Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-12-02
A Bureau of Mining for the United
States.
BY GEO. D. sToNEssRFET.

to those who would like to see it better
recognized by the United States gov
eminent, few remarks based on ex-
perience elsewhere, might not be amiss
at the present time. In one sense, the
United States government has pursued
a policy towards mining in general that
other countries might we'll take lesson
from. 1t has been far seeing one and
has done much to encourage the settle
ment of the western states. But the
United States government, having laid
a deep foundation, has done nothing
since to erect any superstructure there
on, and mining with the laws bearing
upon it, stands today without that
direct federal supervision which its
vast Importance certainly entities it to.
The time seems ripe for the establish
ment of a Department of Mines, with
supervision over the entire area of the
United States, and the objection
thereto seems to lie in possible inter-
ference with state control of the states
internal affairs. A little reflection
would probably reverse such objection,
for are not interstate commerce, postal
revenue, agriculture, the geological
survey and other branches of industry
nnder federal control? Why not min
ing?
In young country like the late
Transvaal Republic even the untutored
Boer saw that Bureau of Mines, with
its head having a seat in the executive
council of the country, was the best
means to foster and encourage the then
small mining interests OF that country,
and the foundation they laid has been
added to and a system set up by the
present British government, which we
in the United States might well study
to advantage. Without particularizing
the Transvaai system let US suppose an
application of it to this country by sug-
costing first Bureau OF Mining, with
it's head a secretary of mines at Wash
ington appointed by and responsible to
the president A complete organiza-
ton under the secretary might well be
of a permanent nature and subject to
the civil service rules.
Such an organization might embrace
chief engineer of mines, a director OF
geology, a chief statistician, a chief
inspector OF explosives, a registrar OF
government lands open for mining, etc,
etc, and in each state perhaps, an in
spector of mines. The respective duties
of such officials are obvious enough
from their suggested titles, but sucF
an institution should, in all respects
have the right laws in the first place
under which to operate, and the whole
tendency of these laws be to embrace
mining in all its branches, to create anC
enforce mining regulations for the
maintenance of hcalthful conditions
and the protection Of life and limb
Certificates of competency to manag,
and work mines might well be a matte
for this bureau to Undertake, and revok,
same for cause. AL these things anC
many others, conducive to the well be
ing and encouragement of honest min
ing enterprise are in England, Scotlant
and Ireland placed, for some inscru
table reason, under the control of tn,
board of trade, and in the Transvaal
South Africa, under department o
mines. 1t would. Of course. he IRE
posterous to suppose that their adop
ton in the United States would actual,
prevent wild cSt" or Legitimate fota
tons, but that it wo1lT hold them i
check there seems IT, be no doribt
Mining in this country HIS reached sue
stage that capital will scarcely loo
at it. All mining enterprises conducte
by qualified licensed engineers shout
be just as certain Of fair return 70
the outlay of capital as any commercis
undertaking; but until Federal legisls
ton comes to the rescue, mining wi
be prostituted to the base ends of tn
usually, inscriptions promoter to il
great fietriment, and certain fihancis
loss to the people. There are only tw
sources of wealth, after all, that whic
comes from above the ground in tn
shape of agricultural products, AMI thu
which comes from beneath the eaTa
as minerals. The one is fully take
oape of by federal legislation. and ii