The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-08-18
SAYS REMEDY LIES
WITH WESTERN MEN
Director Smith of Geological
Survey Talks Interestingly
About Revision of Laws.

George Otis Smith. director OF the
United States geological survey, was the
guest OF honor al a banquet rendered him
al the Hotel Utah last night by the Tintic
Mine Operators association. The dinner
was attended by q large number OF Utah
prominent mine owners and operators
and was n highly successful affair from
every point of view. Naturally. Mr., Smith
was the chief speaker.
Director Smith expressed his keen ap-
probation OF the recognition given to the
Omitted States geological survey. which he
considered as largely in the nature OF
Il tribute TO the field men Of that organ
Ization. He refSrred to his own service
In the Tintic dArict in 1897, where he
spent several months. and the best evi-
dencc of the estimate placed upon the
Tintic district by the geological survey.
he said, was the fact Of the recommended
tion of Mr. Lindgren. who Is In charge OF
the ore deposit Investigations, that the
81 survey OF the district be brought UP
to date and new report issued, recon
mendation that met with Director Smith s
hearty approval. The director also re-
fcrred to the members Of the associa :
ton as representing not only the Tintic
issues. but as being also interested In
, other districts and. in fact. being repre-
sentative OF the American citizens who
control the industrial development Of the
west. The association lis also honored. he
said. in including in Its members the
president Of the American Mining con-
gress John Dern
At the request of President G.. T. Allen
of the association, Mr.. Smith expressed
himself on the subject OF the apex law.
strongly favorlng its abolition and the
substitution therefor Of a vertical side
plane law but, he said. perhaps the
strongest argument on this side of the
OF the American Mining congress hy a
cor Bittee OF which George w, Ritter was
the@hairman. lie urged that mining
men ask for a general revision of min
eral land legislation rather than an at
| tempt to patch up the statutes, and asked
for n broad general corsideration OF the
whole question. lie concluded with an
expression as to how the western people
should line UP in an effort TO secure legis-
lation that Will meet present needs.
''It lis UP TO you men in the west to
add your knowledge Of actual conditions
10 the disintcrested enthusiasm which
some OF our eastern friends arc contrib
utng," said Mr. Smith. Your feet are
on the ground and their heads are in the
you must work with them. To have any
value. conservation must be practical
and. as have said elsewhere. the lion s
share OF the really productive work In
conservation must be contributed to the
nation by the engineer acting for capital
and the farmer working for himself IF
we define conservation as utilization with
maximum efficiency and minimum waste,
IL is something more than theory; ii Is
the kind OF engineering practice that
shows results on cost sheets and makes
dividends IL is real development that
we want on mineral claims not technical
compliance with out-of-date laws. Give
equality OF opportunity for work. but if
land is 10 lie Idle. let Its title remain In
the people. Make use a condition Of
occupancy. following the forcibly eS
pressed rule Of Dig. or get off the claim
II practical legislation Is TO be secured
along these lines for the benefit of all
classes, you practical men must put your
shoulders TO the task.
The speech was vigorously applauded
Among those who attended the banquet
were c, +. Allen, president OF the associa-
ton. John Dern. vice president. Harry s.
Joseph, secretary. George w. Ritter
treasurer; Jackson C.. y. Chrystal, Walter
Fitch, Cecil Fitch, Newton 4. Dunyon
l.. T.. Ritter. Grant Snyder and Victor
Heikes. Other officers and members of
the association were unable TO attend.
Thirty minutes to Saltair. It's cool
there