The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-19

AT the recent meeting of the Cal.tor-
mia Miners associa ton resolution was
adopted strongly recommending and
urging the appointment Of q cabinet
officer to be known as the secretary OF
mines and mining.
This action, without doubt viii meet
with the hearty appreciation of every
mining man. and there is every rea-
son 10 believe that the endeaVor to Sc
cure the appointment of such an OIL
Ger III the presidential cabinet VIII
meet with the hearty cooperation OF
nearly every citizen Of the great West,
as il goes without saying that the inn
portance OF the mining industry IS but
little recognized by the general govern
ment. and also that 1T is jus1 as wcr-
thy of recognition as are the aSf1cut-
tlral interests of the country; and ii
is nosg high time that steps were taken
looking towards the establishment OF
a distinct department under the super
vision OF the government for the more
perfect development and advancement
OF an industry which furnishes the
country with the real sinews of war,
for il is money thal, We are all strlY-
ing for, and the product of to mines
of the country is enduring wealth.
The Cail Of sam h'Idr-ssNO, III COM
menting On the resolution and TIE ne
cessity OF the.esta5!ishnlent Of such an
Office in the cabinet, says:
The desire expressed IN tbs feSclu-
tipn cannot be attained without hard
work There is need5'1 n resolution TO
succeed. as we'd as Ole Of desire. That,
in turn. must be a resolution of will
as well as of form. II should be tie
resolve nC- merely of the Miners acIso-
citation. but CT an the Greater West.
1 -44l
end determined resolve. Let Us make
it SO.
AT the present. time the affairs of the
mining industry OF tha United S.ai--S
are scattered abO0t among N2aious Ls,-
rseus Of the department of the into
iOr NO official, not even a subordinate
one. is responsible for their advance
ment. or even their right management.
The commissioner OF public lands SUI
pervises some part of the work, the
bureau of minera1Ogy another and the
geological SURVEY q third. thus the
industry is roWh ere Jreated as q whole
and the inevitable result is cOnfuSiOl
and. in many cases. injustice.
The necessity for a better srTpeTvis-
ION of the industry IS made evident by
the repeated memorials TO congress
from the miners stating specifically
the evils from which they suffer Un-
der existing conditions, and also by the
ulIiicQlIy UneN experience IN OBTAINING
even the most elementary and necss-
sary legislation 20 secure their rights
and advance their interests.
The magnitude Of the industry is in
itself sufficient to justify the ez'taIo-
Eshment OF a separate department in
the national government for its man
agemenT Mining no less than agTicul-
ture should have its representatives
in the cabinet. It is an industry car
ried n in all sections of the Union
from the Alleghenies TO the Pacific
coast. In the fullest sense it is a great
national industry ard should have ma
~ioual recognition.
There is, however. something more
thar. The extent Of the industry TO be
considered. 1t is one whose successful
operation involves great expense. 1t
is conducted under an infinite variety
of conditions and in many instances
in keen competition with the resi- OF
the world. 1t is, moreover, a thorough
~ Scietific industry. and the AmeTi-
can miner must be kept posted on all
newly discovered processes if he is
to accomplish the best results in his
work
The subject is one THAI calls for
argument at this time. The campaign
in due season LATER on. The people Of
tne great mining states understand al
ready the Importance of the object
aimed at. The first thing to be done
is 70 rouse in them a determination to
attain it. 1t IS 70 that end we dirace
our efforts this morning.