The Kennecott Mines
| ABOVE: The Jumbo overlooking Kennicott Glacier. |
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Russell then leaned toward me. We
typically would consult each other first before talking to any of the
senior engineers. He had been enormously helpful in ensuring that I did
not make any mistakes either professionally or socially which would make
me look too foolish. He acted as both a sponsor and an older brother. As
I would learn later, it was Bill Douglass who suggested to Russell that
he act as a kind of unofficial sponsor to me since I was so young and
relatively new to the business. I have to say that all the staff had
seemed to go out of their way to take care of me and point me in the
proper direction. They did it unobtrusively, but there was always
someone prepared to give me some sort of hint if I appeared to be headed
in the wrong direction. “Not to worry. We know we are looking at several more years of operation here, with the ore that is now in sight and the projected reserves. We won’t be closing along with the Beatson Mine, either. They’ll be done well ahead of us. It would be good to begin looking elsewhere for work in the next year or so, since this will soon become a dead-end spot. That should be obvious from the tone just set by our esteemed leader.” Russell said that somewhat facetiously, but so that only I could hear it. He was a maverick--not one to be readily impressed by trappings of power, wealth or other forms of prestige. I think Russell had no real interest in a career with Kennecott. He was not much of a company man at heart, but he knew how to appear to fit in. His work was always good, though seldom great. “You actually have an opportunity here, Frank. I heard Birch mention the Marvelous vein. No one really wants to oversee that operation. You could probably have a chance of being in charge over there as a project engineer if you want the assignment.” |
| BELOW: Mother Lode Upper Camp Scarborough panorama. |
