former may be tried and the latter modified or 
discarded. 
It has been noticed, however, that some of the mine oper- 
ators have recently observed certain sources of waste, and 
consequently loss, brought about by ill-adapted and uneco- 
nomical methods and are striving to eliminate the cause by 
changing the practice. 
The different operations are discussed in the order in which 
they occur, from mining to concentration, namely: Mining, 
hand picking, hauling, hoisting, feeding, concentrating, 
pumping, and drilling. 
MINING. 
The method of mining (underhand stoping) employed 
seems to be the best under the prevailing conditions. Over- 
hand stoping is not applicable, except perhaps in rare in- 
stances, as the deposits are not in veins, but are of such an 
extent as to prohibit the use of stulls, struts, or any standard 
form of support. Scaffolding would therefore be rather hard 
to construct and maintain. When underhand stoping 1s car- 
ried on properly it assists in transferring the ore to the bot- 
tom of the shaft, and when all of the material loosened is 
mine dirt, or mill dirt, it is especially applicable; but when 
the material mined is lean, necessitating much hand picking, 
it is usually considered of not enough value to mine for 
concentration. 
The main objection to the present practice in mining is 
the lack of system in providing support for the workings. 
Many serious falls have occurred, extending to the surface in 
many cases, and have resulted not only in the destruction, 
or partial destruction, at least, of the workings, but in several 
cases the mine and mill buildings and other constructions. 
Where pillars could be conveniently formed in waste ( barren ) 
ground without placing them too far apart, it would seem 
advisable to place permanent supports such as cogs or pens 
constructed of rough timbers and filled with waste rock. By 
such a system practically all of the ore could be removed, except 
that which lies directly beneath the surface works, ponds, etc. 
Then, again, the utilization of the wastes, both of mining and 
milling, as support for the underground workings as filling, 
