The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-01-24

tflct4 since discovering lnlS DOuy Oh
ore. the owners have traced the vein
for a distance of 1000 feet. The
outcroppings on This property are
very similar to those on the Prince
Consolidated at Phoebe. as well as
those of the Day mine near there.
Those who have seen the property
state that it will. in all probability,
become a paying proposition at depth.
considering only its gold and silver
values. The Steptoe lies within six
miles of the Nevada Northern and is
easy of access.
misuse are enormous. The supply
can not be expected 10 last beyond the
middle of the present century.
The known natural gas fields ag-
gregate an area of 1000 square miles
distributed through % states. or
the total yield from these fields dur
ing 1907. 400, 600. 100000 cubic feet
valued at S62 600. 900, were utilized.
while an equal quantity was allowed
10 escape into the air The daily
waste of natural gas-the most per-
feet known fuels over ,000, 900
600 cubic feet. or enough TO supply
every city in the United States of over
100. 900 population.
Phosphate rock. used for fertilizer.
represents the slow accumulation of
organic matter during past ages. In
most countries, IL Is scrupulously
preserved; in this country It is ex-
tensiyely exported. and largely for
this reason its production Is increas-
ing rapidly The original supply can
not long Withstand the increasing de-
mand.
The consumption of nearly all our
mineral produts is increasing far
more rapidly than our population.
In many cases the waste Is increas-
ing more rapidly than the number of
people. In 1875 but few dozen
pounds of iron We're In use by The
average family: now our annual con-
sumption is over loo pounds per
capita. In 1912 no coal was used
now the consumption is over tons
and the waste 3 IONS per capita.
While the production of coal is In
creasing, the waste and loss in min
ing are diminishing. At the begin
ming of our mineral development the
coal abandoned in the mine was two
or three times the. amount taken out
and used The chief waste is in i'm
perfect combustion in furnaces and
fire boxes. Steam engines utilize on
the average about = per cent of the
thermal energy of the coal. In
ternal combustion engines utilize less
than 20 per cent. and In electric
lighting far less than ! per cent of
the thermal energy is rendered avail
able.
With increasing Industries new
mineral resources become available
from time to time Some lignites
and other low grade Goals are readily
gasified and. through the develop
ment of internal combustion engines.
check the consumption of high grade
Goals Peat is becoming important.
IL is estimated that 100000 900
tons are available In the United
States. It's value is enhanced because
of distribution through states gen
orally remote from the fields of coal.
oil and natural gas.
The uses of all our mineral re-
sources are interdependent. This is
especially true of coal and iron. of
which neither can be produced or
used without aid from the other. and
in the production or reduction of all
other mineHals both coal and iron are
employed The same standard min
erals are necessary To the develop
ment of power of which the use is
increasing more rapidly than that of
any other commodity.
The building operations of the
country now aggregate about ST.
00o. 100000 per year. The direct
and indirect losses srom fire i'm the
United States during 1907 approx
mateed 100000. 900. or one-half the
cost of construction. or this loss
fourfifths. or an average of 81 ,000.-
600 per day, could be prevented, as
shown by comparison with the stan
dards OF construction and fire losses
in the larger European countries.
So far as the ores are taken from
the mines and reduced to metals.
these resources are capitalized; but
after thus being changed TO more
valuable form they should be used SO
as 10 redSce to minimum the loss
by rust. electrolytic action, and other
waste
There is urgent need for greater
safety To the miner The loss of life
through mine accidents is appalling.
and preventive measures can not be
taken too soon.
The national government should
exercise such control of the mineral
fuels and phosphate rocks in its
possession as to check waste and pro-
long our supply.