Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-03-22
TO ESTABLISH A BUREAU
OF GEOLOGY OND MINING


are being put forward by members of
the mining profession TO secure gov
crnment recognition and assistance
for the mining industry. one which APP
pears to have fair prospects OF being
contaminated is the bill introduced in
the house OF representatives on Feb
rpary II. 1906, ny Mr.. Brooks of Colo
RADIO. This bill was referred to the
committee on mines ana mining,
which on the following day. Feb. -,
1906, again committed the bill TO the
house and submitted report. In
view of the interest wlieh attaches TO
this matter we append the full text OF
the bill:
To Great and Establish a Bureau of
Geology and Mining as Part of the
Department of Commerce and La
Dor:
Be 1t Enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States OF America In Con
gress Assembled:
That thore shall he. and hereby is.
created bureau to be known ms the
bureau of geology and mining, under
and as part of the department of
commerce and labor with a director.
who shall be appointed by the presl-
dent, and with the advice and consent
of the senate, and who shall receive
salary of $4,000 per annum.
Sec. 2. Thnt the geological sur
vey. except the reclamation service is
hereby transferred to said department
OF commerce and labor and incorpor-
ated in and made part OF the said
bureau of geology and mining. The
director of the geological survey shall
become. and. until his successor shall
he appointed and shah qualify shall
perform the duties of director of the
bureau of geology and mining. The
other officers and employees of the ge-
illogical survey, excepting the reclaim
alton service. shall he transferred to
the bureau of geology and mining.
with the grades, positions and salar-
les which they now hold and receive.
Sec. 3. That there shall also be
transferred TO the said department OF
commerce and labor and Incorporated
In and made n part of said bureau of
geology and mining the inspectors of
mines and their suboridnates provid-
ed for under and by virtue of the pro
visions of an act approved March 3.
1891. entitled IAN act for the protec-
tion of the lives of miners in the TER
rltories," being chapter 56i. second
session, Fifty-iirst Congress, with the
grades, positions and salaries which
they now hold and receive.
Sec. 4. That all official records.
documents and papers on file and re-
lating to the business of said geologi-
cal survey and said inspectors of
mines. together with all supplies. fur
niture, instruments, books and other
property now in the possession of or
and said geological survey except sucn
as pertain to the reclamation service.
are hereby transferred to the bureau
of geology and mining.
See. 3. That all laws prescribing
the work and defining the duties of
said geological survey and of said in.
spectors of mines, In so far as the
same are not in conflict with the pro-
visions of this act, saall he and re-
main in full force and effect until
otherwise provided by law
Sec. 6. That all duties performed
and authority now possessed or exer.
cised by the secretary ol the interior
in and over, or with reference to the
said geological survey and the said in.
spectors of mines. or any business
arising therefrom OF pertaining there.
to- or In relation to the duties per
formed by, and the authority con
ferred by law upon said geological
survey and said inspectors of mines.
whether of an appellate or revisory
character or otherwise. shall hereaf.
Ter be vested in, and exercised by the
head of the department of commerce
and labor.
Sec. I That II shall be the proy.
lnce and duty Of said director of the
bureau Of geology and mining. under
the direction Of the secretary of com.
merce and labor. in addition to per-
forming the duties and exercising tho
functions hitherto performed and ex.
ercised by the director of the geologi
cal survey, to foster. promote aud de
relop the mining industries OF the
United States, by Investigating, col. |
lecting data with reference to. and
publishing and distributing informa.
tion and reports concerning tne min.
eral resources and mining industries |
OF the United States and dependent |
territory, and concerning the most eff
fective methods of utliizing the said /
resources and developing the said in.
dustries. Said director snail also |
have power to make such comparative
investigations of The mining indus.
tries and mineral resources of other
countries as may. in his Judgment. be
necessary or proper for the advance.
ment and development or tho mining
Industries of the United States. He
shall also nave power TO gather such
1ata and information in regard to the
operation OF mines. labor and wage
and In regard to mining
machinery, methods and appliances as
VIII tend to the improVemput acnun.