Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-08-20
BUREAU OF Mines
HAS BECOME A REALITY and
GETS ORGANIZED.
The Many Problems to Be Closely In
vestigated and Tested-Nearly half
Million Appropriated by Congress
for Immediate Use of the Depart
ment-Wiu Be of Great Benefit.

The act establishing a bureau OF
mines in the department of the Inte-
rior, approved May 16, 1910, became
effective July 1. AS originally approved,
the law contemplated the transfer of
the entire technologic branch of the
United States geological survey, the
mine accident investigations, fuel in
vestigations, structural materials in
vestigations, the entire personnel, prop
erty and equipment, to the bureau of
alton act approved June rs, amended
the law to such an extent that the
structural materials Investigations, in
Guiding the personnel and equipment
for these investigations went to the
bureau of standards, department of
commerce and labor.
Carrying out the spirit and intent of
the law so amended, the secretary of
the interior has transferred to the bu-
reau of mines the investigation of mine
accidents and fuels, together with the
personnel and equipment of these in
vestigations and has transferred to the
bureau of standards the structural ma
terials investigations and the employees
of the technologic branch of the sur
vey engaged in these Investigations.
The fully equipped testing station at
Pittsburg also goes to the bureau of
mines.
The bureau of mines, therefore, in
cludes the mine accidents and fuel in
vestigations for which an appropria-
ton of 100000 was made by congress.
The total appropriations for the bureau,
including salaries, rent and expenses of
removal amount to $5O2,2OO.
The work of the bureau of mines for
the first year will be a continuation
and expansion of the work carried Oh
by the technologic branch of the geo.
logical survey. The law in itself pro-
vides for a variety of other problems
that properly belong to the bureau of
mines and which should eventually be
undertaken, such as methods of mining
and metallurgical processes, but these
activities will be deferred for the most
part until congress gives additional au-
thorization in the shape of adequate
appropriations. The spirit of the de-
bates in congress, both on the bureau
of mines legislation and on the ap-
preparation items, emphasized the de-
sire to regard the mine accidents in.
vestigations as urgent and this will be
the feature of the work.
In all, $4,000 was appropriated fol-
mine accident investigations. OF this
sum under the general plans approved
by the secretary of the interior, $780,,
600 is to be spent on the rescue sta
tons, $4,000 for housing nine stations
$4,000 for equipping eight new sta
tions and $4,000 for additional equip
ment for five existing stations. The
allotment for the investigation of ex
plosives is 100000; for electricity in
mining, $4,000; appliances for pre-
venting mine accidents, $4,000; exam
ination and codifcation of mining laws
$4,000; and other technologic investi
cations, ore treatment, etc, $4,000
For the Analysing and testing of the
Goals, lignites, ores, and other mineral
fuel substances belonging to or for the
use of the United States, 100000 was
appropriated. Of this amount, $4,000
will be spent in the chemical ant
physical investigation of fuels, $4,000
in the inspection of government fue
purchase, $22,0O in fuel efficiency in
vestigations, $4,000 in Ignite and pea
investigations, and $4,000 in briquet
ting Investigations.
ITO he cnntinnnd nnxt ruonlr \