The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-11
fsnecial Corresnondence.l

logical survey Tor the establishments OF
division or bureau of mines in the ge-
illogical survey. Director Walcotts re-
port has been forwarded to the senate
committee on mines and mining. He
regards such a division as certain TO
prove of decided and practical value to
the mining interests of the country. He
believes an appropriation Of $l50,000
would be sufficient for the statistical
work and for Investigations which have
been waiting many years to be under
taken ewing to lack of funds and
proper authority. If the usual census
of the mining industry is made for 1900
it will cost about $500, COO This need
not be expended if the proposed divis-
ion is established in the geological sur
Vey.
The director says: There has been
a sentiment growing among the min
eral producers throughout the United
States that the government has not
given as much attention to mining as
the Importance of that industry de-
mands; that inasmuch as there is a de-
partment of agriculture, there should
also be a department of mines, or at
least a bureau in which mines and
mining should form d part of the title.
There does not seem to be any well
defined idea of what the scope or duty
relations it should sustain TO existing
bureaus of the government dealing
more or less Indirectly with statistics
and matters relating TO mines and min
ing. By the establishment OF a divis-
ion Of mines and mining within the ge-
ological survey, the mining interests of
the country would have a clearly de-
fined representation in the organization
of the government If properly provided
with means for the collection Of statis-
ties and investigation of ali matters
pertaining to mines and mining, and
publication Of the statistics and infOr-
nation thus gathered, the interests Of
the mining Industry would be properly
cared for.
FOREIGN BUREAUS.
Practically all governments except
the United States have established 3.
system of inspection and regulation of
mines throughout their domain, and
many have, through their geological
and other surveys. prepared topo-
graphic and geologic maps that have
been of material aid IN the development
of mining interests.
The duties of the officer correspond
ing to a suggested commissioner of
mines vary materially in the different
countries. At the present time the func-
tons discharged by the inspector of
mines in Great Britain are in this coun-
try performed by the general land
office. the department Of labor, the ge-
illogical survey, special inspectors OF
mines who report TO the secretary of
the interior, and the director of mines
who assemblies the statistics relating TO
gold and silver.
In Great Britain there is but little
statutory legislation on the whole sub
ject of mining beyond that which re-
lates TO the regulation and inspection
of mines. In the absence of such gen.
eral legislation the legal questions gov
erning the ownership and working of
mines and minerals have been deter
mined by decisions of the courts based
en- the general principles of the COM
mon law and on local customs. The
regulation and inspection OF mires is
now in charge Of the home office, to
which the inspector of mines reports
in relation 10 the mines and upon the
mineral statistics.
In France the head Of the mining
administration is the minister Of pub
lie works, and in each department the
prefect is the head Of the service, IN
der the authority of the minister of
public works. The French system is
one of almost absolute state control I
in regard to concessions for mining and /
inspection and regulations of mines. It
IS in strong contrast with the policy Of /
Great Britain.
In Germany the mining administra- !
ton Is under the charge Of a minister |
Of public works. the provisions of the I
mining law being intrusted in the first /
instance to an official in each mining |
district. and N the neXt to q council. !
of which there are five in Prussia. and !
in this state the mining authority alone !
land not as IN other countries in con- /
junction with civil authority has en- |
tire jurisdiction Of matters relating to |
mining, except with regard to surface |
damage.
IN New South Wales all matters re- /
latins to mining on crown lands are I
vested in minister Of mines. who ap- /
points 4 set Of officials TO carry out the (
provisions Of the mining act There is /
also q mining board, which makes reg
ulatiOns subject to the approval of the
governor.
Nearly all countries have some form
of mining establishment and geological
survey, but the four mentioned illus
trate the prevailing types"
From a review Of the laws and the
plans Of Organization of the Institutions
controlling the mining interests of the
various countries. excepting the United
States. it IS evident that the bureaus,
etc. were primarily established for the
purpose of government inspection. reg
uiation and supervision Of mines, on ac-
count of the government having a di-
rect pecuniarE interest either in the
output of precious metals or. in the
case of many, in all minerals mined"
FREE MINING.
1.-The United States government has
never asserted the right Of sovereignty
in or over its precious metals, and rare
" over any mineral product. In 1897 d
system Of leasing the lead and copper
mines was adopted, for the purpose Of
securing revenue. After trial of nearly
forty years the system was pronounced
a failure, and in 1916 the mines were
offered for sale. When the gold mines
of California were discovered. and the
great mineral wealth of the Pacific
coast was brought TO the attention Of
congress, several bills were introduced
at different times and earnestly debat-
ed, but no action was taken that inter-
fered with free mining
Director .Walcott says, from long as
ISOLATION with mining men engaged in
active mining operations in all sections
Of the country, he doubts that any
scheme providing for government in
in mining operations would
be acceptable 10 the mining industry of
the United States. A. the present time
the state laws. although in many cases
inadequate, appear to provide protec-
ton for the mining employees. This
question, however. is one that could be
investigated by the proposed
same also is true of the federal laws
relating to mining in the portions OF
the public domain not under state gov