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The Cost Book Many mines in the early 19th century were worked on the cost book system by companies of unlimited liability, into which a shareholder paid money when requested, or shared the profits when the mine did well. The shareholder had a right to inspect the legally required Mine Cost Book in which were entered the monthly costs of all the activities both underground and on surface, together with the progress in the various areas of the mine, hoisting and ore dressing details, costs of building engine houses, stores purchased, taxes paid and many sundry activities. The photograph below is a typical page of the Cost Book showing the first entries for April 1857:
The first five names at the top of the left page are the Captains, Storekeeper and Clerk. Underneath are entered details of the number of men, and the name of the pares at each working place underground, together with the measurement of the work carried out and the tut work contract set at the beginning of the month. Also listed are the names of monthly and daily paid men, women and boys. On the right hand page the columns show the gross earnings in pounds, shillings and pence, followed by the deductions for 'Stores & Co' and 'Doc. & Club', and the balance due. The adjacent columns to the right are headed 'Subsist' and 'Barber'. The last two columns shows the net pay due to the pare, followed by the signature of the recipient. The Cost Book has 180 pages (360 sides) with 60 - 80 entries per month which usually occupy 6 to 8 sides.The page sizes are 390 mm x 270 mm. The book is in excellent condition considering its age and the binding is holding well. The outside cover of skin is a little damaged with handling, and there is a rough sketch in red crayon on the front showing what looks like a plan view of a shaft and a cross-cut going in a northerly direction intersecting a number of small fissures and finally the lode. It is a typical sketch one would come across in any mine captain's office! The units of measurement used in the 1850's.
For the benefit of the modern reader I have converted lengths into the metric system and the currency into the decimal pound. For conversion units please refer to the Glossary page of this web site. |
