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                                  EXHIBIT 31.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Richard l. Howell, President and Chief Executive Officer, certify that:

1.       I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB being filed for
         Metaline Contact Mines (the "Registrant");

2.       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
         to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
         such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
         covered by this quarterly report;

3.       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
         information included in the report, fairly present in all material
         respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
         of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
         quarterly report;

4.       The Registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
         establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
         defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the Registrant and
         have:

         (a)      designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure
                  that material information relating to the Registrant,
                  including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made to us by
                  others within those entities, particularly during the period
                  in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

         (b)      evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure
                  controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to
                  the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation
                  Date"); and

         (c)      presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the
                  effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures on our
                  evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.       The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based
         on our most recent evaluation, to the Registrant's auditors and the
         audit committee of the Registrant's Board of Directors (or persons
         performing the equivalent functions):

         (a)      all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
                  internal controls which could adversely affect the
                  Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report
                  financial data and have identified for the Registrant's
                  auditors any material weakness in internal controls; and

         (b)      any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management
                  or other employees who have a significant role in the
                  Registrant's controls.

                              Exhibit 31.1 - Page 1

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6.       The Registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this
         quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in
         internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect
         internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation,
         including any corrective actions with regard to significant
         deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: May 19, 2004

                                          /s/ Richard L. Howell
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Richard L. Howell
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

                              Exhibit 31.1 - Page 2