The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1908-04-04
A BUREAU OF MINES
tsan Francisco Chronicie.)

tCdn IauCl<C0 Sn&ttitCtC-f
The appalling loss Of life from ac-
cidents in mines in this country Is con-
elusive evidence that the states ave ut
terly broken down in whatever efforts
they have made q contro. mining opera
tions. The legislatures have been costly
ignorant of proper mining methods or
even of the dangers agaiast which IT Is
necessary to guard. Const ouently they
have been indifferent AMI easily con-
trolled by mine owners. Where proper
laws have been enacted th,y have not
been enforced. The result is every now
and then a disaster occurs with a hor-
rible loss of life which need not have oc-
CURED.
II has Ions been proposed that there
should be an executive department of
mines in the national government. but
thus far its advocates have not sue
ceeded in convincing that there
are mining interests properly. under our
constitution, cognizable by the general
government, sufficient to warrant the
creation of a federal agency to deal with
them. There Is nothing whatever that
is federal in the operation OF mines
except the Interstate transportation OF
their output. Only under the pretext
that coal and ores are subjects of inter-
state can congress concern IT.
self with mining IN any authoritative
way. and IT has not been our national
policy to organize executive depart
ments to deal with matters not properly
subject to national law. But the con-
slant recurrence of these disasters is
evidence of a breakdown of state author
- -. 49, s..,cto,ro ttnnn federal in
tervention is a renewed warning that.
in the language of Secretary Root. IL the
states fail in the discharge of their OBJ
vious duties, "a way will be found TO
so construe the constitution that the
neglected duty may be assumed by the
national government. What is proposed
by the bill introduced by Representative
Englebright of this state. and appar-
entity likely to be favorably reported. Is
the creation of a bureau" OF mines. A
bureau in the national government Is a
rather formidable organization but Is
not. unless attached to some executive
department, endowed with much real
authority. 1t can investigate, advise
and report Apparently that is what is
expected of the bureau proposed to be
created. It's duty will be to collect data,
devise and suggest appropriate meas
ures, create public sentiment and pro-
mote action by mine owners and state
legislation.
There is no doubt of the need or IT.
The greatest danger is in coal mines.
where deadly gases accumulate, but the
timbering is a source of danger In all
mines. The most dangerous mines are
not those which are largest and most
prosperous, but those which have
worked hard to make ends meet. 1t Is
believed, also. that accidents and dis
asters are more often the result OF the
ignorance or recklessness of the miners
than of willful neglect of mine owners.
For that the remedy is a legal qualiica-
ton for following the occupation OF
miner and legal requirements for the
enforcement of discipline in all mines.
At any rate, the protection of human
life, even among the reckless. is a pub
lie duty. But while the protection OF
those engaged in a very dangerous oc-
cupation is the strongest reason for the
creation of a federal bureau OF mines,
it's services as a collector and distributor
of information will be of very great
yalue-quite sufficient to warrant the
establishment of the bureau.