The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-03-19
A Bureau of Mines.

Out VI Ine troubled conditions OF
mines and mining in the United
States there has gradually grown ur
general feeling that a bureau Of
mines ought to be part of the fed.
eral government. The mine owners
and the mine workers united in ask
Ing congress for such a bureau. and
the bill providing for it was allowed
to die in the senate, after having
passed the house last May by an
overwhelming vote.
The functions of bureau or
mines and the services it would per-
form for the mining industry are
manifold. OF course, being a fed
eral bureau, it would have no juris-
diction over mining in the states
That this is understood by the states
themselves is seen by the fact that
the principal coal-producing states
have asked for such a bureau and
Endorsed the movement. The hn-
reau's tendency and pricipal aim
naturally would be to reduce the
number Of accidents now so COM
mon in the mines of the country and
to thoroughly investigate their
causes. 1t is generally conceded
that there are many mysteries in
underground explosions that only
science can solve. The death rate
in the mines of the country is a dis
graceful record. The facts are dis
couraging, not only because the
death rate is three or four times
greater than in other countries, INT
because the situation is growing
worse rather than better. Including
both the coal and metal mines, the
killed and injured numbers no few
er than $4,000 men during the last
10 years. During the past year
alone the number of killed and in
jured probably exceeds 10000.
1t would be the duty of the bu-
reau of mines to investigate the
causes of these terrible disasters
and to seek out means by which they
could be avoided. Probably this
could be accomplished best by dis
seminating the information to the
state mining bureaus, and to the
miners themselves, somewhat as the
department of agriculture now sup
plies information to farmers. Sci
entific researches has reduced the
mine death rate in other countries
to minimum. That the same can
be done here goes without saying.
Here is one Of the greatest of Am
erican industries virtually neglected
by the government. Mining with
Its yearly production valued at more
than $2,000,000,000, ranks next to
agriculture, manufacturing and
commerce in its Importance to this
country. The government has de-
voted whole department to the
development of agriculture; it has
another department given over to
commerce and labor There is
bureau of animal industry, bureau
OF manufacturers, of corporations,
fisheries, immigration, and many
other things.
botn natlonal party platforms of
the past year declared in favor OF
the establishment of a bureau of
mines. The outgoing president rec
commended such action, and the in
coming president said in recent
letter: The public conscience of
the country is awakening to both the
loss Of life and the waste of material
In all our industries and we must
see to it that the movement is guild
ed wisely and carried forward to
success"
The general demand throughout
the country for bureau of mines
and the unanimity with which both
capital and mining labor have re-
quested 1t ought to have an effect
upon the future action of congress.
Washington Post.