El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-01

in connection with general mining
| operations and mine fires, is now al
most a quarter of a billion tons. In
other words, We waste half as much
coal as use. Careful estimates
made in the geological survey Indicate
that the annual waste Of minerals at
the mines amounts to more than $780,
100000, or about S1,OG0.O0O for every
working day of the year.
The Americans have been the most
wasJeful and prOfligate people in his
tory in their utilization of the vast
mineral wealth Of the country, with
the result that the most essential OF
the mineral resources are threatened
with exhaustion, while the nation is
yet in it's swaddling clothes The bu-
reau of mines will make Investigations
looking to the development OF more
efficient methods of mining which will
tend TO prevent a great part of the
waste and loss of the present system
Great Loss In Mining.
In coal mining it usually is more
profitable to the mine operator to take
out only about 60 percent OF the coal
than it is to take out 95 percent of I;
because of the fact that in taking out
only so percent the roof the mine may
De supported by pillars of coal left for
that purpose. When ne attempts TO
remove the pillars, which may cOnsti-
tUte almost half of the coal in the
mine, he is confronted Nv problems
of expense and risk which Oftentimes
are so serious that their solution is not
undertaken.
The difference between the greater
cost of clean mining as compared TO
the lesser cost of wasteful mining, often
may mean the difference between the
profitable and Improbable operation Of
the mine. 1t will be the province Of
the new bureau of mines to attemo t to
Of x1rher nv
it VIII be made profitable to the in
dividual miner TO take out all or prac-
tically all of the coal. In this way the
Services Of the bureau will be of bene-
fit, not only to the mine operator, to
whom it gives a greater profit and
longer period of time in which to work
sOne mine; not only to the working
miner, to whom it gives much needed
additional protection from disaster and
death; but also to the nation as
whole in that it will work a great
saving and economy touching our ma
tional fuel bill, which now approxi-
mates a billion and a half dollars a
year.
Popular Demand for Bureau.
Perhaps no other newly created bu-
reau in the history of the country has
entered upon its work with such gen.
eral popular approved as has been ac-
corded to the bureau Of mines The
demand for the enactment of the law
to create it was nation wide in it's
scope Mine disaster after mine disaS-
ter shocked the people Of the country,
and time after time the people read
that the loss OF life might have been
prevented if only certain precautions
had been taken, or il certain life saw
ing devices had been at hand, or If
something or other had been done
Then they read that in mines Of other
countries, while all risk cannot be
eliminated, every precautiOn known to
science is taken. And then they were
Inundated to find that only the United
States, among all -the nations, had no
machinery for discovery or application
Of scientific methods Of safety and
economy 10 its mines.
The fuel testing division of the
geological survey did much good work
toward the end to be desired. and to-
day ii is Transferred to the new bureau
to become the nucleus of tie organiZa-
ton which is TO undertake the task of
looking after our mines as the de-
partment of agriculture looks after our
farms
Miners Endorse Bureau.
The general demand of the people
that the federal government undertake
this work was voiced not only by the
press OF the country, but il came with
especial force from the people who have
to do with mines. The United Mine
Workers, composed of 10000 working
miners, under the presidency of John |
Mitchell, petitioned congress to create |
this bureau. The American Mining |
congress, composed of the leading mine !
engineers and experts of the country. (
endorsed the movement and several !
times sent strong petitions to congress !
in its behalf. A meeting of mine own
ers and operators was held in Wash |!
iEgtOn for the express purpose of add |
ing their voice to the general chorus. |
Now the bureau of mines is ready !
to begin It's work. 1t will require time !
TO perfect its organization, and much /
more time and labor 10 extend its oper- /
atoms to meet the demand from all /
parts Of the union. But the beginning /
has been made, and there is new /
and powerful governmental agency at I
work for ervatiOn-conservati
both of human lives and of natural
wealth