The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-11
MINES BUREAU
CHIEF IS VISITOR
DR.. J.. A. Holmes to Study Min
ing and Smelling COndi-
tiOns Here.
OPPORTUNITY OFFERS FOR
IMPROVEMENT IN METHODS
Uniformity Needed in Assaying
and Testing; Rescue Cars
Perform Good Service.

DR. Joseph A Holmes director OF the
national bureau OF mines, and one of the
best known and best liked OF mining men
or ihe country. arrived In Salt Lake City
Monday evening FOR his first extended
visit TO Utah since lie was placed at the
head OF the bureau at Washington. DIR.
Holmes is a guest at the Hotel Utah. and
while here he intends TO see as much OF
mining smelling and milling Utah as
possible aud to meet the operators Of the
state. lie was seen by The Tribune las,
night while conlcirIng with John Dern.
president Of the American Mining con
grcss. and Secretary j +. Calbrc1th OF
Denver who accompanied DR.. Holmes
from the Colorado city.
DR.. Holmes said that the bureau OF
mines Inherited certain work from me
United States geological survey upon Its
organization. among which were mine
accidents and fuel Investigations. The
latter duty is limited by congress To fuels
10 be used by or belonging 10 the govern
Inent. The fuel bill .: the government.
for Instance, Is from SS.OOo.o0O To slOOoc,-
o00 year, and IL is the duty OF the bu-
rcau over which Dr. Holmes presides 10
diaw up all the specifications for fuel
used by the government. and 10 sample
and test il as delivered.
one contract alone called for the de-
livery o. 500, 900 tons OF coal for the work
al Panama. another for $4,000 tons for
the railroad at Panama The matter also
ngs. not only al Washington but also
throughout The country. involves no smau
time and detail. For this fuel work the
bureau is permitted the sum OF 100000
by congress
Ii Metallurgical Fields.
In addition. the bureau has the advan-
Iaec of AN appropriation Of $4,000 for
iis general WORK but the scope OF IFS
activity Is expressly limited and all work
Ia MctalluTgica fields excluded, Dr
nal he
Of Tie United States present a splendid
opening for work at the hands of The
with The western sections seeking TO up-
build. develop and improve western
inetallursIcal conditions When asked |
wnat plans the bureau might have formu-
lated In view Of having metaliurEicai
fields included Within its scope. he said:
1--WE realize that work is needed along
two or three especially important lines
We should investigate now and where
wastes occur in mining and meiallurgi-
cal operations, and, wherever possible
TO reduce the large percentage Of waste.
Take The Joplin section, tcr instance. !
There is Il waste Of fully % per cent of
zinc and lead ores that should he given
attention. This 90 per cent includes the
ores which must Of necessity he left with
ir the mines Willie extracting the COM
mcr,'ial grades. We'll as loss In reduc-
ing the ores 10 bullion
Uniform Methods Needed.
More uniform methods should bc pro-
vidcd In assaying. samplns and testing
~ ores throughout the country, and we
should try TO discover for the different
parts of the country methods not now
availa BILE applicable to refractory and
low grade ores. \ great field also Is the
caring for the waste products IL metal |
lurgical works. seeking 10 make them
psontable by-products.
THE bureau has three completely
equipped ears for mine rescue wOrk,k one
~ which Is devoted to the GtahWy !
ming fields. These cars have been called |
upon several occasions tor rescue
work In mctllurgical mines. ono hasty
trip being 10 Tunopah IN the case Of the
Tonopah Belmont fire. The bureau is be-
Ing called upon also for conslderab bic in
formation in regard to rare metals and
little known ores.
''Onc OF the best and most interested
OF friends of the bureau and Its work is
President Taft, and tho new secretary OF
the interior is intensely interested in our
work. The three Utah representatives In
congress have been Of great assistance
10 us, showing In every possible wav
their determination TO assist in the
work
DR.. Holmes expects To be in Salt Lake
over Tuesday and Wednesday, and II
may he possible 10 extend his stay here
over THURSDAY. lie leaves Utah for Mon
tlna and Alaska.