New-York tribune., 1908-12-03
MINING CONGRESS- OPEN
Bureau Of Mines IN Interior Depart
mcHt Seems .1ssured.

T,jtsburz Dec What is expected to prove the
most important convention held by the Aneri-
can Mining Congress began in this city to-aa9'
Men famous in the mining and business world are
present while in the next three days Cablnet ON
GERS. sixteen Governors. senator's Colei es7'O
and MANY state legislators viii come here.
\ rnesraSe from President-elect TAFT VIE he read
10 the convention. and his views concerning Tue tue
relations Of the United states government ana
mining Industry is awaited of the vital feat
ures Of the meeting.
While the sessions to-day were OF routine
nature there considerable interesting work ac-
complished 1t clearly shown that within siX'E
DAYS Congress will take steps 10 estabilsh bureau
o. mines in the Department Of the Interior; that a
plan will be advanced to protect the pubhc trofn
mining frauds; that renewed efforts vii be made
% prevent the great sacrifice OF human He n coa'
mines and shat necessary federal and state ieslS-
lstiou will be recommended. with request that 'ne
nation and state cooperate for the betterment OF
the mining industry.
United States Senator Dick OF Ohio. and Con-
eressman Burke. Of Pittsburg. both said hat d
bureau of mines would soon be a fact.
In reply address or welcome from Lee 5
Smith president OF the Pittsburg Chamber or Com
Incrce, ]. H Richards, OF Idaho. president OF the
American Mining Congress. and delegates from
score or states made brief addresses.
At J session leld tonight DR.. James Douglas. Of
New York. spoke the mining industry in
fuencel by transportation. He was followed by
Director George Otis Smith, Of the United States
Geological Survey whose topic The Dstribu-
tion of the Nations Wealth" Mr.. Smith said that
in three decades the mineral production OF the na-
ton had increased sixfold, s2c69.oOooOo. Con
tinuing. ne said
In three decades the mineral production of the
nation has increased skiold Statistics show the
two billion and sxty-nine milton dollars In 1850
the nonmetallc products constituted a Per cent Of
the total mineral production of the country; IN
In 1880 in order Of value Of output coaI stood
gold.
petroleum lime. building stone. copper. lead and
salt In last years production. coal and iron
came copper. clay products. petroleum. gold stone
cement. natural gas and lead. You VIII note i that
tanned their relative positions, Notwithstanding ue
Free trade among 1.-The states Of his Union has
developed great interstate and internal commerce
development should blind the people of the ndi,
vidual states the advantage OF local nlt%at@io, @
Of this the industrial South i possible because
With these Southern states mining nearly per
cent of the iron ore of the United states end over
natural laws that the southern furnaces should
produce 10 per Of the pig iron of the GounIr<
Last YEAR only three states had 3 mlneTaI OUTPUT
Valued at less than 81 10000 and twelve states had
production Ialued at over & S23g'iv ~ teaI mineral
product nearly one-third ~that OF the wh4lr Tosi @
by large margins. another state Minnesota iesis
in iron another Arizona in copper; Sn2onp,. 3,
Colorado in both gold and silver enc MlsSoa; t ~ ~
both lead and zinc. Furthermore these celi"eS u
production are ever shifting.
Following spirited debate at the afternoon StS-
sion Of the congress. in which the federal govern
n7ent was accused of discriminating against west
ern mining interests in the matter OF mlne uiDef'
the committee Aeld meeting tonight ana ar
ranged to carry the grievances TO the federal au-
thorites
Tomorrow the government station for the III
vestigation Of mine explosions. recently established
here will be formally opened. James r. eTarheid'
Secretary of the Interior, and Congressman Under
wood of Alabama. will be the principal speakers