第 6 节
作者:希望之舟      更新:2021-04-30 16:13      字数:9322
  nickel; platinum; cobalt; quicksilver; manganese or any other ore used in
  manufactures and the arts; the first thing we do is to sink a shaft on the
  most   likely  ore  chimney  and   at   every  one   hundred   feet in depth   we   run
  levels to develop it and if we continue to find ore as we go down and the
  ground requires drainage; we survey for a drainage tunnel that will drain
  the mine at the greatest depth; even if we have to run a tunnel ten miles。
  We sink the shaft to within twenty feet of the tunnel level and then quit
  sinking until the tunnel is completed。 We use a tunneling machine; boring
  a tunnel six feet in diameter at the rate of one hundred feet per day。 We run
  the   tunnel   directly   under   the   shaft   and   then   withdraw   all   the   men   and
  machinery from the tunnel; put a six…inch drill into the shaft that makes a
  hole into the tunnel; and quickly drains the mine。 Then we begin to stope
  out at the lowest level; filling in the waste upward; and taking out only ore
  to be conveyed to the mill or smelter。 While the shaft is being sunk the ore
  taken out is sent to the reduction works and carefully tested to find out the
  best way of reducing it so that when the mine is in good condition to work
  we know how to handle ore to the best advantage。
  〃We have only a few reduction works for refractory ore; but they are
  on a grand scale; some of them handling one hundred thousand tons daily;
  and   as   the   government   owns   and   operates   all   the   railways   the   cost   of
  transporting ore is under two mills a ton per mile。 We employ a corps of
  metallurgists   experimenting   to   discover   better   methods   in   reducing   and
  they have made great progress so that ores that were left in the mine or on
  the dump   are   now  worked   with handsome   profit to the   government   Our
  workmen   all   carry   life   and   health   insurance;   one…half   paid   by   the   men
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  monthly and the other half by the government; and where a mine is shut
  down by the government the miners are furnished employment in another
  place; so that they are never idle。
  〃We   also    bore   thousands   of   artesian    wells   throughout   the   country;
  some of them to the depth of five thousand feet; for artesian water; gas;
  and   petroleum;   and   occasionally   we   locate   fine   bodies   of   coal   by   those
  means and those that we don't need to supply the market we cap and stop
  the flow and use them in the future; always using the best flowing wells
  for the present time。 When we have to use drainage tunnels for our mines
  we carry the water off from the   mouth of the tunnel in a flume; placing
  quicksilver in the riffles; and if it is a copper mine we place scrap iron in
  the water and we also use the water for power to assist us in mining; so
  that at the present time we extract and reduce ore at a lower rate than in
  other   parts   of   the   world;   for   there   is   no   wastefill   management   and   no
  overproduction; for in all our mining operations we work those that cost
  the least; and we operate our coal mines in the same way。〃
  I   thanked   him   for   the   courtesy   shown   me   and   took   the   train   for   the
  capital; and my next visit was to the Department of Education。
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  CHAPTER VII。
  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION。
  I   was   ushered   into   the   office   of   the   Minister   of   Education   and   was
  introduced to a charming lady who filled that position with signal ability。
  〃I am told that you are from the United States of America。 〃 she said with
  a winning smile; 〃and I hope that you will have a pleasant time while you
  remain with its。〃 She spoke perfect English and informed me that it was
  the   language   of   Eurasia;   but   that   it   differed   from   English   used   in   other
  countries     in  one   way。   〃We    write   the  words    the  way    they   sound   and
  eliminate   all   useless   letters;   saving   a   great   deal   of   time   and   paper。〃   She
  informed me that in no school throughout the country; save one; were the
  dead; or foreign; languages taught; and in that one only for the purpose of
  correct translation in the interest of science; for practical education is what
  people need。 〃We have one great university for orphan children and those
  without   a   name;   and   from   it   all   the   departments   of   the   government   are
  supplied with secretaries; clerks; typewriters and messengers; and as they
  are physically; mentally and morally trained for the duties of life; they are
  highly prized in the matrimonial market。 All our common schools have a
  gymnasium        and    swimming       tank    annexed     to   the   study    room;    the
  gymnasium being divided into two compartments;  one for   boys and one
  for girls; with a door from each communicating with the study room and
  also with the swimming tank。〃 The tank was only four feet deep so as to
  remove as much as possible the chance for a child being drowned; and no
  little children were allowed in the tank without two or more boys and girls
  of fourteen years of age being present。
  The  doors   leading into   the  tank   room  were   kept   under   lock   and   key
  and were only opened once a day and that at the noon hour。 The youngest
  children;    up   to  the  age   of  twelve   years;   when    they   had   learned   their
  lessons   both   in   the   forenoon   and   afternoon   went   into   the   gymnasium   to
  play; and by those means the children are physically well developed and
  knowing how to swim are not liable to become frightened if thrown into
  the water   and know  what   to do to save   others   from drowning。 They  are
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  taught     reading;    writing;    arithmetic;    geography;      typewriting;      typesetting
  and   practical   geometry;   so   as   to   draw   lines;   angles   and   circles   and   find
  their    volumes      and    areas;   but   algebra;    astronomy;      grammar;       geology;
  physiology;   biology   and   metaphysics   are   reserved   for   the   high   schools;
  where every boy  and girl is   sent when they  are fifteen years   of age   and
  kept   there   for   three   years   at   the   expense   of   the   government。   The   high
  school is located in the district reserve as near the center of the district as
  conditions will permit in the vicinity of the court house and the Governor's
  residence and has adjoining it not less than one thousand acres; according
  to   the   population   of   the   district;   so   as   to   make   it   as   self…sustaining   as
  possible and to teach the students agriculture; horticulture and the care and
  management of stock and poultry。
  〃We     have    a  foundry;     machine     shop;    woolen     mill;   cotton   mill   and
  chemical   works   at   every   high   school;   and   while   both   sexes   are   taught
  farming and gardening the boys are taught mechanical trades and the girls
  knitting; spinning; weaving; cooking; housekeeping and nursing; so as to
  know how to take care of the sick and injured; and at the age of eighteen
  years   the   boys   are   drafted   into   the   army  and   serve   three   years;   building
  railways;   levees;   canals;   irrigation   ditches;   docks;   warehouses   and   other
  public buildings; and the girls are sent to the chemical factories; woolen
  mills;    cotton    mills;   paper     mills;   flax   mills;   sugar    mills   and    tobacco
  factories。 No exceptions are made from service; all must serve。 Both boys
  and girls are dressed in military uniform and are drilled two hours in rifle
  practice; firing ten shots at an imitation enemy in a military suit; stuffed
  with      straw;   in   different   positions;   from   one   hundred   to   one   thousand
  yards   distance;   every   Sunday   weather   permitting   and   in   actual   war   one
  brigade of girls is assigned to every division of the army to carry off the
  wounded        and   nurse    them   and    to  assist   in  the  defense     whenever      it  is
  necessary; and also to garrison and hold the lines of communication and
  their presence in the field has been so inspiring to our boys that they never
  have turned their backs to the enemy。〃
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  CHAPTER VIII。
  THE WAR DEPARTMENT