The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1902-09-17
WANT A MINING
DEPARTMENT
Opportune Time to Push the
Project Is the Present.

Mining." was the subject Of an address
delivered before the Butte mining con.
greas by Pauline L.. Holland, Of Chicago.
1t follows IN part:
In the mparatively brief period ol
time that the department of agriculture
has existed II has built for itself mon.
ument of its own utility, In the truly
tremendous impetus that II has given
the agricultural industry throughout the
country.
In the face of such splendid results,
accomplished wholly through the cen.
tralixcd and direct efforts of u national
department, can there be any doubt o!
the magnificent return We could expect
II We were similarly favored? I do not
hesitate u say that the establishment of
u department Of mining would prove a
rich investment to the country ut large.
II would make direct returns by gather.
ing facts and spreading information that
would add millions to the wealth Of the
country. A scientific and systematic
exploration of the mineral domain would
undoubtedly disclose large and varied
mineral deposits that otherwise would
continue undiscovered for many years.
Careful geological research would blaze
the pathway Of the hardy prospcctor,
whose means and time are now often.
times frittcrcd away in useless labor,
ending only In bitter disappointment.
From the first creation of the department
We could look for an immediate and con.
stantly increasing development In our
knowledge II the science and practice of
mining and In all that appertSins to
,hetallurgy, metal manufacture and the
profitable marketing of their products.
The various data gathered by the RI.
searches of the department would 20 out
to the world bearing the official stamp of
government and would In calculated to
attract attention and command belief,
thereby inviting ths confidence II capi.
tai. without which our western country
might otherwise lingcr many years only
partially developed. Governmental nc.
tivity would quicken | ,ventive genius 10
devise cheaper and more scientific meth.
DDS of mining. Ia improve our present
methods of extracting ores. to enlarge
still more the use III electricity in con.
nrction with mining machinery, to in
crease the facilities for transportation,
"a invent better means II drainage aud
pumping. aud ~ on. The direct result
thereof would In that capital would find
II profitable Ia take hold of hundreds of
low grade properties, which at the
present time are n source Of profit to no
one.
THE study II economic conditions M
far as they affect the mining and kin.
drrd industries would naturally form an
important function oi the department,
and one from which We might hope for
immense good. In the domain oi min.
ing legislation, both industrial aud rem.
cdial, We could look for great betterment
through ,h" instrumental',y of n depart
mcnt 0 mining. lncalculablc good
would accrue Ia the industry from u bu- |
rcau devoted Ia the study of markets. |
The capacity oi our mines il significant.
ly yrcatsr than our ability To markc, the
prsiuct. The cvcr.ho" ing abundance III |
our natural resources and the skill, busi.
iness energy and mechanical aptitude ot
our people make foreign markets essen.
tial. The department could poin, out
the way and means of disposing of n
great variety of minerals aud manufac-
tured products which otherwise might