The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-11
Brady and NIorfit, Cine.
i,llIL find MINING GINEERS
As ONIG q TEMPLES
Mimi 6 Congress
Meets IN Joplin
HUNDREDS OF OPERATORS At
TEND TENTH ANNUAL MEET
ING OF MINING CON-
(. 6RESS.

ING OF MINING CON
eREss.
JOPLIN, Mo-. Nov. 11.-Hundreds OF
mine operators. representing many mil
lions of dollars Of capital invested In
mining Industries in various parts
Of the United States, are in Joplin to.
j day for the opening OF the tenth an
nual meeting OF the American Mining
congress. For many months the min.
ing and commercial interests OF the
town that jack built" have been pre-.
pairing for. the reception OF the dele.
gates to the congress and have arous.
Ell such widespread interest as to make
this. without exception, the greatest
gathering In the history Of the con
gress. Nearly every State in the Tin.
ion Is represented, and scores Of min.
Ing communities have sent delegates
here with advertising literature set.
ting forth the advantages OF their re-
spective districts.
One Of the most important matters
10 be taken up by the congress is that
OF dealing with mining stock sharks
and promoters OF fake properties. For
many years this fraudulent business
has been carried on in facefaced man
ner, with the natural result that the
mining industry has been brought into
disrepute among Investors. The min.
ing fraud committee OF the congress,
which VIII present Its report at the
present meeting, is composed Of c. J..
Downcy. OF Denver; R. l.. Herrick, OF
Scranton. Pa: A. W. Mcintyre. Of
Everett. Wash. H. c. Beeler OF Chcy.
enne, Wyo, and Judge w. F. Clarke.
OF Glover, Vt. The report will con-
tain recommendations and sugges.
! tions in regard to statutes that should
be adopted by every State in order to
get.rlch.quick sharks. The lows Of
various States will be discussed with
n view to recommendation to other
! States.
The Beeler law Of Wyoming. the Cal.
| ilornia law and the Parlee law, now
in force In California, Utah, Montana,
Idaho, Missouri and other States. are
popular with the members OF the con.
gress and may be recommended uni.
versary. The California law provides
for penalty for false reports OF S.
600 fine and two years Imprisonment.
or both. In some States a board Of
directors now has it within Its power
to freeze out stockholders and absorb
| the stock Of mining companies. Funds
may be diverted from dividends on
pretexts and strikes connived at In
order to limit production, or mines
may be shut down for no good rea-
son. .sas
The project for the creation OF a
governmental department OF mines
and mineralogy. with cabinet mem.
Der at Its head. will again receive con-
siderable attention from the congress,
and 1t Is believed that the discussion
mny lead to important results. The
establishment of such a department
would undoubtedly do much toward
putting the mining industry on n firm,
basis and preventing the promotion of
mines OF the wildcat" variety. The
members of the congress arc appa.
rsntly agreed that fraud should have
no place in the mining world and that
regulation OF mines BY the government
should be welcomed. It is confidently
expected that the campaign inaugural.
cd ut the present meeting will result
in the early appointment OF n secre-
tary of mining, who, with the conf.
dence of the President, the ear OF coli.
gress and the support OF the mining
fraternity, will be able to improve the
Service. Increase the production and
add dignity to the industry.
Other important matters to be con
sidered include the drafting of laws
for the prevention of accidents ii
mines, the establishment Of uniform
laws in all States to establish side
lines locations OF claims and the aboli.
tion Of the apex rights and the gen
eral revision of the mining laws
throughout the country so that they
may be similar in all States.
Delegations from many cities are
working hard to secure the next con.
gress. including Los Angeles. Spo-
kane, Goldneld and several other
western cities and towns. The con-
gress had its origin in the West. and
all It's meetings, with the exception