Gilpin observer., 1906-07-05
New Era for Mining Congress.

The amendments recently adopted
by the American Mining Congress
mark the beginning of a new era for
that organization, says the Leadville
Herald Democrat. Heretofore it's work
has consisted almost entirely of hold.
ing its annual session, at which mat
tiers of Importance were discussed and
resolutions adopted embodying the
consensus Of opinion, through the in
fuence OF which number of reforms
have been accomplished. With the
creation of permanent headquarters at
Denver the work of the congress was
enlarged and plans were made for the
creation of a permanent exhibit OF
| commercial ores of the whole country,
a complete mining library, labora-
tory for qualitative analyses, bu.
reau of information on all subjects
connected with mining, and COM
pact organization through which the
problems of mining might be solved
all these so planned as to be practi-
cal school of mining in which the prac-
| tical mining man could find a solution
of particular problems and the novice
attracted to the mining business by
the princely success of Stratton, New
house, Walsh and others, could here
gain that knowledge common to all
men in close touch with the mining
business, the lack of which is respon-
sible for so many failures in the min
ing world. 1t is also planned to fur
nish such information to intending in.
vestors as would serve to guard them
against palpable frauds, and place min
| ing on an investment rather than a
speculative basis.
These plans could not be carried out
without considerable expense, and the
provision made for the expense of an
annual convention only was found to
be entirely inadequate. Again 1t was
found that the fixing of permanent
headquarters at Denver created the i'm
preston that the mining congress was
liable to become a Denver organiZa-
tion rather than serve the broad pur-
pose of national institution with
which the mining men from every Sec
ton of the country could cooperate
and to which all could turn for assist
which require united action and which
are of general interest. Another weak
ness of the old plan lay in the fact
that the directors, necessarily widely
separated and busy men, could not
hold frequent meetings and the respon-
sibility of decision of many matters of
importance must of necessity be left
to the secretary.
These problems have been met by
the recent amendments providing for
an executive committee with power to
act in the interim between meetings
of the directors, and for the increase
of the annual dues from 81 to $40,
which is believed to be sufficient TO
meet the necessary expenses. not so
high as to prohibit the membership OF
any reputable mining man and yet
high enough 70 keep out unworthy
men.
The third objection was met by an
amendment to the bylaws which linn
its the power of any one state to con-
troll the organization. Under this
clause Colorado with 1000 members
would have no greater influence in the
selection of the governing body than
Oregon. Washington and Idaho with
thirty members present at any annual
meeting. That this amendment should
have been passed by the unanimous
vote of the Colorado members present
a the recent meeting of members indi-
Gates the desire on their part to foster
a national organization on broad, COM
prehensive lines.
1t Is believed that the beginning of a
new era for tire American Mining Con-
gress was marked by the recent
changes in it's bylaws. and that the or
ganization is row upon basis which
will commend 1t to the judgment of all
mining men who realize the import
ance of co-ope -ation in effecting So
luton of the many problems of ore
production, transportation and treat.
ment.