Gilpin observer., 1910-03-17
MINES GIVE THE TONNAGE.

For the average mind to attempt to
conceive the magnitude of the mining
industries Of the United States, to-
gether with the allied industries that
are directly engaged in the production
OF the minerals and the manufactures
that work these products into articles
appropriate for the uses of mankind
is something like the lay mind at
tempting to grasp the mysteries and
complexities Of astronomical realms.
Just a quarter century agone our
annual mineral output was only $4OO,-
100000. Wielders of the pick, pan
and shovel have since steadily boost
ed the amount skyward, until in 1907
the production reached the $2,050, 900,
600 mark. The year 1908 suffered
decline, but 1909 added a few more
millions, and the next year or so will
see two and a half billions.
The tonnage furnished by mining
Is seven times larger than that of
all agricultural products; 2S times
larger than that of the livestock in
dustries; 5Aa times that of the for
est products; Z times that of the
manufactured industries, and nearly
twice as large as all of them COM
bined.
But this great expansion of the
mining industry has brought with it
increasing problems of vital import
to mining men. For assistance in the
solution of these problems the miner
has very appropriately turned to the
federal government and asked for the
creation of a bureau, or department
of mines, through which, or by means
of which desired cooperation may
be effected.
The creation of the Independent
department Of agriculture, under the
sponsorship Of which a dozen bureaus
are engaged in graphing with all
problems in which the farmer and
stockraiser are interested, and the
marvellous field of usefulness 1t has
established for itself, are sound and
satisfying proofs that the province of
our government is to cooperate with
those who form it's citizenship in the
work of wealth creation.
Why not extend this beneficient CO.
operation to the mining industry,
which is the only other direct source
of wealth, in proportionate degree,
is the query many times pressed to
our statesmen by mining men.
The second session of the sixtieth
congress appropriated the sum of
$12,995,00O for the service of the De-
partment of Agriculture. Mining also
ran," escaping out of the melee of
patriotic statesmen with sharpened
axes with a pittance of s750,0O0.
A final comparison will show how
the federal government has "fost-
cred" the nations two basic indust-
ries-mining and agriculture.
In 907s the total value of mineral
production was $2,05O, 900. 900. In 1908
the tonnage of the former was ap-
proximately $50, 1000, 900 tons; of the
latter, 300,000,000 tons. Number of
men employed by the former, 2.500,-
600; by the latter between 100000
and 100000. Mining is represented
in the machinery of the government
by one bureau Geological Survey, de-
voted exclusively to the making of
geologic and topographic surveys.)
Agriculture has a department and II
bureaus. The appropriations of the
former total $3.50, 900 per year; for
latter about s13 100000 per year.
When the American Mining Con-
gress was organized in 1897 its slo-
gan was, "a Bureau or Department
Ol MlueS. Dull uOuStS VI SOuSie COB
were then unanimously 'forninst"
everything for the benefit of mining
with the exception of small and
easily ignored western contingent.
Twelve years have seen this attitude
change to one Of almost unanimous
consent to bureau, the vote on the
bill in the House in May, 1908, being
229 for to 81 against.
The Mining Congress will continue
its efforts, and has already succeed
ed in pushing the Mining Bureau bill
(H. r. 13915) through the Lower
House by safe vote, which occurr-
red January 25th of this year. The
action OF the Senate. soon to come,
will determine its fate. AS one Of the
important purposes Of the bill is to
investigate mine accidents with a
view to preventing the loss of life, it
is hoped that the Senate will soon ac-
cord to the bill the consideration its
Importance deserves, and pass 1t
without unnecessary delay.