Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-07
THE MINING CONGRESS.
Secretary Mahon Writes prof. Tibballs
About Coming Session.

In a communication received by
Prof. William II. Tlbbals, one Of the
Salt Lake delegates to the American
Mining congress, which meets in Port
land. Ore, next month, Secretary Ma
hon lays particular stress upon the Inn
portance Of making the coming ses7
sion the greatest IN the history Of the
organization. Mr. Mahon says;
The coming session viii be liberalized
on broader review Of the mining in
dustry than ever before. II is expected
that every state and territory in the
United States, Canada, and Mexico VIII
present reports on the geological and
mineral resources Of their several
states, and 20 states have already taken
up the work Of preparing their reports,
and so notified Secretary Mahon,
1t Is more than likely from the great
interest that is being manifested all
over the country In the coming assem-
bly,, that the attendance VIII ne very
large and that the views of the con-
press viii be definitely crystalized into
form that viii prove the basis for fut-
ure federal legislation, Its Importance,
when viewed In this light, can scarce
Is be over-estimated, and the mining
Industry will be benefited by It's wisdom
to a degree that can hardly be realized
I'm advance.
one of the important functions OF this
congress will be a federal department
of mines and mining, with a secretary
at It's head, who shall he n cabinet olh-
Ger. A measure Of this character, OF
Infinite Importance to the Industry, can
acquire momentum only through the
action Of a mining congress representa-
tive of the interests of the mining men
generally. Through such a medium 1t
has a political significance that VIII en-.
title Il TO the serious consideration OF
the Lawmakers who wish to conserve
the best interests Of a great Industrial
factor Of the country
Aside from the formulating OF code
df laws for the approval of Congress
and taking such steps as are possible
toward the creation OF a mining depart
ment, the forth coming meeting prom
ises 10 exercise no little influence In Sc
curing concessions Of great value to the
Industry.
The mining industry embraces not
merely mining for the precious metals
and for iron and coal, but II also In
cludes the production of oil and stone
auarrying In all its varied forms II
covers the entire Union, for there Is
not "A single state In which mining In
some form Is not conducted. IL repre-
sents the interest, the welfare and the
| hopes of millions Of men and Women
| Second only to agriculture, II even TO II,
mining is the corner stone of the ma
| tons prosperity and wealth Through
| the production of its iron and coal
| mines, the United States has become
| the chief manufacturer OF steel and
| steel products In the world, and its su.
premacy I'm foreign markets would
| never have been achieved had II not
| been for the wealth which nature stored
in the mines, whether Of coal, iron, COP
per- lead, silver or gold.
To refuse to establish a department
of mines and mining when already W,
have one Of war, Of the navy of for
elgn affairs, Of commerce and labor
| and of agriculture, is to neglect an in
! dustry which Is more to this country
| than the maintenance of either the
| army or the navy for without II We
should be dependent IN both those
branches Of public service upon foreign
countries. II Is more to Us than ouI
| diplomatic relations and Yields FIRST
! place only to the cultivation OF the soil
| Tho Congress of the United states
| should give this question prompt at
tention and pass an act that would rec
ogni2e the greatness OF the mining IN
! dustry and It's importance In relation e
! the welfare of the country.