The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-11

reau should be or what relations it
should sustain to existing bureaus { {
the government dealing more or less
indirectly with statistics and matters
relating to mines and mining by the
establishment of a division of mines
and mining within the geological sur
vey the mining interests of the country
would have clearly defined represent
alton in the organization of the gov
ernment that if properly provided
with means for the collection of sta
tistics and investigation of all 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.
practically all governments except
the United States have established
system of inspection and regulation of
mines throughout their domain, and
many have, through their geologic
and other surveys, prepared tGpograph-
ic and geologic maps that have been of
material aid in the development of
mining interests.
The duties of the officer correspond
ing to suggested commissioner of
mines vary materially in the different
countries. At the present time the
functions discharged by the inspector
of mines in Great Britain are in this
country performed by the general land
Office, the department of labor, the
geological survey, special inspectors of
mines who report to the secretary Of
the interior, and the director of the
mint, who assemblies the statistics re-
latng 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
governing the ownership and working
of mines and minerals have been de-
termined by decisions of the courts
based on the general principles of the
common law and on local customs
The regulation and inspection of mines
is now in charge of the home office, to
which the inspector of mines reports
in relation to the mines and upon the
mineral tsatistics. The geological
survey of England was organized in
1892 and that of Ireland in 1S45 In 1854
the geological survey of Scotland was
made a distinct branch and in 1877
the title of Great Britain was dropped
and the geological survey of the United
Kingdom then included the surveys Of
England and Wales, Scotland and Ire
land. It was at first a bureau of the
ordnance survey, but is now branch
of the department of science and art
In 1859 a mining record office was cs-
tablshed.
In France the head of the mining
administration is the minister of public
works, and in each department the pre-
feet is the head of the service. under
the authority of the minister OF public
works
The French system is one of almost
absolute state control in regard to con-
cession for mining and inspection and
regulations of mines. 1t is in strong
contrast with the policy of Great Brit
ain.
I'm Germany the mining administra
ton is under the charge of minister
of public works. the provisions of the
mining law being intrusted in the first
instance to an official in each mining
district, and in the next to a council.
of which there ar2 five in Prussia, end
| in this state the mining authority
alone land not as in other countries,
in conjunction with civil authority
has entire jurisdiction of matters re-
lating to mining, except with regard to
surface damage. At first geological
Investigations were carried on under
the royal Pruseian superintendence Of
mines, constituting a division Of the
department under the minister of com
merce. industry and public works. In
1873 the survey was reorganized, be-
ing modelled chiefly after the surveys
of England and Austria. Its official
relations are with the department Of
commerce, industry and public works.
The topographic maps which it uses
are prepared by another department Of
the government.
IN New South Wales all matters
relating to mining on Crown lands
are vested in a minister of mines, who
appoints a set of officials to carry out
the provisions of the mining act. There
is also a mining board. which makes
regulations subject to the approval Ct
the governor
Nearly all countries have some
form of mining establishment and ge-
illogical survey, but the four mention
ed illustrate the prevailing types.
From a review of the laws and the
plans of organization of the institu-
tions controlling the mining interests
of the various countries. excepting the
United States, it is evident that the
bureaus. etc. were primarily estao-
lshed for the purpose of government
inspection, regulation and supervision
of mines, on account of the government
having a direct pecuniary interest
either in the output of precious metals
or, in the case of many, in all minerals
mined.
1.-THE United States government has
never asserted the right of sovereignty
in or over its precious metals, and
rarely over any mineral product. In
1907 a system of leasing the lead and
copper mines was adopted for the pur-
pose of securing revenue. After trial
| of nearly 40 years the system was pro-
| nounced a failure. and in 1886 the
mines were offered for sale. When the
gold mines of California were dlscov-
cred, and the great mineral wealth of
the Pacific coast was brought to the
attention of congress, several revenue
bills were introduced at different
times and earnestly debated, but no
action was taken that interfered with
free mining"
Director Wolcott declares that from
long association with mining men en-
gagged in active mining operations in
all sections of the country he doubts
that any scheme providing for govern
ment interference in mining opera lions
would be acceptable to the mining m
dustry of the United States. At the
present time the state laws, although
in many cases inadequate, appear to