The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-28
METAL MINING AVID
BUREAU OF MINES
Attempt Will Be Made to Ex-
tend Usefulness of the
New Bureau.
snacIal to The Tribune.

SnacIal to The Tribune.
WASHINGTON. April 27,-western
members are discussing the matter of
Introducing a bill between now and De-
cemher calculated Ia enlarge the present
scope of the bureau OF mines so as to
include mctallifcrous mining operations.
Al present the work OF the bureau OF
mines is almost entirely devoted TO coal
mining. and practically no attention is
paid 10 metalliferous mining. While ad
mitting the good work of the bureau in
improving conditions In coal mines. and
desiroOS OF rncoura cling this feature Of
the bureau. western members from
states like Colorado. Utah and Montana
are anxious to sec this work extended
until the big metaliferous interests In
their states are fully considered
Only three members OF the new com
mitiee on mines are from states having
metaliferous mining. Representative
and Representatives Howell of Utah and
Pray OF Montana are the two Republican
members The balance are from coal
mining states. These three are anxious
To secure recognition of metalllferous
mining by the sixty congress. and
Invite suggestions from western mining
the proposed legislation. Representative
Taylor Of Colorado. as the only Demo-
cratic member OF the committee repre-
senting n metalliferous mining state
will probably he asked TO introduce the
measure. Just what II will contain de-
pends upon advlccs received from west
crn mining men, who are urged 10 pre-
sent their Views at their earliest con-
vcniencc
The work Of the bureau of mines Is
largely made up Of rescue work in coal
OF this feature In metalliferous mining
because OF the absence OF conditions
found in coal mines, 1t Is believed how
ever. that the bureau could profitably
itG rTf &c slrl Ito=f =frttN Ian, In,
metalliferous mine timberlnG. drainage.
explosives. as well as the treatment OF
ores, and it is anticipated these features
will be Incorporated.
In committee objection has heretofore
been made TO the government engaging
In experimental treatment of ores. on
now employ. the worlds greatest sci
entlsts In this research, and the govern
ment could not afford to employ such
high priced men for It's bureau work.
only because Of the inactivity OF the gov
ernment in this respect are mining on
orators put TO such enormous expense
for carrying on a work of discovery
properly belonging to the federal govern
ment.
TO what extent the matter OF free as
SAYS. II any,, any, should be urged Is s., mat
other questions are to he determined
after the mining men have been heard
from. Until the scope of the bureau OF
mines is oroabcned Dy annlllonal appro-
prlations and the necessary legislation.
metalliferous mining will receive very
little practical benefit from its opera
lions. although Director Holmes is anX-
ious to cooperate and extend the work
of the bureau as widely possible. With
the government eXpending millions Of
dollars in research work for the advance
ment of other big Industries like live
stock and agriculture. metalliferous
miners contend that IL is only fair that
this great industry should receive its
share OF the benefits from the national
treasury.