Dolcoath mine – Queen of Mines, Dolcoath, Camborne

550        Price—* West Barbary ;” or, Notes on the        [Sept.

tends to promote indifferent finance. The adventurers are in a
similar position with regard to economic prudence to that in which,
as we have seen,²⁴³ the tributer is placed with reference to thrift.
Even without any conscious dishonesty the mines, if we may credit
the statements of local newspapers, have been too frequently
worked on unsound financial principles. In some cases it seems
that almost every penny of available money—and sometimes too it
is to be feared of money which is not strictly available—has been
divided at the periodical meetings, and little, if any, set aside to
meet unforeseen contingencies.   Nor is it without significance that
attention has recently been called in Cornwall to the high charges
imposed for banking accommodation; and that the failure of
Tweedy’s Cornish Bank in 1879 disclosed the existence of large
over drafts to the mines.²⁴⁴

But we must dismiss these abuses from our minds when we are
considering the system of wages. Nor again must we be drawn
away by the controversy which has recently arisen around the
questions of royalities and the leases of mines. Here once more
there appear to have been grievances, and here too remedial
legislation is proposed. The incident of the payment of a large
fine ²⁴⁵ on the renewal of the lease to Dolcoath has brought the
question to the front; and complaints have been raised about the
brief duration of the leases and the payment of royalties. It has
been urged ²⁴⁶ that the leases should run for a longer time than twenty-
one years, and that the dues to the lords ²⁴⁷ should be paid on profits
alone. Royalties and mine leases are then a burning question;
but they are not the question with which we are at present con-
cerned.

To a certain extent another abuse, which is intimately con-

243 Supra, sec. iv.

244 Cf. “ West Briton,” 13th February, and 27th March, 1879; “ Daily
« News,” 8th January, 1879,

²⁴⁵ Cf. Royal Commission on Housing of Working Classes’ Report, Q. 8051,
8164, and 8165, and “ West Briton,” 24th December, 1885. The sum said to
have been asked at first was 98,000/.., then 45,000/., and finally 25,000/..

²⁴⁶ “ West Briton,” 17th September. It is curious that as far back as 1814
Mr. Taylor declared that the “ mode of levying dues on the gross produce” tended
“ to discourage enterprise.” “It seems reasonable,” he added, “that the land-
* owners should contribute something in favour of that exertion which so often
“ leads to their great advantage ;” and he therefore advocated some mode of
assessing dues, if possible, “in some proportion to the net profit.”

²⁴⁷ "The owner of the fee simple who grants the lease for mining purposes is
“ locally known as a lord,’ “whether it be a manor or whether it be not” (S.,
Q. 65). The dues may vary from “one-eighteenth to one-thirtieth ” of “ the
" value of the ore actually sold” (S., Q. 176—79, and 5763 and 5764). In “some
“ recent leases? a “small annual rent” is also introduced, but this is so small
that it really “ merges in the dues’? (S., Q. 198). At Dolcoath these dues amounted
for the twelve weeks prior to 6th December, 1886, to 2,219/. on 33,2901. realised
by 556 tons 16 cwt. of tin (ef. “ Western Morning News,” 7th December, 1886).

via JSTOR

"West Barbary;" or, Notes on the System of Work and Wages in the Cornish Mines