and engineering journal . n if thicolour bar were removed, the gang system would still survive, a semi-enlightened savage directing drill holes andfiring same, instead of the white miner. In this resped \\is very problematical if a lowering of working costs wouldaccrue, when we review the psychology and mentality ofthe ordinary Bantu. My experience of the latter is, that he merely attains anaptitude to act correctly through the repetition of the act,and not by reasoning the job out. To illustrate my point, Ihave had the same boss boy assist me for years in startingholes, and while he
and engineering journal . n if thicolour bar were removed, the gang system would still survive, a semi-enlightened savage directing drill holes andfiring same, instead of the white miner. In this resped \\is very problematical if a lowering of working costs wouldaccrue, when we review the psychology and mentality ofthe ordinary Bantu. My experience of the latter is, that he merely attains anaptitude to act correctly through the repetition of the act,and not by reasoning the job out. To illustrate my point, Ihave had the same boss boy assist me for years in startingholes, and while he could approximately point out the cor-rect place to start a hole as regards burden and maintaininga stoping width, he could never determine where the hoiwould end, , he would either go heavy or inability of the native to take an alignment and keep itis proverbial. I have tried them to take a sighting in aleading, but here they also failed. I have taken the direc-tion of a socket by the orthodox fashion of washing out. Underground on a Rand Mine. under a force of water, inserted the charging stick, startedthe hole 6 ins. away, but coming round again found the nativedeviating and likely to intercept the socket, although 1 leftthe charging stick inserted in the hole. I often marvel if the-Mines Inspector came round, would he consider that thesocket was properly plugged? To my mind, efficiency can be improved and workingcosts lowered mainly. through the more efficient andeconomic handling of the broken ore. Here the savage isin his element and primitive environment, the pick andshovel come natural to him. It is a department of miningthat is to-day neglected. The men (to my recollection) whoare retained as trammers and lashers hold their jobs throughbeing good slave drivers. The overseer in charge of a shovelling gang should be agood exponent of the navvys art, then he understands hisjob and can judge if elliciency is being put in b\ ever}individual of his shovelling
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectmineralindustries
