The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-11-27
MARKETS, MINING AND METALS
OF MINES.

j. A. Holmes, of the United States
geological survey, in ar address be-
fore the American Mining congress
at Goldfield in October, had the fol-
loving to say regarding the inspec-
ton of mines:
mine inspection is and should re-
main a function of the state. 1t has
for it's purpose the proper execution
of state mining laws; and the OBJ
ject of these laws is primarily the
safety of the miners, incidentally the
protection of mine property.
1.-THE agent of the state in the
carrying out of these laws is the in
spector of mines and his assistants.
These should be sufficient in number
for frequent and thorough inspec-
ton; the basis for selection and con-
tinuance in Office should be fitness
for office and efficient service.
'"They should be independent of
political or other extraneous in
f1uences. They should receive COM
pensation for services commensurate
with the responsibility resting upon
them, and the experience and tech
nical training required. They should
have reasonable laws to execute.
Ihey should have the willing CO.
operation of both operators and
miners in carrying out the provisions
of the law. Under such conditions
men of the best type will accept and
hold these positions; and their &C.
lions will receive the support of pub
lie opinion and of the courts.
'This inspection by officers of the
state, whenever practicable, should
be supplemented by the work of spe-
cial inspectors employed by the min
ing companies. Many such COM
panies have already adopted such a
practice and report favorable results.
In other coal mining countries this
practice has become much more gen.
eral. But in recommending to Amer
lean coal operators the adoption of
practices found successful in other
countries, it should be remembered
that the selling price of coal at the
mines in the United States is gener-
ally less than half that in other
tries; and this fact may render i'm
possible here many improvements in
behalf of safety and efficiency which
the American operator would other
wise be glad to inaugurate.
1.-THE function of the federal gov
eminent in connection with mine
operations is one of inquiry and re-
search, having in view two funda-
mental purposes:
81. Greater safety for the lives
of miners; and
90. The conservation of miner re-
sources.
"In connection with ordinary mine
the special service rem
dered by these Investigations will be-:
"(a) The development of data
such as will serve as a basis for the
enactment of reasonable laws, rules,
and regulations:
go The establishment of facts
which may serve as a basis for the
settlement of disputes between in
spectors and operators or operators
and miners, either by the courts or
boards of arbitration.
1.-THE propriety of having such in
quiries and researches conducted by
the federal government in relation to
mining, will scarcely bequestioned in
view of the fact that such policy has
long since been accepted in relation
to agriculture, forestry, fisheries and
other industries. But 1t may be
added that the practice avoids ex-
tensive duplication of labor and ex-
pense by the states; the federal in
vestigations naturally cover a wider
field of experience, including also ex-
perience in other countries; and the
results are likely to be more general
ly accepted as impartial, being fur
Their removed from local influences.
"Under such an arrangement there
will be no basis of conflict between
the state and federal interests; no
encroachment of one OF the duties or
rights of the other. The support OF
the federal work will depend upon
it's securing and maintaining the
good will and cooperation of the
states inspectors; and the success OF
both the state and federal work will