[Author unknown, The Method of Managing Silver Mills in Washoe, Territorial Enterprise, reprinted in Daily Alta California, July 21, 1862]

 

The Method of Managing Silver Mills in Washoe.

            Some cynical individual gives through the Virginia City Enterprise, the following advice to the proprietors of silver mills in Washoe, hinting, of course, that there are mills in that country conducted on this principle:

            You have your mill completed and ready to go into operation. To build it you have expended all of your own money and all you could borrow at ten per cent, per month. In building a mill you have done what is a great benefit to the country. As you have done so much for the country, you feel that the country should do something for you. What we purpose doing is to give you a few plain directions for the management of your mill, by observing which not the country alone, but yourself, also, will be benefitted. The mode of operation we recommend is entirely new — is a style of management which the great majority of the mill men of Nevada have never dreamed of adopting — is something altogether novel. As we said above, you have expended all your own money and are paying a high rate of interest on a large amount of borrowed capital. The first thing necessary to be done is to get back the money you have expended, and the next is to repay that you have borrowed. You first make the country pay you back all that the mill has cost you.

            You wish to do this immediately, for fear of accidents. Your mill may burn up, the mines peter, or the whole country sink; if you have got back the cost of your mill you can then afford to take your chances.  Your mind is at ease, and you can calmly drift with the current of events. You are first to get it firmly impressed upon your mind that you have done a great thing for the country in building a mill, as you will then have but little difficulty in making it plain to yourself that you have a right to expect great things of the country in return — in fact, that it is almost impossible for it to ever repay you for the benefits you have conferred upon it. At first you will do custom work altogether, as you have no money to buy ore or a mine. Until your mill is paid for, you should be careful not to clean up your batteries. What is in your pans is enough for the owners of the ore ; if the ore is very rich, it is very likely that the pans contain more metal than the owners should have. A little acquaintance with the various ores of the country will enable you to decide upon the amount you should give the owners. Watch new claims closely. Go to them frequently, and prospect the ore coming from them. If rich, manage to get their first lot of rock to test.

            These new leads are much better for a mill that is not yet paid for, to crush ore from than those well known. As you have not yet a mine of your own it is not best that these new leads should pay much — when leads pay much the price goes up. Think how much you have benefitted the country, and bother yourself but little about cleaning up either the pans or batteries. It is also useful to know that by an improved mode of working, which you can easily get up, tailings very frequently pay better the second working than the first. That they should is but right — it is only what the country owes you. Folks very often accuse mills of stealing their amalgum ; dont let this disturb you — folks are so suspicious you know, and always talking anyhow. It all amounts to nothing, and the most honest are often suspected. Consider that debts should always be paid — the country, remember, is greatly indebted to you—if you dont collect debts due you, who will?

            As a rule, do not let lots of ore from new leads pay for crushing. If the owners grumble much you can split the difference and lose half they still owe you. Once in a great while let a new lead pay a little above the price of crushing; miners, as a class, are worthy of encouragement. It is a good plan to have a hole cut through the floor of the mill where you pan out into which you can throw dirty stuff. A very small speck of dirt spoils a large lump or amalgum. It is better to pan out your batteries near this hole occasionally, so as not to allow too much metal to accumulate in them. Owners of ore are sometimes so disgustingly familiar as to forcibly look into batteries. When your mill is paid for, you can afford to be less strict in the observance of the rules we have given above fur your guidance. Vale. May you prosper.