The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-19
OF MINES AND MINING.
Effort Being Made to Have the Gov
ernmert Create Such Depart
ment-Mr Connell's Views.

The following special dispatch from
Washington appeared in saturdays
Pittsburg Press:
Efforts are being made to get through
congress a bill creating new govern
ment department to be known as the
department of Mines and Mining.
This bill was introduced by Represen-
tative Barhain, of California. and 1t is
being strongly urged by members OF
which realize the Extent Of the mining
industry in the United states. 1t pro-
vides that the duties of the new de-
partment shall be to acquire. by eX-
animation, practical and scientific eX-
periments. geological research. or other
wise, useful information on the sub
ject of mining in the comprehensive
sense of the word. including mines and
mining for gold. silver. platinum. lead.
copper, iron. marble, tin. zinc. quick
silver. antimony. aluminium. mangan-
ese. nickel. coal, petroleum. natural gas.
stone clays cement. emery. tnfusoriai
earths, phosphate rock, gypsum. salt,
borax bromine, sulphur. chrome iron
ore metallic paints. asphaltum, nlnt:
and all other minerals and mineral
| waters as wei, as waters used in min
ing. manufacturing.o or developing cleo
| tric power and to diffuse such infor-
nation among the people Of the United
head Of the department shall be caDi-
net officer.
The committee on mines and mining.
/ OF which Representative Crump. OF
/ Michigan. is chairman. has reported
! this bill to the house with strong
! recommendation that 1t be passed.
! PENNSYLVANIA has three members on
this committee. Connell. OF Scranton;
/ Ryan, of Pottsville, and Hall. Of Ridg-
way, who with members OF the Penn
sylvania delegation generally are in
sisting upon speedy action. Mr.. Con
nell. who is largely Interested in an
/ thracite mines and who knows as much
about the mineral resources or the
country as any other member of con
gress, said today:
4 There is not Il country in the world
y that is as rich in its mineral resources
as ours and yet We practically nave
less information upon mining access
ble to the people than any other lead.
, ing nation. The want of practical ana
! scientific information on matters con-
nected with this subject is apparent
| II is difficult. If not impossible to get
real data and necessary practical facts
| In nearly all of the leading countries
| there is either a consul general, COM
missioner or secretary of mines and
mining with duties similar to those
proposed by the Barham bill.
In England the industry of mines
and mining Is looked after in dis
tinctive branch of the department OF
sciences and art France has coun'
ell general of mines, Germany has Z
ministcr of public works who has
charge of mines. New South Wales
New Zealand. Queensland. Victoria
and Persia each has minister or sec
retary of mines. The DEVELOPMENT o.
our own resources would do away witt
the necessity for importation of min
eral products. open new mines. enlarge
others and increase the demand fo
labor"
Mr. Connell cites the following fig
ures to show the DEVELOPMENT of tn
mineral interests Of the country: Th
output Of coal In ls49 was 100000 tons
in 1895. ls8. .000. 900 tons; iron. in 1886
GOO. 900 tons; in 1896, 9.0oo. 900 TONS lead
in 1850. $4,000 tons; in 1896, 1ss,000 tons
gold. in lS4S, was $5,00O,OOO: i'm 1896
$50 0O0 900; mineral waters, in 1896
$500.0O0: In 1895. $4.260. 900: minera
paints, in 1880. $1S5. 900: in 1896. s62l 900
copper, in 1850. Sll,500. .000 in 1896. $50,
100000: petroleum, in 1880, 2+,000, 900; .
1896. So, 900.