The San Francisco call., 1896-11-15

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Miners Association strongly and ur-
gently desires the appointment of
Cxbinet officer to be known the Sec
retary of Mines and Mining.
The desire expressed in this resolution
cannot be attained without hard work.
There is needed a resolution to succeed,
as we'll as one of desire. That, in turn.
must be resolution of will as well as OF
form. 1t should be the resolve not
merely of the Miners Association, but of
all the Greatek West. It should be, more
over, a firm, fixed and determined re-
solve. Let US make it so.
At the present time the affairs of the
mining industry of the United States are
scattered about among various bureaus of
the Department of the Interior. No Off
cial, not even a subordinate one, is re-
sponsible for their advancement, or even
their right management. The Commits
sioner OF Public Lands supervises some
part of the work, the Bureau of Miner
alogy another and the Geological Survey
a third. Thus the industry is nowhere
treated as a whole, and the inevitable re-
suit is confusion and, in many cases, in
justice.
The necessity for better supervision of
the industry is made evident by the re-
peated memorials to Congress from the
miners stating specifically the evils from
which they suffer under existing condi-
tions, and also by the difficulty they ex-
perience in obtaining even the most ele-
mentary and necessary legislation to
secure their rights and advance their IN
terests.
The magnitude of the industry is in
itself sufficient to justify the establish
ment of separate department in The Ma
tional Government for its management
Mining-not less than agriculture should
have its representative in the Cabinet. 1t
is an industry carried on in all sections of
the Union from the Alleghanies to the
Pacific Coast. In the fullest sense it is a
great National industry and should have
National recognition.
There is, however, something more than
the extent of the industry to be consid-
cred. 1t is one whose successful operation
involves great expense. It is conducted
under an infinite variety of conditions
and in many instances in keen compet-
ton with the rest of the world. 1t is.
moreover, thoroughly scientific industry,
4ha l.
posted on all newly discovered processes
If he is to accomplish the best results in
his work.
The subject is not one that calls for
argument at this time. The campaign of
education in regard to it will come in due
season later on. The people of the great
mining States understand already the i'm
portance of the object aimed at. The first
thing to be done is to rouse in them deter
mination to attain it. 1t is to that end we
direct our efforts this morning.
THE CALL promises TO the miners in this
contest all the assistance which It's presses.
Whatever can be done by calling public at
tention to the issue and concentrating popu-
lar sentimentinto a resolute determination
we will do. The mining industry has too
long been neglected by the Government.
1t has grown too great to be left to subor-
dinate officials In different bureaus. The
work OF the Interior Department has be-
come too large and too diverse for single
Secretary to give proper attention to all
the needs of its various sections. 1t will
benefit the whole country to take mines
and mining out of that overloaded depart
ment and make it department of itself.
That is the reform to work for. Let US
rally all the Greater West to unite with us
in the task and go forward and win.