Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1910-07-23
METAL MINING AND
THE BUREAU OF MINES.

>~~~~~~
In choosing head for the Bureau OF
Mines, it seems reasonable to urge that
attention should be given not only to
the work outlined for the Bureau dur
, ing the coming year, but also to other
Investigations that should be undertaken
| in the future when Congress provides
the necessary funds.
Although no provision has yet been
made for the investigation Of problems
of direct interest to metallurgists and
the operators of metal mines, it is not to
be supposed that these fields are to be
neglected after the Bureau is we'll estab-
lishsd. Without the support of the men
engaged in coal mining, it is probable
that the long campaign of the American
Mining Congress to secure the establish
ment of q Federal Bureau of Mines
would have been unsuccessful but the
metal mining interests are entitled to
an equal share of the Bureaus attention
and efforts.
Both the Federal and some Of the
State geological surveys have been do
ing valuable work in furnishing geolog-
ical data concerning the occurrence of
ore in the various mining districts. or
corresponding importance would be in
vestigations to determine the most
economical metallurgical methods un-
der the conditions that obtain in differ
ent camps. Such investigations call for
equipment that is often beyond the
reach of individual operators; and COM
mercial ore testing plants do not, in all
cases, adequately meet the need. Even
when operators are able financially to
undertake thorough investigations for
themselves, as in asphalt, and petroleum
products, for example, the results Of
their investigations do not become pub
lie property.
Considering the Importance Of invest
igations of the character here indicated,
an appreciation of their value would
appear to be one of the qualifications Of
the man to be appointed an head Of the
Bureau of Mines.
+. R. Buckley, President Of the Amer
ican Mining Congress has sent to the
various members of the institution a
letter of inquiry in regard to the newly
created Mines Bureau in Washington.
What the Congress wants are suggest
ions as to Just what matters the Congress
should recommend to the new Bureau
for the advancement of the metal min
ing interests. This point is covered in
Mr.. Buckley's letter as follows:
Through the instrumentality of the
American Mining Congress there has
been created Federal Bureau of Mines.
The appropriations for this Bureau dur
ing the coming year are only such as
have been heretofore made for carrying
on the work of the chronological branch
of the United States Geological Survey.
There will be no appropriations for con-
ducting investigations affecting the metal
mining industry of the country. The
coal miner, the clay worker, the quarry
man, the lime manufacturer and the
cement manufacturer, are the only ones
who can benefit by the investigations Of
this Bureau until added appropriations
are made.
at is my desire to lay before the min
ing men at the next session of the Min
ing Congress, in concrete form, such
lines of Investigation as may be profit
ably carried on by the Bureau of Mines
in the more important mining districts
of the country. You will, therefore,
confer favor by stating as specifically
as possible the problems in which you
may be interested which you think
could be advantageously investigated"
Mining Science.