The San Francisco call., 1896-11-16
REPRESENTATIVE MEN WHO BELIEVE THERE SHOULD Be MINING

department believe that economy should
be observed. The California State Miners
Association Is doing good work for the
State, and it is to be hoped that it will be
successful in securing department and
secretary who will look after all mining
matters.
state Senator A. F. Jones of Oroville
Butte County-While I have not looked
specially into this proposition still have
sufficient information upon the subject to
satisfy me that such Cabinet officer
would do great deal OF good for the min
ers, not only in this State but all over the
United States. The miners of CaliforniB
have had much to contend against and in
every instance it was a single-hnnded fight
until the association was organized. In
this State they have had not only the
courts to contend against, but they have
met with bitter opposition from the De-
partment of Agriculture. The mining
interests should be protected by a repre-
sentative in the Cabinet where nearly all
OF the other interests are in measure
represented and carefully protected. Such
a department could be operated in connec-
ton with the Smithsonian Institution,
which now has as exhibits, implements,
| machinery and apparatus for mining of all
classes, ancient as well as modern. Then
there are times when the Secretary of
Agriculture and Secretary OF Mines and
Mining could compromise cases of con-
| f1lct between the farmers and the miners
without recourse to the slow and expensive
processes of legal strife. Both would be
benefi ted and much trouble saved.
J. NJ. Wilkins, Prison Commissioner
The Department of Agriculture has done
much good in the United States by estab-
fishing experimental stations and dissem-
mating knowledge over the land. A De-
partment OF Mines and Mining would do
the same. When we consider our vast re-
sources in this field it only stands to rea-
son that this industry should have proper
representation at the seat of Governm ent
the same as many others. 1t would cer-
talnly be of great benefit to California and
all sections where any kind of mining is
carried on. While l am not a miner, ]
cannot overlook the importance of this
great industry, and l am heartily in favor
OF any movement that tends to advance
it. In such a bureau much could be done
in the line of experimental work that
would save much trouble to individual
miners and enrich the country at large by
untold millions. Private enterprise can
do much in the exploration of the new
field of science, but how much more rapid
would the advancement be should the ex-
perimental work be done by the Govern
ment that, in the long run. would be en-
riched and belefited far beyond the cost
of such research.
George Stone-The establishment OF a
Department of Mines with a Cabinet
Minister has become a necessity. In
1 its connection with the general gov
ernment the business of mining requires
| prompt action relating to titles and the
/ Settlement of conflicting claims, and the
congested condition of business in the III
terror Department for years past has
caused much loss and vexation for those
engaged in mining. The governmental
control of mineral lands in connection
with other public lands does not work
satisfactorily. as we in California know
Judge William T. Wallace-The idea OF
having in the Cabinet q Secretary OF
Mines is to my mind q splendid scheme.
The production of precious metals is in
deed a very important subject, especially
since the declared policy of the Govern
ment is to sustain the gold standard.
| Surely measures should be adopted to