Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-07-18
Government Mining Department.

There was bill introduced in congress
about three years ago by Representative
Gamble Of this state, providing for q
mining experimental station to be estab.
lished in each Of the mining states and
territories. The bill was ordered print
ed and referred to q committee but was
allowed like many another good meas.
ure to take good long sleep. 1t is now
sought to resurrect the bill and have it
enacted into law at the coming session
Of congress. The bill was we'll drawn
and contained many good and useful
provisions. But it was undoubtedly
considered premature and we think now
that it had better be left to our mining
congress to be presented under their
auspices. This congress will establish a
memorial to congress to establish gov
ernment mining department with cabi-
net officer to look after the interests OF
that department and the benefit OF the
establishment of experimental stations
will become part Of the argument used
in the presentation of that memorial.
That there is necessity for such law
all mining men will agree, bnt when the
bill is again introduced we want it back
ed up by the mining congress, and the
whole mining fraternity of the United
States. We mean to have that govern
mental mining department and we want
the experimental stations to be subject
to the head of that department, and not
las is proposed in that billy, to come under
the jurisdiction Of tho treasury depart
ment. Brethren Of the western mining
press let us have your ideas in regard to
that matter.
The following is text ofthe bill which
we copy from the Pioneer Times of July
10th:
"Be it enacted ETC., That there be, and
is hereby, established in each of the
mineral States and Territories, under
the supervision of the Secretary of the
Treasury, who shall have entire super.
vision and control thereof q mining ex-
pertinent station.
Sec. 2-That the Secretary of the Treas
ury be, and is hereby authorized and
directed to appoint at each mining ex.
pertinent station created by the provi.
sion of this Act one expert geologist, at q
salary of three thousand dollars per an.
mum; also one competent and expert.
enced chemist, at a salary of two thous.
and dollars per annum. And the Secre
tary Of the Treasury is hereby authorized
to expend a sum not to exceed five
thousand dollars in establishing, equip
ping and maintaining each of said ex.
pertinent stations.
Sec. 3-That it shall be the duty ofsuch
geologist and chemist appointed under
this Act to receive for assay or analysis
all rock, cement, clay, or other mineral.
bearing substance that may be brought
to them by any citizen of the United
States and make a proper classification
or assay of each sample of rock, cement
or clay, or other mineral-bearing sub.
stance, for the purpose Of ascertaining
the exact amount Of gold, cinnabar, sill
yer, copper, wolfram, tin, or any other
mineral known for it's value in the arts
and sciences are used in commercial
transactions, and to furnish at a nominal
charge, to be regulated by the Secretary
Of the Treasury, to each depositor o
rock, cement, clay or other mineral. bear
ing substance, full assay or analysis
! showing the quantity and quality of each