The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-23
NO STATE MINING BUREAU!

NO STATE MINING BUREAU!
With respect TO the suggestion OF q
State Mining Bureau for the meta
mines of Utah, it will probably be suffi
cient to say that Congress has made
such ample provision in the new legisla'
ton which creates and puts into opera
tion the Bureau Of Mines, that State
Bureau will be entirely unnecessary, be-
sides being subject to the criticism that
such bureau would be tainted with in
competence, sectarianism, and politics,
The general appropriation bill as
passed by the House, carried total Of
S4S7 200 for the work of the newly
created Bureau of Mines. Full Office
equipment is provided and two mine in
spectors are authorized at $4,000 each
per annum, and as much for expenses.
The Director Of the Bureau of Mines is
to receive $4,000 year, and for the work
of analyzinR and testing of Goals, lig~
mites, ores, and other mineral and fuel
substances, 100000 is appropriated.
Besides this, for the general work of
the Bureau, there is an appropriation of
$4,000, specific appropriation for in
stalling and equipping laboratories, rent
of Offices, equipment, etc. There is also
an item of $4,000, "of which 100000
shall be used for the establishment and
maintenance of mine rescue stations,
the remainder to he "for the invesuiSa
tion as to the causes of mine explosions,
methods Of mining, especially with rela-
| tion to the safety Of miners, the ap
pliances best adapted for the prevention
of accidents, the Improvement of con-
ditions under which mining operations
are carried on, Jhe use of explosives and
electricity, the prevention of accidents,
and other inquiries and technologic in
vestigations pertinent to the mining iu-
dustry."
1t Will be seen, therefore, that the
whole process of mining, inspection,
working of mines, everything relating
to the subject, is fully covered in the
appropriations, The bill creating the
Bureau of Mines is also comprehensive
as to the work done by that Bureau.
The statute was signed by the Presi-
dent on May 10th and is in full as fol
lows:
That there is hereby established in the
Department OF the Interior d bureau. 10
be called the Bureau OF Mines, and a di-
rector OF said bureau. who shall be thor
oughly equipped for the duties of said
office by technical education and expert
President. by and with the advice and
consent OF the Senate, and who shall re-
ceive a salary OF $4,000 per annum and
there shall also be In The said bureau such
nd nfb bpr a c ma
time TO time be authorized by Con-
Gress.
Section 2. That it shall be the province
and duty of said bureau and Its director
under the direction OF the Secretary OF
the Interior to make diligent Investigation
Of the methods of min Ing, especially in
appliances best adapted to prevent acci-
dents. the possible Improvement OF condi-
tions under which mining operations are
carried on. the treatment OF ores. and
other mineral substances. the use OF eX-
plosiyes and electricity. the prevention
Of accidents, and other inquiries and
said industries, and from time TO time
make such public reports of the work, In
vestigations, and information obtained as
the secretary of said department may
direct, with the recommendations OF such
bureau.
Section 8. That the Secretary OF the
WITH Infrq sha oees Tn the city
Washington. with such books, records. |
stationery and appliances. and such as
sistants. clerks. stenographers. typewrt-
ers. and other employees as may be nee
essary for the proper discharge of the |
duties imposed by this act upon such bu-
reau. fixing tho compensation OF such
clerks and employees within appropria- |
tions made for that purpose.
Section 4. That the Secretary Of the
Interior is hereby authorized to transfer
to tho Bureau of Mines from the United |
States Geological Survey the supervision |
of the Investigations OF structural ma
terials, the analyzing and testing of Goals. |
lIgnites. and other mineral fuel substances |
and the investigation as 10 the causes
Of mine explosions: and the appropriations |
made for such investigations may he ex-
rector of the Bureau of Mines in
manner as II the same were so directed
In the appropriation acts; and such In
yestiga tIons shall hereafter be within the
province of the Bureau of Mines and
shall cease and determine under the or
ganIzation of the United States Geo
ployccs. property and equipment as are
now employed or used by the Geological
Survey In connection with tho subiects
herewith transferred to tho Bureau OF
Mines are directed to be transferred to
Section & That nothing in this act
shall be construed as In any way grant
Bureau Of Mines any right or. authority
In connection with the inspection or SUI
nervislon ot mines or metallurgicnl plants
Section g. This act shall take effect
and he IN force on and nfter the first
day OF July, 1910.
IT will be seen that this leaves moth
ing unprovided for. The creation of
State Bureau Of Mines is, in view of
the passage Of this legislation by Con
gress and tho provisions made in sup
port of it. absolutely superhuous, and
we trust that whatever project may be
afoot in this direction may be incon-
tinently dropped
NOT TO BE ADMIRED.