Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-03
FOR COAL MINING INDUSTRY
UPLIFT METHODS DISCUSSED AT
PITTsBURG CONGRESS.
Last Years Disasters Furnish
Themes for Discussion-Some
Notable Addresses,

P1TTSBURG. December 3.-Greater safe
ty in mining. conservation in the coal
mining industry, the formal opening of
the government station for investigation
of mine explosions, which was established
here recently. an election of three di-
rectors. addresses by James r. Garfield.
Secretary of the Interior: Dr. J. A.
Holmes, chief of the technologic branch
of the United States geological survey
the annual address of President j. II.
Richards of Idaho, speeches by we'll
known mine owners and mine officials
and a reception to the delegates by the
citizens of Pittsburg were some of the
features confronting the American min
ing congress when the second days ses-
began here today.
Apparently the whole convention has
concentrated it's efforts for the improve
ment of the coal mining industry. The
disasters last year at the Naomi mine,
Fayette City. Pa: Monongah, w. Va.
and Jacobs Creek, Pa. and the catastro-
phe last Saturday at Mariana. Pa.
have SO far furnished the chief material
for discussion.
One of the most important actions to-
day was the introduction of a resolution
providing for tax of one-haf cent a
ton on all coal mined to provide for pen
sions and other relief in mine accidents.
Representative McHenry of Pennsyl-
vania presented the resolution. and it is
the intention to introduce a bill in the
Pennsylvania legislature at the coming
session. In the last Congress of the
United States he introduced the same bill,
but 1t was never reported out OF the COM
mittee. because objections were raised
that it savored TOO much Of paternalism.
BY Introducing the bill in the state legis-
lature these objections are eliminated.
For Bureau of Mines.
1t is the consensus of opinion that
within sixty days Congress will take
steps TO establish a bureau of mines in
the Department of the Interior; that a
plan will be advanced to protect the pub
lie from mining frauds; that renewed eff
forts will be made to prevent the great
sacrifice of human life in coal mines, and
that necessary federal and state legisla-
ton will be recommended. with request
that the nation and state cooperate for
the betterment of the mining industry.
Senator Dick of Ohio and Representative
James Francis Burke of PittSburg both
stated that bureau of mines would soon
become fact.
Mineral Wealth Increased.
At a session held last night DR.. James
Douglas of New York spoke on the min
ing industry as influenced by transporta-
ton. He-w was followed by Director George
Otis Smith of the United States geological
survey whose topic was The Distribu-
ton of the Nations Wealth. Mr.. Smith
said that in three decades the mineral
production of the nation has increased
skiold. or to $2O69, 100000. Continuing,
he said:
I'm 1880, in the order of value of out
put, coal stood first, with iron second.
followed by gold. silver petroleum. lime.
building stone copper. lead and salt. In
last years production. after coal and iron
came copper, clay products. petroleum,
gold, cement, natural gas and lead You
will note that in this column of the ten
most important mineral products coal,
iron, petroleum and building stone have
maintained their relative positions, not
withstanding the skiold total increase.
Copper has advanced from eighth to
third place. and gold has dropped from
third position to sixth. lead from ninth
to tenth and silver to just behind lead.
The newcomers in the 1907 list as con-
trasted with that of 1880 are clay prod
ucts, cement and natural gas"